Here is a list of fabulous resources online—about pet ownership, pet health, pet massage, and the other top topics you've asked us to discuss.
THINKING OF ADOPTING (OR BUYING) A PET?
A-Z information about dog adoption is offered on Petfinder, and they help you think through your choice. This is the "What Color Is Your Parachute?" site for pet seekers. (But most of this site is helpful for thinking through decisions about buying any pet, really. It's very thoughtful and useful material, handled quite well, clearly designed for easy perusal.) If you want to adopt a dog, this is a terrific site for helping decide how, what, and when: www.Petfinder.org
Perhaps you want to adopt, buy, rescue, shelter? This site is a rescue island, where the best reference sites on the topics reside. It is a select grouping of top sites on cats, dogs, adoption, sheltering, fostering, etc.: www.Petshelter.org
Don't forget to check the information from the American Kennel Club. They keep a list of national rescue coordinators for every breed. Those people can help you find dogs needing rescue in most areas, and they are in touch with some breed-specific rescue coordinators near Encino:http://www.AKC.org
CONSIDERING AN OLDER PET?
A while back, I ran an article called "How to Love an Old Dog". The Senior Dogs Project offers stories, links, advice, news, articles, tips for owners of older dogs. For all concerns about older dogs, visit The Senior Dogs Project at www.srdogs.com
WORRIED ABOUT ALLERGIES?
Thinking about buying a dog, but you are concerned about your (or another loved one's) allergies? Interesting, useful, helpful ongoing discussion that will lead to other sites and possible avenues for help for those who are concerned with allergies to dogs: http://sweet-lucys.com/allergictodogs.html
PLANNING TRIPS AND HIKES WITH FIDO
Billed as, "Your Guide to the Outdoors," this site offers topographical views of all of California, trail information of every sort. It's great for planning a trip with the kids, but it's also a fabulous place to find a detailed map of the trail areas you plan to explore in your own neighborhood as well: http://www.trails.com
Hiking in Southern California only? Try this part of the trails.com site:http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=15414
This site offers main stream (and a few alternative) suggestions for finding places to stay with pets (and, in some cases, kids). When my family wanted to plan a trip to Oregon or the Grand Canyon on which we'd bring our dog, we had to buy expensive books and ponder very limited available options. The world has gotten more flexible and easier to navigate ahead of time, with sites like this: http://www.officialpethotels.com/
This site is more about buying products than planning a trip, but some readers may actually enjoy the offerings and prices. They run some product specials that are quite good:http://www.tripswithpets.com/
THE STORY OF DOGS – A HISTORICAL DELIGHT
Some readers have commented about an interest in animal origins, particularly about the history of dogs, wolves and other canids. This site will help you learn the origins of the dog, the domestication of wolves, the genetic transformation the species has taken over a geologic stretch of time: www.dmoz.org/Recreation/Pets/Dogs/Origins/
GENERAL PET INFORMATION
Diet: If you are interested in various recipes, this site offers an interesting mixture of dishes with which you can play Julia Chow (casseroles, quick feeds, cookies):
Ask The Vet: There are many sites with vets who answer questions for a fee, and such, but we really like this vet, the tone of his site, the examples given to answer common questions without costing anybody a penny, and the fact that they are in Southern California:http://www.petsdoc.com/html/askthevet/askthevet.html
More Help with your Pet: The site is called "Can We Help With Your Pet?" See if they can:http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/index.html
Treats: There was a huge scare a few years ago, after contamination in the pet foods coming from major commercial sources. Many of us had considered big pet companies a sure-fire source of quality control -- and suddenly "Smaller is better" and "Do It Yourself" hit the pet world with a vengeance. As a result of that shift in consciousness, there are many sites about how to make home-cooked treats for Fido. Try this easy-to-make recipe: http://www.ehow.com/how_5290154_make-dog-oatmeal-biscuits.html
This site has excellent recipes, good links, sane charts, easy-to-make menus. We tried a few of their recipes, and they received Five Barks: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Homemade-640/dog-food-recipes.aspx
Therapy Dogs/Companion Dogs: Interested in volunteering, joining, contributing, learning? Lots of readers have inquired about how to participate, how to get a guide dog, how to obtain a dog for assistance, etc. These sites can get you started:
http://www.caninecompanions.org http://www.guidedogs.com
Getting Microchips: The Dog Owner's Guide includes an article about microchips as a technological aid to finding pets, which is helpful to know:www.canismajor.com/dog/microchip.html
Massage: Want to rub your pet the right way? Here's a site which lists graduates from its program, some of whom are less interesting than others, but a few whom we've met and spoken to are very good. This chart spans our area and nearby areas: http://www.petmassage.com/info/members.htm
Grief: What do you do when your pet dies? When do you know that it is time to let go and put a pet to sleep? There is a site that deals with support, information, decision-making, offering links, help, and a list of bereavement counselors for your assistance in this process: http://www.aplb.org(The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement)
Health: Founded in 1863, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is one of the largest and oldest not-for-profit associations for veterinarians in the world. Do some research where veterinarians post current research, topics of interest, current stories about pet science and medicine: http://www.avma.org/
Training: Don't pick a dog trainer who isn't listed with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. They keep trainers certified, on their toes with the latest information, techniques, ways to improve their tools and style. Their site is interesting, and you'll probably learn something even if you have no interest in the topic: http://www.apdt.com
Pet Sitters: This is the international, educational site which tells about the basics of what to look for in a pet sitter, how to find one (or referrals): http://www.petsit.com
This is the national site for professional pet sitters is: http://www.petsitters.org
Interested In Wolves: If you have more than a passing interest in wolves -- hey, and who doesn't? -- try Wolf Park: http://www.wolfpark.org