Dates With Dogs
Web site geared for singles and their pets. (Did you think I was talking about jerks?)
By BETTIE PUDGE
Just a show of hands, please: How many single people are out there who have big, hairy, drooling children who can't talk but beg for french fries and like to poop in the neighbor's front yard? *Bettie raises her hand* Yes, I'm talking about our beloved pets. Whether it's a dog, a cat, a bird or a snake, pets have become the single person's substitute to having kids.
I readily admit that my dog, Kai, is like my child. When I do a road trip, he comes with me. If I go out of town on a trip where I can't take the dog, I hunt high and low to find someone who is worthy of dogsitting. Not only do they have to be able to feed him every night, but they have to pay him some attention: play ball with him, walk him around the block, rub his head, talk baby talk to him. Yes, our pets, including mine, are a spoiled lot.
Kai is so important to me that I wouldn't even consider settling down with a person who didn't like animals. It's just downright unfathomable. Period. In my ideal world, it'd be nice to find someone who also had a pet that they loved just as much as I loved mine. Imagine my utter glee when I discovered a dating site for people with pets: www.datemypet.com
For only $9.99 a month, you too can put up a profile complete with photos of yourself and your pet(s). You can designate what sorts of "dates" you and your pets are looking for. It's all quite cute and done entirely tongue-in-cheek. But this site seems to play up matching people up on something they already have in common: animals!
If you're a paying member, you get to send emails and participate in an "instant chat" with any fellow animal lover who tickles your fancy. For non-paying members, you can add someone to your "pet buddy list" and send them a heart-warming cold-nosed kiss to get their attention.
There are links-a-plenty to events (although most of the ones currently listed seem to be aimed at Californians). There's even a Cafe Press store where you can purchase pet-loving schwag for yourself and your hairy kids.
Please note that not every member on the site is single and looking to mingle. Those with significant others are allowed to join with the intent of looking for "play buddies" for their pets. Looking to meet new people who are into breed rescue? Browsing for someone who might live down the street from the dog park you frequent most? There's something for everyone here.
Unfortunately, there aren't very many members in the Las Vegas area who have joined as of yet. So don't come complaining to me if the pickings are like the grass at the dog parks in Vegas: sparse. But you know the old saying: "The more, the merrier!" Join up! Whatcha waiting for? Fido wants you to.
Good luck and happy butt sniffing!
Do you have any ideas on topics I should be covering about the singles' scene in Las Vegas? Please email me and tell me about them! bettiepudge@reviewjournal.com
I readily admit that my dog, Kai, is like my child. When I do a road trip, he comes with me. If I go out of town on a trip where I can't take the dog, I hunt high and low to find someone who is worthy of dogsitting. Not only do they have to be able to feed him every night, but they have to pay him some attention: play ball with him, walk him around the block, rub his head, talk baby talk to him. Yes, our pets, including mine, are a spoiled lot.
