ShelterPets.

Even to veteran cat owners, cats can seem mysterious at times. But did you ever stop to consider that they find us just as confounding? Cats, despite moments of weirdness, are fairly predictable in their behavior, but we must seem bananas to them. This new spot by the Shelter Pet Project a a "public service ad campaign focused on spreading the word that pets in shelters are wonderful and lovable," posits just one example. ...

Betsy Saul As much as this thing we call the Internet has changed the lives of humans all over the planet, it's had perhaps an even greater impact on another, slightly furrier species: shelter pets. The Internet has connected millions upon millions of lonely shelter puppies and kitties with forever homes, facilitated a boom in pet fostering, and changed the way we look at adopting pets altogether. One of the adoption innovators responsible for this shelter pet revolution is none other than Petfinder co-founder Betsy Saul. As part of our coverage of Petfinder's Adopt the Internet Day (March 15), Paw Nation got the chance to chat with Saul about Petfinder's humble beginnings, the joy of ...

These are the four rescue dogs who play the role of Max at the park. Universal Studios Hollywood For the past three years, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park has celebrated Grinchmas, a special event featuring Dr. Seuss' classic Christmas characters, which includes snow to play in, Whoville celebrations, and even celebrity readings from the likes of Brandy and Stephen Moyer. This year, Grinchmas, which lasts through Jan. 2, opens with an event sure to make even the grinchiest pet lover's heart grow three sizes. The park will host pet adoption fairs on Dec. 11 and 12, from noon to 4 p.m., with animals provided by the Amanda Foundation and the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. ...

superfem, Flickr Why is it that some shelter animals have dozens of people clamoring to adopt them, while others are disregarded, leaving these dogs and cats to languish in shelters, often for months at a time? "Sometimes, it's hard to distinguish one feature that makes them less adoptable or why they are perpetually passed over," Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com, tells Paw Nation. Other times, it's obvious. Why Some Pets Are Left Behind at Shelters Adoptable pets that are blind, deaf or otherwise have "special needs" are often hard to place, states Petfinder.com. So are pets that are older, shy, have dark fur, are too large or can't live in a home with other animals. Then there is ...

Seth Casteel What animal lover hasn't daydreamed about ditching their desk job and applying for a job at the zoo? Or at a doggy daycare? Or tracking gorillas in Africa? We sure have, but since most of us may never actually get to work with the animals we love, we thought we'd introduce you to a few people who do. Name: Seth Casteel Age: 29 Job: Pet photographer, owner of Little Friends Lifestyle Pet Photography Tell us about your job! I've been working with the L.A. city shelters for about two and a half years now. I try to volunteer every week, photographing their animals. That's how I got started. Photographing dogs as a hobby and volunteering at the shelters led me down this career ...

freekibble.com Many animal lovers are already familiar with Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com, the trivia game sites that donate to shelters ten pieces of kibble for every answer (right or wrong) you give to their questions. You can visit every day (and really, you should!), but on special days sponsors will donate five times as much kibble. Today, Feb. 5, is one of those days. The sites and the concept are really cool, no doubt, but what's even cooler is that our friends at Tonic scored an interview with the girl behind the site, 13-year-old Mimi Ausland! She shared lots of fun facts, including how she was inspired to start these sites and -- something we're all itching to know -- how ...