High Tech Dogs
One of the more difficult things about traveling full-time is to get the proper access to all of the technology you need. In a traditional home or home office, you can get landline phones, broadband Internet, fax machines, and everything else, relatively quickly and cheaply. And, as most of you know, it isn't so easy on the road.
But, things are improving dramatically. I just ordered a new device from Verizon (called MyFi), which will take a mobile broadband signal and give you a local Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five connections. It is coming in the mail today, so I will let you know.
But, what does all of this have to do with dogs and cats?
Well, there are some really interesting new software and technology that are really useful to pet owners.
An iPhone app for finding dog parks
Dog Park Finder iPhone screenshots
DogParkUSA.com and the Dog Park Finder iPhone App have teamed up to index and map all the dog parks in the U.S. and, most importantly, make them accessible to you online and via your mobile device. Dog Park Finder has leveraged the information that DogParkUSA.com has compiled since it began in 2007. Together DogParkUSA.com and Dog Park Finder bring users detailed, accurate information on over 2,000 dog parks and over 3,000 reviews and pictures of individual dog parks across the country.
The Dog Park Finder application features hand placed map markers that give the exact locations of each dog park; finds local dog parks nearby your current location; lets you read user ratings, reviews, and comments on the dog parks you find; allows you to search dog parks by city, state, and zip code; and provides detailed information about each park, including park fees, hours of operation, fencing information, doggy amenities (such as swimming areas), and other important notes about the park.
Once you’ve used Dog Park Finder to locate and visit all the dog parks in your area, you can rave about your favorite dog parks on DogParkUSA.com. Rate your local dog parks, write a glowing review or critique, upload pictures, and email the dog park information to a friend.
Don’t limit yourself to dog parks in your neighborhood. Use DogParkUSA.com to find dog-friendly hotels around the country and take a vacation with your dog! Keep in mind that “dog-friendly” doesn’t mean “off-leash”. Your pooch will still need to run around at a local dog park for exercise. Since dogs are the most common pets to take on a vacation, bringing Dog Park Finder on the road is a great option. Instead of pulling in at a truck stop on your road trip, use Dog Park Finder to get directions to the closest dog park and let your dog stretch her legs too.
Whether you’re on a road trip across the country, a weekend drive, or a stroll through your neighborhood, your dog needs to run off-leash. You can use Dog Park Finder and DogParkUSA.com to help you find the best dog park near you…wherever you are!
You can find the app at one of these links:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dog-park-finder/id362002678?mt=8
http://www.dogparkusa.com/iphone/dog-park-finder
Find an Adoptable Pet Almost Anywhere
Now it's easier than ever to find your perfect pet for adoption! Petfinder.com lets you search more than 290,000 pets from over 13,000 shelters and rescue groups. It's also easy to share pet profiles via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail; bookmark your favorite pets; read heartwarming adoption stories and more. It's a great way to find adoptable pets on the go -- and best of all, it's free! Here is a brief summary from the Apple iTunes Store:
With the app, you can:
- Browse adoptable pets in your area or nationwide
- Search pets by breed, age, gender and size
- Swipe and select pet photos to view in more detail
- View complete pet information and descriptions
- "Favorite" adoptable pets so you can find them again
- Add notes and comments to your favorite pet profiles
- Share pets with your friends via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter
- Call, e-mail or get directions to the shelter or rescue group that has your perfect pet
- Read touching Happy Tail adoption stories
You can find the app at one of these links:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/petfinder-com-mobile-application/id354876999?mt=8
http://www.petfinder.com/promotions/petfinder-iphone-app
Find an Emergency (or non-emergency) veterinarian on the Road
We all hope that we won't ever need an emergency veterinarian. But, when you do need one, there are a couple of websites that can help:
VetLocator
This site was started by pet owners for pet owners. Their goal is to have an online directory that is well laid out, very fast, extremely easy to use and filled with the resources a pet owner needs for his pet's health.
In an emergency a pet owner can find a 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital within a few seconds simply by entering their zip code, read articles on life saving emergency techniques, put together a pet first aid kit, and understand what a trip to an emergency pet hospital is like.
Home Screen of VetLocator.comYext Vets
Whether you're looking for a veterinarian who specializes in pet canaries or one who specializes in dogs and cats, Yext Vets has them all. With over 20,000 veterinarians and animal hospitals, you'll never have to worry about finding the right doctor for your beloved companion. Yext Vets offers detailed listings with Office Hours, List of Services, and Directions.
You can find the sites at one of these links:
http://www.vetlocator.com
http://www.yext.com/vets/
Stay Tuned. Next month, I will continue the high tech theme with some really useful websites for traveling with pets.
Julee Meltzer is the co-author (along with her husband Jack) of "Woodall's Camping and RVing with Dogs" available at (Camping and RVing with Dogs).She is also the co-author of the "RV Makeover Bible" available at http://www.desertwindspress.com