Virtual Pet Adoption

Virtual pet adoption can mean two different things. Many people enjoy playing online games that involve adopting and caring for virtual pets. Others use the Internet as a resource to find real pets to adopt into their families. Regardless of which type you are interested in, you'll likely be able to find what you're looking for online.

Find your next puppy online.

Playing virtual pet games is a popular activity among children and adults alike. There are numerous online virtual pet games. These types of games are typically free. Some are designed specifically to teach kids what it's like to be responsible for the care of a pet. Others are virtual role playing games that allow players to interact with other participants in an online environment.

Popular free online virtual pet websites include:

• AdoptMe.com – Players can adopt their choice of critter, with options including horses, fish, dogs, cats, snakes, and more. Site features include virtual pet blogs, puzzles, music videos, and more.

• GoPets – This game allows players to adopt and play with their choice of interactive virtual pet. Participants can outfit their pets in cute virtual outfits, feed them, train them in a variety of skills, and more. The site also has a variety of free online games as well as allowing participants to connect with other players in an online environment.

• MaraPets – This virtual pet website is one of the most popular online games for children and adults. To play, it's necessary to adopt at least one virtual pet, but the game allows players to do much more than entertain themselves with the care and feeding of their virtual critters. Participants can play with dress-up cartoon dolls, build profiles, create their own websites, play games, and more. MaraPets is highly interactive, allowing users to communicate with each other in a social networking environment. There's no cost to participate.

If you're looking for a real pet rather than an online game, the Internet can be a valuable resource. The Virtual Pet Adoptions Network, for example, is an online network of various animal rescue organizations located throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The website is sponsored by Pet Food Express and the East Bay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Nonprofit organizations with pet adoption programs can participate in the site at no charge, listing photos and information about animals that are in need of adoptive families. People who are seeking pets can use the site to narrow their search and find contact information for agencies that have animals they're interested in adopting.

Other sites where pets available for adoption can be found include:

• AdoptAPet.com – This site allows people searching for a pet to adopt to search for available animals with the characteristics they are looking for. When using this site, you can specify the radius around your zip code where you'd like to search. You can specify dog breed, sex, size, color, and age.

• PetFinder.com – This site is a national online pet adoption community, with listings from animal shelters and other pet rescue organizations throughout the United States.

• PetHarbor.com – This site allows people to search online for pets available for adoption in their local area, as well as providing a way for people to list pets lost or found.

Whether you're looking for a virtual pet to enjoy online or you're using the Internet to search for a real pet, it's essential to take steps to keep yourself safe online.

• Virtual Pet Games: With virtual pet adoption games, be sure to review the privacy policy for any site that you are considering using. Make sure the site owners have a sound policy and that steps are taken to keep users safe while playing. Be proactive in taking steps to keep yourself safe as well, by avoiding publishing personal information about yourself, not agreeing to meet players that you don't know face-to-face, and immediately reporting any suspicious activities to the site's owners.

• Finding a New Pet Online: While there are many legitimate resources to look for pets online, there are also unscrupulous individuals looking for a way to make money via scams. While legitimate animal shelters do typically have pet adoption fees, they are not going to ask for money to allow you to search for a pet or request advance payment from you. Verify that you are connecting with a legitimate animal rescue organization and don't provide bank or credit card information via a pet adoption website.

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