Love Me, Love My Pet

If you’re interested in finding a kindred, animal-loving spirit, or if you’re like Trina—and would like to steer clear of a relationship with your own version of Miles—here are some popular sites:

PURRsonals.com. This site can help you meet someone who assumes the cats WILL be on the bed; who sees nothing odd in buying furniture in fur-hiding colors; or who’ll gladly volunteer to help you bathe Sylvester or keep Elvira from bolting while you're popping that pill down her throat. Members get to chat about their cats, view videos, get the latest news about felines and “meet other cat lovers who really match your PURRsonality.” Another plus: it’s free. The company says it has a “growing” number of members, but wanted to keep the information private.

Leashesandlovers.com. If you already enjoy canine companionship, but would like to find a human love, this New York site could be for you. Mixers, dog-friendly cocktail parties, and online chats with other members are some membership benefits. This site also helps connect dog-lovers and provide them with a sense of community where they can compare notes about their four-legged friends, set up doggie play dates, and get involved in animal charity events. Membership is $9.97 a month or one year at a discounted $59.88. About 3,500 dog lovers are club members, and 10,000 receive its e-newsletter. Dues support animal charity.

Animalpeople.com. The motto of this international personals service for animal lovers is, “Pets bring people closer.” You can join for a free three-day trial; then you must sign up for membership through its partner, Match.com. Fees run from $34.99 for one month to $16.99 per month with a six-month subscription. “Thousands” join temporarily for the free trial, but about 500 actually sign up through the site each year, company officials say. In addition, there are “hundreds of thousands of animal lovers” who are already part of Match.com, and this gives subscribers an even better opportunity to meet other animal lovers, they add.

DateMyPet.com. Looking for a life partner, a buddy for your pet, or just a pet-loving friend? All are possible with this site. You can post your profile and photo, as well as your pet’s, and read advice columns such as “Yappily Ever After.” Registration and browsing are free. A paid membership of $14.95 for one month or $29.95 for three months allows you (or your pet) to contact or chat with other members.

EquestrianSingles.com. This dating site caters to singles with a passion for horses—and includes information about singles events, expos, and best areas to ride. Singles can create a photo profile, connect in the chat rooms, and maybe even find the romance of a lifetime. A one-month membership $24.95, but check out the site’s message board for “premium packages,” which knock down the monthly rate for longer sign-ups. The site serves “more than 100,000 users in 20 countries.”

Horseloversconnection.com. Another place for the equine set to find romantic trail partners. Personal profiles on this site include information about the horseperson’s riding style and riding type. A standard 31-day “try-out” membership is $15, while the 540-day (18 months) membership is $65.

MustLovePets.com. Members get to read and respond to personals, post photos, or talk with other pet lovers in the chat room. Basic membership, during which you can create a profile and post pictures of you and your pet, is free. If you want to contact someone who interests you, sign up for a premium membership, which costs a one-time fee of $44.95.

The bottom line: Knowing that someone is as passionate about pets as you are could make the road to romance (or friendship) a lot smoother. “People are tired of going on great dates and then finding out the person doesn’t like animals,” says Stephanie Keys, a Long Islander who lives with several cats. “‘Love me, love my pet’ is my motto. After all, potential partners have to accept the fact that your pets were in your heart first.”

Rona Cherry has written about health and wellness for The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Ladies’ Home Journal, Vegetarian Times, and many other publications. She was the editor-in-chief of several national magazines, including Fitness and Longevity. She is currently an editorial consultant with regional publications and nonprofits.