SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — We’re not even through the first month of the new year, and your Christmas puppy has already broken his resolution to stop chewing your slippers. There is an easy way to learn how to help him stay out of trouble: PogoPet (www.pogopet.com) is a new Web-based pet care center developed to help you raise and care for your puppy or kitten. Launched in November, PogoPet provides authoritative, unbiased information and interactive services for owners of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds.
“The holidays are a popular time for giving and receiving pets,” said Stacey Estrella, CEO and co-founder of PogoPet. “Receiving a pet for Christmas is a life-long commitment. New pet owners face a broad set of new issues and challenges to address, from house-training to immunization and special health concerns. Our site provides extensive information, experts and personalized services that guide the pet owner in the specific care of their cat or dog of all ages and breeds.”
Registered users “Pogo” their pets, providing basic information about their pet, including age, location and breed mix. PogoPet then creates a personal profile for that pet, including a Web page, a pet neighborhood that displays pets from the local community, immunization tracking and prescription tracking.
“Our approach is driven by a desire to simplify the world of pet
ownership while ensuring more proactive pet care ,” said Estrella, “and that translates to a winning scenario for pets and their owners.”
Unlike other Internet pet sites, PogoPet is not centered around
e-commerce or online chats. While such components are planned for future upgrades, the site’s mainstay is its proprietary, comprehensive information for dog and cat owners and its interactive tools for registered users.
“PogoPet helps people of all ages take better care of their pets. It is especially beneficial for children who are raising their first puppy or kitten,” said Bruce Fogle, DVM, co-founder of PogoPet and author of several books on pet care. “The site is designed to support responsible pet care — from health and nutrition to training and recreation — in a fun and compelling way.”
Subject areas on the site include feeding and nutrition, grooming, training and behavior, exercise and play, and health. PogoPet licenses its content from Dorling Kindersley, a leading publisher of pet care books. Under the three-year, exclusive licensing agreement, PogoPet will carry information from five Dorling Kindersley titles, including The ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual, The ASPCA Complete Dog Care Manual, The ASPCA Complete Dog Training Manual, The Encyclopedia of the Cat, and The Encyclopedia of the Dog.
Key features of PogoPet include:
— MyPogoPet
MyPogoPet is a customizable page for registered subscribers, and it acts as the personal account advisor for each registered pet. MyPogoPet includes features such as the MyPogoPet Family Page, which displays photographs of each pet. In addition, each registered pet receives a dynamically generated web page that can be sent to friends and a private page that includes a Prescription Advisor, Vaccination Advisor and a section on Special Health Concerns. The Private Page also displays personal reminders, alerts and news.
— Interactive Features and Services
Populated throughout the site, PogoPet engages the user with intriguing forums such as “Ask the Vet” and “Petiquette,” and engaging features such as Symptom Sam and Sally, and Trivia with Frank and Evelyn.
— PogoPet Cat and Dog Centers
Information on almost any topic related to the raising, training and caring for a cat or dog is organized by species and subject area. PogoPet licenses its content from Dorling Kindersley, a leading publisher of pet care books. Under the three-year, exclusive licensing agreement, PogoPet will carry information from five Dorling Kindersley titles, including The ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual, The ASPCA Complete Dog Care Manual, The ASPCA Complete Dog Training Manual, The Encyclopedia of the Cat, and The Encyclopedia of the Dog.
— Breed Center
This feature enables prospective or existing pet owners to research the history and characteristics of a particular breed — or to select a breed — based upon diverse criteria of their choice that match their lifestyle. Registered PogoPet subscribers can also use the Breed Center to join a breed club or to find a qualified breeder.
PogoPet also plans to offer other features, including:
- PogoPet Shop. Planned for next quarter, the PogoPet shop will feature premium-quality products and PogoPet branded merchandise.
- PogoPet Directory Services. Planned in the next release are various
comprehensive directory services for veterinarians and breeders.
About PogoPet
PogoPet is the only Internet pet site dedicated to providing comprehensive, proprietary information to enhance the quality of life for dogs and cats and their owners. PogoPet was founded in 1999 by Stacey Estrella, a technology industry veteran and graduate of the Harvard Business School, and Bruce Fogle, DVM, an internationally recognized expert and author of several books on pet care. The company is privately held and is based in San Francisco. PogoPet can be found on the Internet at www.pogopet.com.
NOTE: PogoPet is a service mark of PogoPet Inc. All other trademarks And registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners, without intent to infringe.
CONTACT: Denise Palmer of The KMC Group, 425-450-9965, ext. 110, or denisep@kmcgroup.com, for PogoPet.
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