CLICK AND DOUBLE CLICK: INTERNET PROVIDES PRACTICAL AS WELL AS WACKY ADVICE FOR PET OWNERS

Are you a pet lover? You're not alone. The Internet is a great place to connect with other pet owners. There are literally thousands of sites that are the cat's meow.

I grew up with lots of pets. Over the years, my brothers and I had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, lizards, gerbils, horses, turtles, birds, fish and even a pet chicken. With four kids and all these animals, our house must have seemed like a zoo.

A fairly new site to the Internet that I have heard advertised a lot is Petopia, which is supposed to be a utopia for pet owners.www.petopia.comYou can find out such things as when to wean your puppy or help you deal with your guilt for muzzling your dog. You can also learn about the holiday hazards that may be waiting for your pet.

If you click on "New Pet" at the top of the home page, you can follow the path to your perfect pet. It will take you step by step through the big decision, comparing breeds, making preparations, choosing your pet, naming your pet and the first few days at home.

There's lots of practical advice on picking out and preparing for your pet, whether it be a dog, cat, bird, fish, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil or ferret. Clueless for a name? You don't have to settle for Fido or Fluffy. There are literally thousands of suggestions for names, depending on type of animal and what kind of name you're looking for. www.acmepet.comAnother good general pet site is Acme Pet. Again, this site provides advice and information for a wide range of pet owners, including dogs, cats, birds, horses, fish, reptiles and exotics.

You can find out more about behavior, breeds, health, names and news. You can visit the boards or chat to hook up with other pet owners. You can send e-cards to your friends or share the animal jokes.

You can also read the latest pet news. I learned more about holiday food treats, including pet treat recipes you can make.

The e-cards are really cute. You can pick an occasion like Thanksgiving or birthday or send a note to a friend in need, such as sympathy, apology or get well. You can also test your pet knowledge in a trivia contest or post a photograph of your pet.

More and more people are traveling with their pets. The travel experts at Fodor's offers some advice to make travels with your pet easier.www.fodors.com/resource/petsAs your might suspect, preparation is the key to successful pet travel, according to Fodor's, and that includes training your pet for travel and calling ahead to confirm pet-friendly lodgings. They suggest to double-check the fees and restrictions of each lodging. Their travel "petiquette" section is quite good on pet training, air and car travel, lodging dos and don'ts and health and safety precautions.

For a list of thousands of pet-friendly places, you can check outwww.petswelcome.comAOL, the Internet giant, offers a number of guides to help with some of life's tough decisions. They help you pick a car, find the right bicycle, plan a date, visit a national park.

But they also can help both adults and children pick a cat, dog or pet in general. You can find all the category choices at Personalogic. Scroll all the way to the bottom for the kid choices.www.personalogic.comI picked the Pick a Perfect Pet for Kids guide. You can Click on "Find the Perfect Pet" or "Compare Pets."It's easy. You answer the questions they ask and they'll make a pet recommendation. They ask such questions as "How much time can you spend playing with your pet every day?" and "Do you want your pet to be quieter or less smelly?"How do you want your pet to feel? Furry or with scales? Do you want food you can pour in a bowl or live food.

Answer all the questions and this guide will provide some insight. They list the housing, average monthly cost and average life span of your "perfect pet." You can also compare with another pet, and find out lots more about each animal. It was fun.

Part of the appeal of the Internet is that the practical can be found alongside the wacky and way-out. Such is the case for this rather odd, but amusing site that offers pet horoscopes.www.nanceestar.com/pet.htmlThere's lots of wacky free information under your pet's zodiac sign. For example, if your pet is an Aries, he/she will become a champion. Taurus pets love the finer things in life. But don't take their stuff, it will drive them crazy.

If this is not enough, you can pay $75 for a 20-page personal reading for your pet, but hey, then you may not have enough for a pet present under the tree.

If you acquired a previously owned dog, and you don't know when it was born, read the whimsical profiles under the "Dog Fancy" article. See if you can find your pet.

The wackiness doesn't stop there. For many people, pets are part of the family. But how high are they held in self esteem? You've heard about Playboy, but how about Playdog?www.playdog.comDon't worry, while this site does feature dog nudity, it is appropriate for viewers of all ages. It's promoted as entertainment for dogs and their humans. It's a place you can "Come! Sit! Stay!"You can fetch some information about the magazine by the same name, or enter a sweepstakes for Playdog of the Year. It's free. You can also send pictures of your dog for the gallery or check out their Web links.

Hugh, move aside. This site is coordinated by Spot Hephner.

You can see dog's favorite outfits and read fellow animal lovers dog tails. It's a cute site. "If you're looking for dirty pictures, you're barking up the wrong tree," says this dog-loving webmaster.

What's your favorite pet site? E-mail me at click@semissourian.com.

See you in Cyberspace.

Joni Adams is managing editor of the Southeast Missourian.