Creature Feature

The world keeps turning, dogs keeping barking and technology developers keep turning out pet-themed apps for smartphones and tablets. Here's a look at a couple that allow you to search by location for rescued animals available for adoption. Even if you're not looking for a pet yourself, you could play matchmaker for a friend or family member or simply share pet photos and information on social media sites.

BARKBUDDY

With BarkBuddy's user-friendly interface, the faces of adoptable dogs from rescue organizations come directly to your iPhone or iPad. You can search by location, plus the app gives you the option of setting criteria such as the age, sex, size and activity level of the dogs you'd like to see. For my search, I chose small female dogs, 2 to 5 years old with average activity level.

The next step was to log in using my Facebook account. This requirement will turn off some users, but I was determined to look at the pups so, it didn't deter me. The app also asks to use your location information, which is necessary so it can search for information about adoptable dogs in your area.

Within seconds, photos appeared in a flurry on my screen. Many of the dogs didn't fit my search criteria as they were large and male, but there were several that fell into the correct parameters. I was able to swipe past the photos of the large dogs to find the smaller ones. After looking at dogs of all shapes, colors and sizes, I decided to click on Gracie. I was rewarded with more photos, plus learned she is available through Helping Hands for Little Paws in Little Rock. Gracie, a 5-year-old West Highland terrier/poodle mix, weighs about 18 pounds. She is described as a "mellow soul and will make a great companion for those who don't want a rambunctious dog." She's house-trained and sleeps in a crate, but is not leash trained.

She sounds ideal, but since I'm not adopting a dog right now, I posted her information on Facebook in case any of my friends are interested. I have a feeling she'll have a new home soon. (iPhone and iPad, free on iTunes)

PETFINDER MOBILE

Brought to you by the PetFinder website, this app gives you access to information about dogs, cats and rabbits in 14,000 shelters across most of North America. The interface isn't as slick as BarkBuddy, but it's still easy to use, plus you can access all the information about pets on the PetFinder website directly from your iPhone or Android smartphone.

Like BarkBuddy, the app sometimes matches your search with pets it thinks you should see rather than the ones you're asking to see. But you can pinpoint pets in specific locations, plus find out details about temperament, size, age and background. Then there are photos, so many photos.

I decided to search for cats in the 72223 ZIP code and asked to see all male adult cats. A second had barely passed before a grid of photos filled my phone's screen. The first two listed were Layla and Matilda, female adult cats. So much for criteria. But I kept scrolling and the photos kept rolling: tabbies, longhairs, shorthairs, calicos, orange, black, tuxedo, on and on.

Zeus, a gray tabby with a mug that looks like something from a police binder, caught my eye. What a bruiser. The only info provided was that he's male and is currently residing at the Little Rock Animal Shelter. To call or email the shelter about the mighty Zeus, all I had to do was touch the screen. There's also a tab for a map to the shelter, and a "forward" function to Tweet the cat's data or share it on Facebook. (iOS and Android phones, free on iTunes and Google Play)

These apps don't warn you of this, but should: The photos are all cute and guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, as indeed they do. Mine twanged loudly when Miss Cici appeared on the screen in BarkBuddy. She fits none my criteria. For one thing, she's a he. Miss Cici also is a very large, Anatolian shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix. But, oh my, what a friendly expression. What grand stature. Look, he's available through Dogs Only in Little Rock and can be seen on Saturdays at PetCo in west Little Rock. It couldn't hurt to meet him.

Family on 07/23/2014

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