Man's best friend needs a friend too

What happens when you grow tired of your "best friend" destroying your furniture, eating your shoes and ruining your carpet when you're at work? Anne and Noel Munson say, "a dog's best friend might just be another dog."

Anne Pettengill Munson ('99) and her husband, Noel, developed a Web site, Dogpals.com, in hopes of solving some "doggie separation anxiety problems and ease the mind of hundreds of owners across the nation."

Dogpals.com is a national database where dog owners may find and list dogs within their vicinity for play dates, dog sitting services and other dog socialization events. The Web site allows visitors to find other dogs in their area by entering a specific ZIP code. The database will search up to 10 ZIP codes for dog companions. All dogs registered on the site are categorized in the database by a profile containing breed, age, activity level, disposition, owner's yard information and neuter and spay information.

The idea came to the Munsons when their dog, Emily, a two-year old Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler mix, displayed separation anxiety behavior. Noel says that since Emily was rescued from the pound, she suffered from separation anxiety and does not like being alone at home. "We uncovered the need for a resource to find other dogs for Emily to play with to help prevent her destructive tendencies while we are away at work," he says.

Since they could not afford a "$300 monthly fee for dog daycare facilities," a Web site that could help locate dog companions free of charge seemed like an excellent idea. The Munsons wrote down their plans on a bar napkin, and later consulted some Web programming friends to start the project. Within months it was a live Internet site.

Dogpals.com premiered in December 2000 and since then has logged more than 125,000 visitor hits. More than 200 dog owners across the nation are registered and searching for playmates for their pets. "This is a great service for people who live in large cities," says Anne.

Anne and Noel Munson receive no money from the Web site, but consider it "a valuable way to serve the community." The Munsons live in Waynesboro with a much calmer and happier Emily.

By Marisa Domenech ('01)