Blue Cross launches 'Facebook for pet lovers'

IT | 1 Dec 2008

The Blue Cross has launched its own social networking site called All About Pets.

Billed as the ‘Facebook for pet lovers,’ the site aims to allow pet lovers all over the world to share experiences and advice, but will also act as a tool for the pet care charity – one of the UK’s oldest - to disseminate its own guidance and other information.

All About Pets, which was built by digital agency DVA and launched officially in September, already has over 8,300 members following a beta launch in March which attracted 450,000 unique visits from 142 different countries.

The network is free to use and members can create profiles for themselves and their pets as well as view other members’ pets and rate them. They can also upload photos and videos showcasing their pet’s talents and partake in numerous discussion forums and polls.

Users can also promote local events and find out about other events or news, and the charity hopes in future to add fundraising capability to the site.

The network has been promoted through online bloggers and other social communities alongside offline media and the traditional word of mouth. A online viral campaign has also created a buzz with users able to create personalised talking pets to send on via email.

Spokeswoman Laura Dobson said: "All About Pets is a fun, informative and entertaining website where pet lovers can go to meet like-minded people and celebrate the joys of pet ownership. In time, we hope it will become the place to go to talk and learn about pets.”

She refused to say how much the charity spent on the site, but added: "It is certainly a significant and long-term investment."

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