Canines in cyberspace

The first time I saw my black lab, Lucy, was on a computer monitor. She was listed under the Victoria SPCA's adoptable dogs, with a profile reading "diamond in the rough." These turned out to be true words -- particularly the rough part.

So a few months ago, when I shoved Lucy into cyberspace once more, it was really because she was a cyber-dog from day one. Not because I'm one of those weird dog people. Really.

Connecting dog lovers around the world
Lucy is a new member of Dogster.com, a site connecting dogs and dog-enthusiasts around the world. She keeps an online diary, which she maintains with some regularity when work -- I mean tail-chasing and eating -- permits.

She makes online friends, "pup pals," and gets virtual dog bones from Web-surfing dog lovers.

I'll admit, she's not the most popular dog online -- of her three "pals," one is, sadly, deceased, yet still making hundreds of posthumous pup pals. Yes, even dead dogs are more popular than Lucy. Yet I think she enjoys sharing her thoughts with the world, being a cyber-dog and all. And perhaps her owner gets something out of it too.

How it began
When Ted Rheingold started Dogster.com last January, he was counting on the fact that dog lovers will do just about anything to showcase their darlings. "Everyone loves their dog, so they get to use the site to show off their dog, or show off why they love their dogs," he says.

The site (named after the popular Friendster -- an online connection for less furry Web surfers) gives free Web space to dog enthusiasts, who post the tastes, quirks, diaries and photos of their favourite hairy companions. And while they do so, says Rheingold, they create a "giant field of entertainment for everyone else."

Visitors can take a stroll through Dogster's virtual dog park, or search for local real-world companions. Dogster dogs can make "pup pals," connecting with soul mates and playmates from around the world and keeping up with the latest canine gossip via "dogmail."