Petfinder.com Takes Cause to Animal Planet TV Show

My 10-year-old is about to get some more help in her long-running bid to convince us to finally get a dog.

The Animal Planet TV network, which last year acquired Petfinder.com, a web site that matches animals in shelters with people who want to adopt them, is filming a new 13-part series that will do what the web site does.  

Hosted by zoologist Jarod Miller and dog trainer for celebrities, Dina Zaphiris, the show will help families find out what kind of pet is best for them by bringing in "teacher pets" that have been adopted but are in Petfinder foster homes. Look for it to air in the beginning of 2008.

Petfinder's founder, Betsy Saul, saw the powerful role the emerging web could play in linking homeless pets with families who want them. My daughter is on the site often, sending me photos of adorable pups in need of homes. (I know. I know. The girls deserves a dog, but I need to be ready for the responsibility of having a dog, even is she does everything she promises to do to care for her.)

Read/Write Web notes that this may be the first time a web site has led to a new TV show. An interesting twist.

LINKS: Animal Planet adopts "Petfinder" series [Reuters]