10 Must-Read Pet Blogs of 2014

Over the years, I’ve read a lot of blogs from every imaginable genre. DIY, faith, lifestyle, cooking, you name it. I’ve also been fortunate to meet a lot of bloggers – online and in person, and there’s one fact that’s undeniable: there’s something really special about pet bloggers. 

Pet bloggers are supportive of one another in a way I’ve never witnessed in any other blogging genre. Maybe it’s because we truly understand each other’s passion when it comes to animals. Whatever it is, I’m just so grateful to be a part of this club with so many amazing people.

While there are a lot of pet sites in the blogosphere, and I’d never claim to have found even a tiny percentage of them, I definitely have some favorites that I think you should be reading, and I’d love to share them with you.

I came up with this list of my 10 Must-Read Pet Blogs of 2014 using a few simple criteria:

• Blog content – is the material relevant, accurate, and entertaining?
• Blog appearance – let’s be honest, it does matter. I like a pretty, well-organized blog. I also like simple. 
• Site user friendliness – is it easy to find what I’m looking for on the blog?
• Post frequency – does the blog offer new content on a regular basis?
• Blogger engagement – does the writer engage and interact with readers? 

When all of these criteria come together in a sort of “perfect storm”, it makes for what I call a must-read. And these, my friends, are the pet blogs I’m going to insist you add to your reading list for 2014 because if you’re not reading them, you’re missing out.

 

1. Keep The Tail Wagging

Kimberly, the voice behind Keep The Tail Wagging, is a firecracker who knows what she’s talking about and isn’t afraid to stand her ground. If she’s got a question about a pet food or product, she doesn’t hesitate to get on the phone and make a call to track down the answer. Her posts are timely, relevant, and entertaining.

I love the look of Kimberly’s blog because it’s clean, organized, and easy to navigate. She writes frequently, and she’s always so interactive with her readers. This is one blog that pet lovers – especially dog lovers – should definitely be reading! 

 

2. Foster Dogs NYC

Just as important as adopting shelter pets is the act of fostering them until permanent homes can be found. Foster Dogs NYC is an amazing blog dedicated to helping rescuers find temporary homes for the pets they pull from the shelter system. The group boasts more than 450 success stories! Not bad for a group of self-proclaimed “young media-savvy dog lovers”.

The Foster Dogs NYC site is concise, clean, and the layout makes it simple to find and share dogs in need of foster. The group posts several times a week, and they are responsive to readers. Anyone who loves dogs and wants to use their social media presence to make a difference for dogs in need should be following Foster Dogs NYC and spreading the word about this organization and their dogs.

BONUS: Sarah, one of the founders of Foster Dogs NYC, also runs a fantastic site called The Dog Matchmaker. Check it out! She’s also a fellow Petfinder Adopted Blogger.

 

3. My Brown Newfies

My Brown Newfies is a pet and lifestyle blog that touches on a variety of topics, including pet health, products, and holistic medicine. The blog stars are Sherman and Leroy, and they’re often the subject of beautiful photos taken by their mom, Jen, who is a veterinary assistant.

My Brown Newfies is an all-around fun blog that is nice to look at with all those pretty pictures, easy to navigate, and the posts are entertaining. With 3 or 4 new posts each week, it’s a blog that keeps readers coming back for more. I highly recommend checking it out.

 

4. Paws and Effect  

The first of 2 cat-specific sites on my list is Paws and Effect, and I’m here to say that every cat lover should be reading this blog. JaneA, or Mama as the kitties like to call her, writes a fantastic blog filled with practical information about feline health, behavioral issues, rescue, and more (she’s also a fellow Petfinder Adopted Blogger). 

Paws and Effect is an attractive, organized, easy-to-use site, and JaneA’s writing is great. She posts new content several times each week, and while I wish she was a little more interactive with her readers, I give her a pass because there’s such a great amount of interaction among readers in the comment threads. If you live with cats, you can’t miss this one.

 

5. Tales and Tails

One of the very first pet blogs I ever read was Tales and Tails, a blog written by a fellow midwestern girl named Carrie, about her three retired racing Greyhounds and two gorgeous German Shepherds. The first thing you’ll notice about this site is the beautiful photography – which is, of course, the reason why Carrie took home the BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose award for Best Blog Photo. 

This blog is light and airy, organized and tidy, and a breeze to navigate. Carrie writes almost every day, so there’s always fresh, new content. She’s interactive with her readers, responding to comments and keeping the conversation going. This is a fun, enjoyable blog, and you should subscribe now! 

 

6. Pawsitively Pets

Pawsitively Pets is a great blog written by Ann, a former vet tech. She’s mom to two 2-legged girls, a 10 year old Pit Bull, a cat, goldfish, and even a rat named Nibblet. Ann writes about various pet care topics, as well as fun stuff like product reviews and giveaways. There’s always something fun going on at Pawsitively Pets.

I enjoy this blog because it’s tidy and well-organized, fun to read, and Ann publishes new content almost everyday. She engages with her readers, making her blog an enjoyable experience and an absolute favorite read for me.

 

7. Love and A Six-Foot Leash 

Love and A Six-Foot Leash has always been a blog about the amazing life-saving power of fostering shelter dogs, and that in itself makes it a great read for dog lovers. But over the last year or so, it has also become a blog about bringing a human “puppy”, as they like to say, into a home with two dogs. Throughout her pregnancy, Aleksandra wrote about the ways she was getting her dogs, Chick and Doodlebug, ready for the baby, because she knew that a successful transition had to start before baby’s arrival. Her blog is a great resource for anyone who’s expecting a baby and wondering how to prepare the dogs.

This is a well-designed blog that’s easy to use and nice to look at with beautiful photos. Aleksandra posts less often than she used to, undoubtedly because the human puppy keeps her so busy nowadays, but she brings the important messages of fostering and preparing pets for a new addition, and I think those are topics that a lot of people can benefit from. 

 

8. Cat In The Fridge 

Cat In The Fridge is a blog about a special needs cat named Crepes and her mom, Alana. Together the two of them are working hard to help other special needs cats who are looking for forever homes. They’re also my partners in crime as Halo Adoption Champions and Petfinder Adopted Bloggers.

I love Alana’s blog because her content is well-written and informative. Her posts are consistent, and the site is user friendly and easy to navigate. Alana and Crepes are very interactive with their readers, and their blog is an all-around pleasure to visit. 

 

9. Fidose of Reality

 

Fidose of Reality is one of my favorite pet blogs because it covers so many topics, so thoroughly: dog health, dog lifestyle, traveling with dogs, dog products, and so much more. The blog is written by Carol, who writes with confidence and humor, and she draws the reader in, no matter what the topic is.

This is a blog that’s well designed and organized, easy to read, and Carol, who is on staff at BlogPaws, is very interactive with her readers and posts new content on a regular basis. There’s lots to be learned from this one, and I highly recommend adding it to your daily reading list in 2014.

 

10. You Did What With Your Weiner

Okay, seriously. Is that not the best name for a blog about Dachshunds, ever? You Did What With Your Weiner is a doggie lifestyle blog focused on breaking stereotypes, having fun, staying active, and fighting pet obesity. As the momma to a wiener dog, I can tell you that those are all very important topics. 

Written by Jessica, who is the President of the Adventureweiner Club of Seattle and the owner of PetTalk Media, this blog is neat, tidy, and nice to look at. It’s well-written and well-rounded, and Jessica clearly enjoys interacting with her readers. There’s fresh content several times a week, and this is one that will keep you coming back for more.

So, there you have it – my top 10 list of pet blogs you simply must read in 2014. But don’t get me wrong – there are so many great pet blogs out there, and they all bring something important to the table. In fact, I’d love it if you’d share a link to your favorite pet blog in comments below!