Best if You’ve Lost Your Pet 

FurAlert

Once you install FurAlert on your phone, you tell it specific information about all of your pets. If one of them goes missing, you simply pull up the app and select that pet. A notification goes out to all FurAlert users within a specific radius of your phone that your pet is missing, and all of that pertinent information about your pet gets “pushed” to the phones of all those other pet-loving people within the area. You set up the search radius – maybe a relatively small area in a big city, or something much larger, like five miles, in the country. The push notification also includes data on how to contact you.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: iPhone and Android

More info: FurAlert.us

 

Best for Finding a Great Dog Sitter

DogVacay

DogVacay connects pet owners with pet sitters across the country. Once you’ve downloaded the app, put in your zip code in order to select from pet sitters in your area, who have been pre-screened by the folks at DogVacay. While you’re gone your pet is covered by pet insurance, should he become ill or injured, and you have access to a customer support hotline 24/7. You’ll also receive daily updates about how your pet is doing, including pictures.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: Website, iPhone and Android

More info: DogVacay.com

 

Best for Finding a Forever Friend

PetFinder

Petfinder makes it easy to search for the perfect forever friend. They work with rescues and shelters in your area to show you pets that fit your criteria. You can specify what species and breed you’re interested in – even purebreds that are up for adoption! After that, narrow your search even further to zero in on the size and age of pet you want. Depending on the organization that’s posting the pet, you can learn all kinds of information about adoptable pets, including whether they’re good with children.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: Website, iPhone and Android

More info: Petfinder.com

 

Best for Getting Professional Pet Advice

PetCoach

PetCoach gives you access to experts from all animal-related fields, including veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers. You can ask short questions for free, and receive short answers back. If your concern is more complicated, you can engage in a private chat or phone call with an expert. And you can browse more than 100,000 answered questions to see if other pet owners have already inquired about the very thing you’re interested in.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: Website, iPhone and Android

More info: PetCoach.co

 

Best for Getting Pet Insurance Quotes

PetInsuranceQuotes.com

Just like any shopping that involves insurance, it can be confusing to compare plans and benefits. PetInsuranceQuotes.com makes it simple to look at the offerings of 12 different pet insurance companies. You can compare coverage details as well as monthly premiums. You can also learn all the ins and outs of the specific coverage you’re interested in, including deductibles, copayments and coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: Website only

More info: PetInsuranceQuotes.com

 

Best for Taking Purrrfect Pet Photos

BarkCam

BarkCam is a simple app that plays an attention-grabbing sound when you hit the shutter button, just before it snaps a picture. You’ve got options ranging from “wailing siren” to “squeaking mouse” to “howling dog” to “mooing cow,” allowing you to select the sound that brings out your pet’s inner supermodel. And BarkCam makes it easy to share your pet’s photos on social media, after adding fun effects like hats and monocles, of course.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: iPhone and Android

More info: Barkpost.com/barkcam

 

Best Repository of Valuable Pet Information

PetMD.com

PetMD is a web-based repository of valuable information on a wide range of topics interesting to pet owners. There’s information about specific breeds of pets, information about how to care for pets, and more. There are fun features such as lists of most popular cat names, as well as articles authored by veterinarians on many different diseases and treatments. The app allows you to put in the symptoms you’re seeing in your pet, and it tells you the possible diseases that could be causing them.

Cost: FREE

Platforms: Website only

More info: PetMD.com