August 24, 1999
If you need a break from the computer screen, here's a way to soothe your sore eyes.
Log on to the 24-hour live Puppy Cam.
News Specialist Angela An shows us how this on-line service helps more animals get adopted.
These two puppies are ready for a new home.
But now, instead of heading to the pound to see them,
just click on your computer screen and watch them play, live on the 24-hour Puppy Cam.
Gene Baierschmidt/Humane Society of Utah: "THEY CAN LOOK AT ANIMALS RIGHT NOW IN 22 OTHER CIITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PUPPIES OR KITTENS."
For example,
here's a dog ready for adoption in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Utah's Humane Society is the newest addition to this national on-line adoption service.
By year's end, Puppy Cam will
have more than 400 affiliated shelters.
"WE THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SIT AT HOME ON THEIR COMPUTER TERMINAL AND BE ABLE TO VIEW ANIMALS WE HAVE HERE FOR ADOPTION."
A mini-lens inside a kennel allows web surfers to view the animals as they pose in front of the camera.
Every 24 hours, a different adoptable pet is put in.
In Miami, adoption rates have increased by 12-percent.
Here at the Humane Society, puppy-cam appears to be a success,
after just 10 days of Internet exposure.
"WE'VE ADOPTED TWO PUPPIES SO FAR, WE JUST THINK IT'S A NEAT IDEA."
But animal advocates aren't so much worried about puppies being adopted...
"IT'S THE BIG DOGS THAT ARE THE HARDEST ONES, THE ADULTS CATS. BIGGER DOGS ARE THE HARDER ONES."
Which is why Puppy-Cam works so well.
If people come to the shelter looking for that puppy on the computer screen
maybe they'll find another animal to adopt and take home.
