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Pet Connection team moving to a new address: Vetstreet
By Gina Spadafori
August 23, 2011
If you’ve noticed it has been pretty quiet here, especially in terms of posts from “The Management,” you’re on to something. The folks who’ve long been behind the PetConnection — me, Christie and Dr. Marty Becker — have been involved in a start-up, and now that it has, in fact, started up, we’re packing up the PetConnection.
Destination: Vetstreet.com.
After Aug. 31, this site will go dark. People who type in “PetConnection.com” will end up on the new site. A lot of the content is already there, and a lot of our contributors will be, too. Dr. Becker and I have been working with the Vetstreet team for months, and Christie has started with them recently in the final stages of the transition. While not all our bloggers will go along for one reason or another, most will, and that makes the people behind Vetstreet very happy. They’ve been fans of ours for a very long time. In a short time, I’ve become fans of theirs.
As you can well imagine,though, I have mixed feeling about the change.
I never liked the name, “Pet Connection.” In fact, I loathed it. “Pet Connection” was already the name of the pet column I took over the mid-’80s, when I was a young reporter and editor at The Sacramento Bee. I tried to change it then, but couldn’t come up with anything the bosses liked better. It seemed — and still seems — too lightweight for the work I’ve always done, and that we all did as our team grew. We love pets, but we also love medicine and reporting, and our work here always tried — and usually succeeded — to offer the best-practice work of both worlds.
When Universal Press picked the column up for national distribution, they liked the name, too. I gave up, bought the domain name and put a simple site to serve as a marketing device for the syndicated column. And that, I thought, would be that.
And then, at Christie’s urging, we added a blog.
The world changed just about then, although in fact the seeds of change had been planted years earlier.
Christie and I had been friends for several years at that point, although we almost never saw each other and rarely even talked on the phone. We’d met while working for the Pet Care Forum on America Online. PCF was owned and run by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) at the time, and I left the newspaper to work for Dr. Paul Pion there.
Yes, everyone at the newspaper thought that was crazy.
But Christie and I were part of a culture no one had ever seen before. Our best friends were — and still are — people who live all over the world, people we used “electronic mail” and “instant messages” to connect with, starting with 600-baud dial-up modems and strange little computers — my first was a Radio Shack TRS-80 (a “rat shack” in the newspaper parlance, with 8K of memory) and my second was the original Macintosh. The Mac I’m typing on now (my first Mac in 25 years of PCs) is my 23rd computer, and it’s part of a network of four computers (a desktop and three laptops/netbooks) that use a screaming fast home wi-fi network I could never have imagined having even a decade ago.
You all pretty much know where the story goes from there.
Until the latest chapter, that is.
Up until a couple days ago, Vetstreet was mostly known as a company that helped veterinary practices communicate with their clients. But behind the scenes, something massive was being developed – a site for pet-lovers to find accurate medical and behavior information. Dr. Becker knew the people behind Vetstreet, and they started talking with us about coming aboard.
We danced a long time, but it felt right and we all knew it. Moreover, Vetstreet had the team and the money to do many of the things I’ve always wanted to do with our website. Dr. Becker was a natural fit; I flew back to work with the team in D.C. and realized I liked the fit, too. Christie is finalizing her relationship now, and the dancing continues with the rest of our bloggers.
I’m very happy with the decision, and I see great things ahead for Vetstreet as a place where people can go to find the best practices of journalism and medicine well-represented.
Check it out. I think you’ll agree.
In the meantime, we’ll have this site up for a few more days as we migrate the content and people over.
I can’t thank my colleagues enough for their work on their site. I’m also so grateful for my friend Jay Gavron for the site design — including the heart-and-paw logo which is now tattooed on my back! — and Mike Linville of Black Dog Studios for every tech thing, getting us through the pet-food recall, denial of service attacks and so much more.
Of course, the biggest thank-you goes to you, the readers. I promise you we won’t stop writing, as long as you keep reading.
Come on down to Vetstreet. I think you’ll like the new place just fine.
Image, lower right: Yes, I really did it. I had the Pet Connection logo tattooed onto my upper back when I had a couple of days in Portland last May — this pic was taken immediately after it was done. No, it didn’t hurt that much. And yes, I’m happy I did it. Very, very happy.
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So … there is no blog at the new site?
There doesn’t appear to be any heading for breaking news on recalls … no general animal news … no discussions of animal welfare practice and politics?
Or am I just not seeing the right links?
Comment by Eucritta — August 23, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
Yes, there will be blogs and breaking news. It’s coming. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 23, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
Oh, good! Coz all that’s why I come here :-)
Comment by Eucritta — August 23, 2011 @ 4:40 pm
Congrats to you on making the move! I look forward to engaging on the new site :)
Comment by Vicky — August 23, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
Gina does this mean all this information that’s listed along the right hand side will all disappear along with any of the information from the food recall?
Comment by VJ — August 23, 2011 @ 4:51 pm
All the bloggers will preserving their posts, and the entire site will be archived.
No worries: The story will not go away.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 23, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
I’ll continue to blog at my own blog, http://www.doggedblog.com. And you can follow my professional page on Facebook if you want to keep up with my work: http://www.facebook.com/ByChristieKeith
Comment by Christie Keith — August 23, 2011 @ 5:06 pm
Yay! The cat practice I work at started with VetStreet about a year ago and we love them! Every person I have talked to on the phone when we have questions is right on top of things, intelligent, helpful and professional. Their newsletters are well written and the clients love VetStreet! Concatulations and may you have a warm and loving relationship!
Comment by Teri — August 23, 2011 @ 5:42 pm
Seriously … no comments on the tattoo?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 23, 2011 @ 5:48 pm
It’s a cute tattoo ;-)
Comment by Eucritta — August 23, 2011 @ 6:13 pm
Congrats Gina. I know that was a long time in the making. I’m particularly delighted that Christie is going along too. And darn, that Vetstreet content is good :)
Comment by Laura B — August 23, 2011 @ 6:14 pm
I’m honored to be joining the new Vetstreet team. Keeping mum about the end of Pet Connection and the potential for what’s next all this time has NOT been easy.
Although I’ve been a member of the Pet Connection team for not quite two years, I will forever be grateful to Gina, Christie, Dr. Becker and the extraordinarily talented and experienced blogging team for all they have given me.
I can’t move my virtual boxes to the new digs without first saying a few words about Gina and Christie, who have always been the driving forces behind this site. Gina and I had known each other a long time and we had formed a mutual admiration society when she changed my life in November of 2009. Over dinner in Sacramento, she said “I’ve got a job for you.” She decided I’d have something to offer, even though I thought she was a bit daft to suggest I could keep up with the likes of the bloggers already in place, and be accepted by such a smart and savvy readership. However, if Gina had faith in me, I was willing to contribute however she needed me. Put me in, coach, I’m ready to play.
Meanwhile, working with Christie is like having an Academy Award winner next door, available to give you free acting lessons whenever you’d like. From day one, I was in awe of the breadth of her knowledge and her uncanny ability to get to the heart of complex issues in just a few elegant sentences, combined with a heart of gold. I’ve never before had the privilege to work with two individuals who possessed their combination of skills, abilities and appreciation for what counts in life.
Then there’s the blogging team, without whom we wouldn’t have earned the respect across the industry that brought us to today. It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with them, and no matter where we go from here, I have found a new circle of friends I’ll keep close to my heart for a long time.
Finally, there’s you, our dear readers. I do hope that you will find a new home and resources to enjoy and learn from at Vetstreet. I’ll be looking for you over there. Please stop by and say hi.
Comment by David S. Greene — August 23, 2011 @ 6:21 pm
Congratulations to everyone who’s been a part of the great “Pet Connection” experience.
But I have special praise for you, Gina, because you are the magnet that drew everyone together. Your imagination, dedication and talent have continuously pushed pet communications to a higher level and the Vetstreet merger is yet another great achievement.
You are the best at what you do and millions of pets would thank you if they could. Unfortunately, not that many have a great ghost writer like Bernadette the Weather Duck.
Comment by Ellie Shaw — August 23, 2011 @ 6:31 pm
Will there be a place to sign up for posts or e-newsletters? I don’t always get through my Twitter or Facebook messages and I don’t want to miss anything!
Comment by Bernadette — August 23, 2011 @ 6:36 pm
Oh god but I hate change. I’m in the first stages of grief here. I just found out today that yet another Doctor is leaving Doctor Who and now this.
Comment by YesBiscuit! — August 23, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Mixed feelings here. I think Dolittler was better when it was not corporate, it was more intimate and homespun and interactive with other blogs.
I hope PC keeps the saucy and doesn’t lose the ability to link to and discuss other dog blogs as well for corporate concerns.
Comment by Christopher@BorderWars — August 23, 2011 @ 7:20 pm
Congrats on the new spruced up digs. I like it. It’s shiny and new. Although, Eurcritta tapped my concern about the blog format, because, well, if you just update info and don’t let me know via RSS feed then it never really happened. Also glad that the content won’t be lost from this site — because there have been some classic pieces over the years that would be a shame to have lost.
Anyway, good luck. If I’m not around when you first transition over send out a search party because I’m no doubt out lost looking for you.
Comment by Brent — August 23, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
Congratulations, David and colleagues! Change is a wonderful thing. It opens our eyes to new possibilities, gives us new ideals to strive for and keeps us fresh!
I look forward to your new endeavors.
P.S. My first computer was a Bondwell with two 512K floppy drives :)
Comment by Wayne Mates — August 23, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
Congrats on the move to Vetstreet! I hope it works out well and I’m looking forward to following you over there.
@YesBiscuit: Seriously?? Already??? Gah!!! But I wasn’t crazy about the new Doctor, anyway. I still miss David Tennant…
Comment by Sherron — August 23, 2011 @ 8:19 pm
What a relief! I was beginning to get a bit upset with the lack of posts from the Pet Connection team. I thought, “oh great, another awesome blog is going away because the creator’s got too busy to write.”
I have read this blog for years. It’s my morning coffee news routine - I read my local paper online, a few national sites and then the Pet Connection blog for the news that matters most to me. :-)
Oh, and Gina, I love the tattoo! See you at VetStreet!
Comment by Joy — August 24, 2011 @ 3:59 am
I’d follow you guys anywhere….
great tat!
Comment by Carol V — August 24, 2011 @ 4:30 am
@YesBiscuit: Seriously?? Already??? Gah!!! But I wasn’t crazy about the new Doctor, anyway. I still miss David Tennant…
Tom Baker is the One True Doctor, everyone knows that. :)
Congrats on the new digs!
Comment by Lis — August 24, 2011 @ 4:49 am
I hate change too, but I’ll make it.
I’ll just think of it like Mugs taking over the Fugly blog-different but still good.
Comment by redheather — August 24, 2011 @ 5:57 am
Good grief…I go off the Mongolian countryside for two weeks and look what happens ;0). See y’all over at the new place!
Comment by Susan Fox — August 24, 2011 @ 6:18 am
Tom Baker 4-ever.
:)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 24, 2011 @ 7:30 am
Gina, I have a sad suspicion we’re dating ourselves. :)
Comment by Lis — August 24, 2011 @ 8:57 am
You can’t shake your stalker that easily. LOL I am soooooo relieved the posts and stories are being transfered over. I was having a meltdown finding and printing off the stories I wanted to keep. Especially the ones with the Supa Star in them. Something I won’t ever forget, but like to look back and relive it all over again.
Good luck with the change over.
Comment by Jill Gibbs — August 24, 2011 @ 9:12 am
I hate change. Ah well, I’ll get used to it. I was wondering why it was so quiet here. I just chalked it up to summer vacation. Congratulations all.
Comment by C.L.H. — August 24, 2011 @ 9:33 am
Yes, this has been a wild Tardis ride for me, too. I have loved the folks here, made great connections and friends and had the wonderful opportunity to blow off steam, entertain (I hope) and inform (I double hope).
The planning and execution at PetConnection from the likes of Gina, Christie and David (don’t-call-him-Dave) has been simply stellar, and the commitment to pets and the people who love them has been humbling. I am very and deeply proud to have been a part of this. I thank them all for the opportunity to have participated.
My future is still a little up in the air as far an my online presence, but I am sure to keep spewing misinformation on one platform or another.
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — August 24, 2011 @ 9:37 am
I do admit, I think I’ll miss the homespun feeling of Pet Connection, but I like the look and feel of the new site - and I’ll like it even better when all the content is there!
Congrats on the move!
Comment by FrogDogz — August 24, 2011 @ 9:49 am
I hope the change is beneficial to all of the excellent bloggers here. There are some specific writers that I hope keep writing—I’m even willing to type in a different URL to see words they strung together.
I hope neither Dr. Tony or I see another purple thong.
Comment by Melissa Duffy — August 24, 2011 @ 9:49 am
I dig the ink, Gina! Best wishes at the new page. Looking forward to following it.
Comment by Sarah Andrew — August 24, 2011 @ 10:00 am
Love the tattoo, Gina! When you first told us about it, I thought, “Finally! I have found my tattoo.” I plan on getting one at some point in the near future.
Comment by Patty Hemphill — August 24, 2011 @ 11:13 am
I’m a little - no, a lot - sad about the change, too. Although I’ve only been a part of the PC team for two to three years, I’ve really enjoyed it.
And yes, I’ve been one of the ones dragging my feet about about blogging the last week or so. I’ve felt a little, “Why bother?”
I’ve been contacted by the folks at VetStreet and hope to be writing there but nothing’s even been discussed yet so I have no idea as to what I may (or may not) be doing. So, I’ll either see everyone as a writer or as a reader. I wish Dr Becker, Gina, Christie, and the rest of the PC team good luck no matter which way I happen to go.
Comment by Liz Palika — August 24, 2011 @ 1:24 pm
ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…seems to be in the air these days… I like your ink and you make me think.
Hoping for a continuation of the some of the same - best wishes to you all.
Comment by mary francis — August 24, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
A lurker here, but wanted to say congrats on the move. I hate change myself but will follow you guys over to VetStreet…
I specifically wanted to add that I hope to be able to continue reading posts from Liz and Dr. Tony - your posts are the ones that keep me coming back. Please, please, please keep us updated on where you will be writing (if not at VetStreet)!
Comment by Ally — August 24, 2011 @ 1:54 pm
What?? We’re getting ANOTHER new Doctor already? Dang. Tom Baker was always, always it. But I did grow very fond of David Tennant. Who knew there were so many Whovians among us?
I’ll be following the pack over to the new home territory. Save me a spot on the TARDIS. Should have plenty of room, after all, it’s bigger on the inside.
Comment by Miz Pierson — August 24, 2011 @ 2:55 pm
Is the new site going to require a Facebook account in order to be able to comment?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 24, 2011 @ 4:04 pm
Oh, cripes, OTHER Pat, that’s a good question. I took a look, and the only comment box on the current site is FB - ?
Comment by Eucritta — August 24, 2011 @ 4:21 pm
Yup - if you click on the “Sign Up” button, you get sent to Facebook to open an account:
http://www.vetstreet.com/about
(look on the righthand side of the screen)
So unless they’re planning to handle the blogs differently, it looks like they’re going to lose all the posters who don’t trust Facebook’s privacy
violationspolicies.Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 24, 2011 @ 5:46 pm
Oh, no. I’m never going back to FB - it had a horrible work:fun ratio, and I cannot express how deeply I resented their constant gaming of the privacy settings.
Well, poot.
Comment by Eucritta — August 24, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
Nope, I don’t do FB. Rats. Well, it’s been great. I’ve learned a lot, and I really appreciate all the work that went into Pet Connection. Thank you.
Comment by C.L.H. — August 24, 2011 @ 8:40 pm
I’ll miss Pet Connection! I also don’t do FB, so I’m really sorry to see Pet Connection go. I’ve come to enjoy all the bloggers—and the variety.
Comment by Arlene — August 24, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
I really don’t like the look of the new site. :( It reminds me of Patty Khuly’s new site, which has also totally jumped the shark. :(
Comment by Cait — August 24, 2011 @ 11:35 pm
I don’t Twitter. I don’t Facebook.
And since Dr. K. went corporate they can’t seem to send you back to where you were after you log in. Takes forever to sign up also. Will one now have to verify to post?
Is bigger always better?
Comment by CathyA — August 25, 2011 @ 3:55 am
I’m still hoping someone who knows for sure will post soon to clear this up. Maybe - just maybe - they’ll have the blogs set up differently and NOT require Facebook. Or perhaps they can do something like the Huffington Post (another site that “went corporate”) and offer a variety of ways to sign in which includes both Facebook AND a more conventional process of just signing in through HuffPo.
I noticed this is also the same outfit that oversees the “Pet Portals” being offered by so many vets now. They tout that as a convenient way to “manage your pet’s health care information” and I thought “Well cool - I can keep my elderly dog’s very extensive medical information somewhere that doesn’t require me to be at home to get at it”.
Got excited too soon. It’s just an automated way for them to send you your “yearly vaccination reminders” (apparently they’ve never heard of the modified vaccination protocols) and make appointments online. And post pictures of your pet. And also sell some stuff.
But actually manage relevant, individualized, actual health care information for EACH pet that doesn’t just reflect what’s most prevalent in the popular culture of the moment? Not so much. So I’ve decided there’s not much of value for me there.
And from what I’ve seen so far looking around on the Vetstreet
behemothwebsite as a whole, I’m kind of feeling the same way about the overall operation. I don’t shop at WalMart either.Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 25, 2011 @ 4:42 am
I just clicked on the new site, and what was the first thing I saw?
“Designer Breeds - Decoding the Cockapoo”
Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’ll pass.
And also - where is the Miniature schnauzer in the dog breed section?
Comment by K.B. — August 25, 2011 @ 5:16 am
K.B., did you read the Cockapoo article? I thought it was really good.
http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/cockapoo
Comment by Christie Keith — August 25, 2011 @ 6:41 am
Pat, I can’t answer the questions because I don’t know anything about commenting or a blog at Vetstreet. Gina will have to answer for you when she can. :)
I do know that my veterinarian has a Vetstreet portal on her site, and it doesn’t send me automated vax reminders and it does house a lot of my dogs’ veterinary records, and provides a way for me to communicate with my vet as well. So perhaps some of those features are customizable depending on the way the practice sets it up.
Comment by Christie Keith — August 25, 2011 @ 6:49 am
Yes I did - but to label it “Designer”?? After all that has been posted here about breeders, etc.?
Really?
Designer?
Ugh.
Comment by K.B. — August 25, 2011 @ 7:22 am
Ally - Thanks for the kind words! They are much appreciated.
There are many folks who are nervous. This is a time of change, and that always sets people’s teeth on edge. I totally understand this, but I would recommend trying it out for a bit before passing judgment. Don’t let out more info that you are comfortable with, but give it a spin and see if ti is a good fit. It could be something wonderful and of great value to you and your pets.
I wish everyone the best of luck.
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — August 25, 2011 @ 7:24 am
Re: Vetstreet.
Some of the features aren’t live yet, and I know the editors want to know what readers want.
No, it’s not going to be PetConnection. That’s bad in some ways, but good in others.
You know the bloggers here are a fiesty bunch, and our views will be felt and reflected in the Vetstreet story mix.
I’m going to ask vetstreet alpha wolf Rob Irvine to read the comments and … comment on the concerns!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 25, 2011 @ 9:32 am
“No, it’s not going to be PetConnection. That’s bad in some ways, but good in others.”
Honestly I can’t think of anything in the good column! Except for you guys. Am betting dealing with the minutia will be a lot less work for you. Which I guess is good from one POV.
Meanwhile I neglected to say “Thank you!” for years of everyone’s hard work at PetConnection.
It was truly appreciated.
Comment by CathyA — August 25, 2011 @ 10:23 am
Does this mean we will lose updates on Archer and everyone elses pets? That won’t be good at all. I don’t do FB or Twitter either.
Comment by VJ — August 25, 2011 @ 10:46 am
My biggest concern about the change?
“Vetstreet does not recommend or endorse any of the Content, including but not limited to, any tests, veterinarians, products, procedures, opinions or other information mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any Content or any opinions expressed via the Vetstreet Site, professional or otherwise, is solely at your own risk. You agree to indemnify, defend and hold Vetstreet harmless “
http://www.vetstreet.com/additional-information
PetConnection folks were so passionate about their causes and cases. Vetstreet is offering disclaimers.
Comment by Patti S. — August 25, 2011 @ 12:20 pm
Patti S commented
Not entirely true. Yes, we’ve been passionate, but we didn’t sell anything, either. One of our great strengths, and one I presume will be shared with Vetstreet, was that PC was always a fair broker. We weren’t shilling for a food, toy or other product company. In fact, if a sponsor WAS mentioned in a conversation, we bent ourselves into pretzels to be sure you knew that they were a sponsor but we weren’t selling or even pushing the product.
Also, it was rather implicitly understood that just because I loved The Honest Kitchen dog food products (note, a soon-to-be-former Pet Connection sponsor), I had no intention of expecting you to buy it. I was just speaking from my experience. In the parlance of a very old internet community that predates the WWW, we always believed that our bloggers owned their own words. No company put words in our mouths, and that rule will apply as well at the new site.
So there’s not that much of a difference, after all.
Comment by David S. Greene — August 25, 2011 @ 12:41 pm
“we’ve been passionate, but we didn’t sell anything, either.”
I’m not sure about your point, David. That doesn’t have anything to do with my observation about disclaimers about content. Yes, PC didn’t sell anything. But PC is/was passionate about their reviews, their warnings, their opinions.
And VetStreet IS selling things (or plans to, see their “ShopHub” tab on their home page.
Comment by Patti S. — August 25, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
Patti, Pet Connection had a disclaimer too. It’s in the upper left hand corner.
Comment by Christie Keith — August 25, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
“Each post is the opinion of the person who wrote it.”
Short, sweet, honest.
Read the one on VS. - http://www.vetstreet.com/additional-information
Comment by Patti S. — August 25, 2011 @ 1:05 pm
Don’t get me wrong. I wish all of you well. Those that are moving to VetStreet, and those that choose a different path. I hope to read great things from all of you.
Comment by Patti S. — August 25, 2011 @ 1:15 pm
As a fairly new addition to the Pet Connection team I have mixed emotions about the move. I hate to see it go, but know it’s going to be a good move. I am so thankful and honored for the opportunity to blog alongside some of the finest people I know.
I’ll definitely be spending time at Vetstreet, although I’m not sure if it’ll be as a blogger. Whatever the case, I’ll be there to see how it evolves and hope it outshines any expectations anybody may have! And of course, I’ll still be blogging and posting those #$!* recalls at http://www.petsitusa.com.
Thank you to everyone at Pet Connection for making it such a kick ass blog over the years!
Comment by Therese — August 25, 2011 @ 1:32 pm
It’s been a HUGE honor to blog with you, too, Therese! I’ll be blogging at Dogged and I’m sure will be linking to you every ten seconds. ;)
Comment by Christie Keith — August 25, 2011 @ 1:35 pm
Missing everyone already. It is a diverse group here at Pet Connection and I was glad to be part of it.
I look forward to Vetstreet and contributing there.
I am interested to watch the methods Vetstreet will use to bring back viewers over and over. We all know they will get the new eyeballs on their site by the gazillions. It is a big company!
The blog here at PC sure does give a good example of retaining readers.
Kudos to you, Gina, Christie and Dr. Becker, for creating such a great canvas for bloggers and readers to express themselves.
I’ve always loved pet product scouting and reviews and plan to continue to do so on my http://www.petdrool.com site (quirky and fun), with a few other ventures, and very happily with http://www.Vetstreet.com (to be seen!) as much as they need me.
Wags and Meows,
Ericka
Comment by Ericka — August 25, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
I’m sad to see Pet Connection go, sad to lose the personal touch and the passion behind the posts, the moral outrage and the down-to-earth honesty that resonated so well for me. Hopefully, the corporate environment doesn’t succeed in softening your edges or blunting your messages.
I wish you guys all the best. <3 If Vetstreet sticks with the Facebook blog comment format, I'll be another commenter (if an infrequent one) left behind. *sniff*
Auntie Crazy
Comment by A.C. — August 25, 2011 @ 8:36 pm
I will also miss the personal aspect of PC and its writers. I know nothing stays the same and also you cant judge a book by its cover but just the little bit I looked at, the Vetstreet site just has a bland appearance to it as well as a commercial feel to it. It just doesnt do justice to the personalities of the PC gang, in my mind. JMO. I wish everyone the best of luck in their new endeavors.
I want to thank PC, Gina and Christie for all their work during the 2007 recalls, I will never forget them for all the help they provided me and countless numbers of other pet owners going through one of the worst times in their lives.
Comment by Sandi K — August 25, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
Yes, it was the personal touch during the 2007 recall that brought people here and enticed them to stay. I think that is the source of angst for so many, the breaking of a bond forged in fire. Gina and Christie will now be in a big room of cubicles and I’ll need a pass to go see them. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!
You guys may feel PC was a seat-of-the-pants operation, but there’s a lot to be said for running your own “small town newspaper”, even if you DO have to typeset!
I know the behind the scenes stuff has been overwhelming and apparently got to be too much for anyone to do well.
So, I decided to snoop around Vetcentric, bland as it appeared. In the articles section there was one on Xylitol written this past July. No author, only the message at the bottom that it was checked by a vet. So #1, I don’t even know who I’m dealing with as far as source of info, which is a factor for me. Another is that it only mentioned gum and candy, and we all know it’s in yogurt and other foods, and sometimes in compounded meds and Barleans flavored fish oils. So it’s incomplete, anonymous and useless AFAIC. I can get better info on Usenet. Certainly the blog post on Xylitol was more complete at PC months ago. Oh and I couldn’t even see if anyone commented on it expanding the information, as it required Facebook.
In all the years of doing research on pet health, I’ve never landed on Vetcentric as a source of info. To me, that sez a lot.
So, the day the comment switch is set to OFF here will be a sad day for me.
Okay, I’m done picking at my scab.
All the best.
Comment by CathyA — August 26, 2011 @ 4:26 am
Listen, I keep saying this, but let me say it differently: Please stop saying goodbye to me! I’ll still be blogging — as I have always blogged everywhere — in my own name, as myself, opinions intact, not for pay, with no advertisers, on Dogged. I may also step up my blogging on Connected By Pets (formerly PetHobbyist), now that PC will be gone.
I completely support Gina and Dr. Becker in this new phase of their work, and am enjoying working with everyone at Vetstreet during the transition. They are a great bunch of people and I’ll be working with them on some community, social media and philanthropic projects as they further develop the site.
I think that some of you got the idea that I’d be taking my blogging there, and that’s not the case. So please stop writing eulogies for me, kthnx. ;)
Comment by Christie Keith — August 26, 2011 @ 6:06 am
I agree that Vetstreet looks bland and commercial, but I trust Gina and Dr. Becker to do their best to make it less bland—to say the least. :) Since I need to be on Facebook for other reasons, that’s not an obstacle for me, but I totally sympathize with anyone for whom it’s not only an obstacle, but an insurmountable one.
And I’ll need to make Dogged one of my regular stops in my wandering the internet. :)
Comment by Lis — August 26, 2011 @ 6:33 am
I was just re-reading the comments, and Christopher@BorderWars said something else that alerted me to a possible concern - linking to other blogs. Again using Huffington Post as an example of a “corporatized” blogging website: They prohibit comments that link to other blogs. If you include such a link in your comment, it doesn’t get posted (I tried during one of the Vick discussions - thought it would be productive for people to read a description of the kinds of desecrations that occurred at the Vick “compound”, and other blogs are the only places where those descriptions could be found - the mainstream media wouldn’t touch that stuff with a ten foot pole). Not only did my comment not get posted, but I was actually locked out of commenting for a time.
Haven’t read the Vetstreet posting guidelines, so I don’t know if such a restriction exists. But I certainly hope it does not. And I also continue to hope that Facebook is not required for participation (and am eagerly awaiting someone who can conclusively clear that question up).
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 26, 2011 @ 6:57 am
Couple things:
Vetstreet’s blog platforms aren’t up yet, so that’s still out there to see before you decide what you think.
and …
Yes, the company isn’t set up for lively commentary from the writers as a side dish with the news. I was on my way to Davis on an urgent (but not life-threatening) veterinary errand yesterday afternoon, and some Motown came on the radio.
What did I think of? Why FDA media conferences during the pet-food recall, of course!
That’s because Christie and I listened to their Motown “hold” music for long periods of time over the six weeks of the worst.
I later found out that our online mocking of their music really, really annoyed them. I’ve since come to know a couple of the FDA scientists and veterinarians, and they’re good people trying to do their best in an era of rampant corporate power and diminished budgets and power for regulatory agencies. And still without mandatory recall powers!
That doesn’t mean I’d ever give them a pass, of course. :)
Anyway … I assure you that Vetstreet will be the place for accurate, evidence-based information.
And I hope it will also become the place for lively and occasionally irritating voices and hot, honest and evidence-based discussions.
In the meantime … I’ll be picking up personal blogging again at AlmostRanchHeaven.com. Started it last fall, took it offline because of paying projects (gotta pay the mortgage, you know), and then put it back up recently.
You can follow me there. And please do, because there is another personal project in the development, once I find my stride with Vetstreet.com. Christie and I will share that news on our blogs when it’s ready.
In any case, I sure appreciate you all. No group of writers has ever had a smarter, more demanding group of readers.
I aim to keep you all.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 26, 2011 @ 7:06 am
I wasn’t going to comment, because, well, all I hear in my head are crickets; but I do want to wish everyone all the best.
I’m also going to take this chance to thank all the regular PC commenters so very much for the big part they have played in making this such a great site. So thanks, guys, ‘cause if you’re reading this, I probably mean you. ;)
Comment by Rori — August 26, 2011 @ 7:19 am
Gina just one more thing - you helped me so much personally with your writings (you really untied some knots for me) - besides wishing you well, thank you most sincerely.
Now go for it!
Comment by mary francis — August 26, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
Gina, I hope VetStreet will allow you to take the PFC’s to task still…such as during recalls, when they cite the “voluntary recall” mantra and “forget” to post the recall on their front page or Twitter or Facebook, etc. Otherwise Im afraid there will be some PFC’s doing a happy dance. IMO, PetConnection’s coverage of these recalls really did help, some PFC’s were watching and did adjust, for the better, how they were handling parts of their recalls.
Comment by Sandi K — August 26, 2011 @ 3:36 pm
OK, this just profiled on local news. Two weeks to unveiling. Perhaps an answer to FB haters who still want social media? They wouldn’t say too much, gotta built the anticipation I guess.
Unthink
UNTHINK is not another social network; it is a social revolution. UNTHINK was built ON purpose - WITH purpose. It is the product of the foresight of its founders, who in 2007 realized that social networks were headed for a dead end because of their arrogant behavior and total disregard of users, and that Facebook would evolve into what some call a cyber-dictatorship.
http://www.youtube.com/user/unthink
Comment by CathyA — August 27, 2011 @ 10:02 am
Gotta add my voice: totally not a fan of the “This article has been reviewed by a Vet” cause um, yah, that means lots….not. “Review” doesn’t mean approved, doesn’t mean fact checked, doesn’t mean that a vet put thought into it, it does mean no-one put their name on it so that no questions can be asked about specifics or the like. “Reviewed” doesn’t mean much of anything really.
I’m hoping for everyone’s sake that the new format works out, but I’ve got my serious doubts unless the blog section ends up totally different.
Comment by Ruth — August 27, 2011 @ 7:37 pm
Also whats going to happen to the Blogroll? Sure I could bookmark the ones I frequent, but that would double my bookmark list and thats such a pain, being able to check in here, read the posts, then out click to the blogs of my choice has been a relief.
Comment by Ruth — August 27, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
I enjoy PC and will miss it.Sorry,no Facebook,and I’m not really crazy about having to register to comment,since that almost always means more spam.
Comment by Maria Shanley — August 28, 2011 @ 7:13 am
That “Reviewed by a Vet” statement at the bottom of articles is really annoying and I agree with Ruth that it really says nothing.
I just used the search function to find some articles about cat trees (and hopefully some tips on good ones and free plans) and I got a bunch of articles on dog breeds (???)
I hope the bugs get worked out, but it’s really making me appreciate PC even more than I did (which is saying a lot).
We’re probably giving a homeless kitten a home next week, so I’m in “getting ready” mode. I’m going to miss have a fun community to share the news/early mishaps with that PC gave us
Comment by Dorene — August 28, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I wish you the very best…the German Wirehaired pointer info on the site is way off…and the dog looks like a St. Bernard, other than that…hahaha…
Comment by Mary Murray — August 28, 2011 @ 8:45 pm
Anyone heard from David Greene after Irene?
I now declare this post open thread! Heehee, anarchy from the peanut gallery……….
Comment by CathyA — August 29, 2011 @ 4:46 am
David and his family are okay, but there were affected by the flooding. No power, and not sure yet what major appliances are fried.
Comment by Lis — August 29, 2011 @ 5:07 am
many of our adopters are without power…Nancy in Halifax, Ma posted a photo of downed trees and power lines. CT adopters also without power or car phone chargers. It is a terrible mess.
Comment by Mary Murray — August 29, 2011 @ 6:09 am
Lis, thanks for the update. Being okay is paramount! The washer/dryer is replaceable.
Comment by CathyA — August 29, 2011 @ 6:27 am
I sincerely hope that the PC team can do something with Vetstreet that makes the site appear as if it was written by, and for, human beings.
Not seeing it now.
I don’t get my information — and certainly not advice or insight — from PR-sanitized shillbot sites.
Additionally, truly, why would a thinking person care that a non-medical article was “reviewed by a veterinarian?”
“Four out of five dentists?”
Comment by H. Houlahan — August 29, 2011 @ 9:49 am
I agree with Heather. I might just set my link straight to the blog section of their site once they get it setup and just go straight there—remember, most of you followers here are not average pet owners and don’t need an article on how to potty train or brush teeth.
Long time Pet Connection followers tend to be above average informed (I can think of more than a few blog comments I had to look up in medical dictionaries), which speaks well of the depth of information on PC and the quality of it’s writers. Vet Street, at a glance, is also trying to appeal to the average (or worse) pet owner. Commercially, it makes sense, most consumers are average. And, most of us veterans don’t need to *buy* as many things—we’ve got leashes, brushes, crates, dog bowls, shampoos, etc.
I don’t think that changing the URL to Gina’s writing could change her. Remember, they are basically hiring her to keep doing what she’s been doing, so they must like what they’ve been reading. Maybe it’s Vet Street’s attempt to *add* more in depth info. Kudos to them.
Comment by Melissa Duffy — August 29, 2011 @ 11:10 am
Gina said she was going to ask Rob Irvine of Vetstreet to read these comments for a better understanding of the concerns about the new site. Not sure if he’s also planning to post here and answer any of our questions, but it sure would be nice . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 29, 2011 @ 11:40 am
Maybe Vetstreet needs an Advanced Placement section for us smartypants readers…
Comment by Rori — August 29, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
Now, now - you don’t want to have people thinking we’re a bunch of those “ee-leets” that everyone is supposed to hate . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 29, 2011 @ 3:27 pm
I’m eeleets and now that there are only a couple of days’ worth of oxygen left in the Pet Connection tanks, I’m gonna go ahead and type it for everyone to see. For 2 days.
Comment by YesBiscuit! — August 29, 2011 @ 4:14 pm
Gina and Christie,
I want to thank you so much for this site. I’ve visited faithfully since your amazing reporting during the pet food recalls. There hasn’t been another website or blog I’ve followed as long. Your passion, honesty and integrity is rare. I’ve appreciated how you have handled moderation of the comments. I appreciate your dedication to safe food and your readers. I have learned so much about so many different things by reading this blog over the years. We are smart and demanding readers because you made us that way :) I hope to find this at Vetstreet as well. Make it easy on me, don’t make me go to (your) 2 other blogs ;) I wish both of you, as well as the other writers I have come to love, much success and happiness from this transition. Organic, grown/made in the US dog treats for everyone!
Once again, THANK YOU.
Comment by kb — August 30, 2011 @ 3:10 am
Hear, Hear what kb said.
Comment by VJ — August 30, 2011 @ 6:26 am
I will certainly be giving the new site a try, in the hope that Gina can’t, in fact, be pr-sanitized. But failing that, I’ll be reading her writing and Christie’s elsewhere.
It would be nice if Bob Irvine stops by, reads these comments, and acknowledges and addresses the concerns.
Comment by Lis — August 30, 2011 @ 7:10 am
“Each post is the opinion of the person who wrote it.”
Short, sweet, honest.
Read the one on VS. - http://www.vetstreet.com/additional-information
Comment by Patti S. — August 25, 2011 @ 1:05 pm
_______
Holy crap, you are not kidding!
Combined with the lack of bylines — so no human to own those words — wow.
Comment by H. Houlahan — August 30, 2011 @ 8:28 am
I’ve been reading Gina since her first personal blog (God, I can’t even remember what platform it was - something weird and long gone, so far as I can recall). I will follow the move to Vet Street, but I am also a bit concerned that it will lose it’s homespun feel.
I’d actually be OK with the “vet approved” blog posts if it was Dr. Tony doing the approvals… I picture him reading them and sending them back for editing, with red marker notes saying “more jelly donut references, please”.
Comment by FrogDogz — August 30, 2011 @ 10:37 am
We almost all have personal blogs, and I will be posting those links shortly. I am even creating a new personal blog. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 30, 2011 @ 10:45 am
I think it will be easier for people to give Vetstreet a chance if they take it on its own terms and not think of it as Pet Connection. They are building a comprehensive informational site with community and social features, which I think will be a terrific resource.
Obviously the great team of Gina and Dr. Becker was behind the success of Pet Connection, and it’s no wonder they wanted them. It’s also wonderful that they’re offering platforms for the work of the other Pet Connection bloggers and team members, and I think it’s going to result in a pretty great dish when it’s all cooked. :)
But I also expect that the unusual “mix” that was the Pet Connection blog (because remember, “Pet Connection” was a lot of things, only one of which was the blog, even though that’s probably the only part you here on the blog think of, LOL) will not come together in a single place again.
I know not all of you use Facebook, but perhaps we could create a Facebook page for the various Pet Connection team members to post their work as it’s published in various places? I can set all the current team members as admins, and then when they have something new, they can just post it there. It’s an easy way for those of you who use Facebook to keep up with our work, and even those who don’t use Facebook can see what’s posted there, use it as one-stop shopping, if you will.
If at least a few of the writers give me the thumbs-up, I’ll create the page. :)
Comment by Christie Keith — August 30, 2011 @ 10:50 am
http://fab.com/inspiration/ira-glass
A parting gift to all the writers, artists, creatives, and people who are treading water.
I wish someone told me.
Comment by Ericka — August 30, 2011 @ 2:59 pm
Thanks Christie…I would like that as I am sure most of us would…I do a lot of Face booking, networking for OUR breed that was neglected so long by the breed club, was our initiative years ago as members when we broke away to do something, anything to save these dogs.
We have posted most of your blogs from the Pet Connection, so this is pretty sad…and I do not like change. The information my readers devoured from the blogs spurred some very thoughtful debate or conversation….we would love to continue to share….Please writers…give the thumbs up OK? Pretty Please? With sugar on top?
Comment by Mary Murray — August 30, 2011 @ 3:33 pm
Christie, I think that’s a great idea!! And for those of you who aren’t on Facebook, even though you won’t be able to comment, you’ll still be able to see who’s posting what and go to their blogs.
Comment by Therese — August 30, 2011 @ 4:37 pm
That’s right; Facebook pages are public. You can just click on the link and go read the post on the person’s blog.
Comment by Christie Keith — August 30, 2011 @ 4:40 pm
Sounds good to me, Christie. Count me in.
Comment by Kim Thornton — August 30, 2011 @ 5:08 pm
Christie, good idea!
Comment by Ericka — August 30, 2011 @ 7:34 pm
Me, too!
Comment by Liz Palika — August 30, 2011 @ 9:17 pm
Christie not sure I understand but are you saying that although a person doesn’t “do” Facebook, they can still read the comments? Please clarify. Thank you.
Comment by VJ — August 31, 2011 @ 4:58 am
VJ, you can read comments. For instance Christie’s FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/ByChristieKeith
Click on Wall :
http://www.facebook.com/ByChristieKeith?sk=wall
I noticed during Big Bus tour you couldn’t read all of the comments at certain sites w/o signing up. Don’t know if that’s set by FB or author, but bet it’s FB.
A different style of pet:
http://honeyrockdawn.com/2011/...../#comments
Comment by CathyA — August 31, 2011 @ 5:49 am
I’m late to commenting, but this is a sad day. I’ll check out VetStreet and the various blogs, but I’m sure going to miss this impassioned, quirky, informative community. Many many (many many) thanks to Christie, Gina, Liz, Phyllis, Kim, Ingrid, Dr. Becker, Dr. Johnson, and all the rest — along with the many fabulous commenters — for a very special place all these years. I wish everyone well for the journey from here.
Comment by Cindy R — August 31, 2011 @ 6:56 am
Yes, you can read everything on a Facebook page without being signed up for Facebook. You can’t, however, comment, but you can certainly go comment on the actual post itself, over on the person’s blog.
Comment by Christie Keith — August 31, 2011 @ 6:58 am
I know nothing lasts forever, but I’m still not sure what I’m going to do without Pet Connection to check every day. What follows, better or worse, will be different, and I’m very sad today.
Comment by Lis — August 31, 2011 @ 7:42 am
I mourn the loss of the Pet Connection community. I would have been difficult to retain/recreate at a new site under any circumstances. But I see no evidence of any attempt to do so at VetStreet. I’ve clicked around a bit and all I see is another corporate sanitized info-spam site. I’m sure the PC crew will try to create something more, but it’s not there now (or at least I haven’t found it).
Also the VetStreet site doesn’t work at all on one of my computers. No content, just the decorations. No idea why. I’m using FF 6. It’s probably all the unnecessary JavaScript.
I don’t do facebook either. Facebook tracks every page you visit that has a blue ‘F’ facebook logo. That’s too much Big Brother for me. You don’t have to log in or click the logo. Simply visiting a page that displays the blue ‘F’ means that facebook knows that you visited that page. They store that info and use it however they wish including selling it to other corporations. No thanks.
I already miss PetConnection. I’ll try to remember to click over to VetStreet, but to date there isn’t any reason to do so.
Thanks, Gina, Christie, and crew. It’s been a great site. And a double thanks to all the commenters. The community made PC a must read for me.
Bye.
Comment by Grahund — August 31, 2011 @ 8:39 am
Considering that Gina said she’d ask Rob Irvine from VetStreet to comment way back on the 25th and he hasn’t bothered to reply by the 31st, tells me all I want to know about VetStreet. Ah, well, more direct searches for individuals through GoodSearch for the PC writers will generate $ for my favorite cause, and I’ll avoid VetStreet and FaceBook entirely.
Comment by KateH — August 31, 2011 @ 9:11 pm