Dating can be ruff: This online service is here to help

KELOWNA – Whether you own a dog, or are just a fan, a new online dating site wants to link dog lovers together.

Hotdiggiddy is a new, Kelowna-based online dating site that focuses on connecting people who own dogs.

“Dogs say so much about a person,” Scott Murray, the founder and president of Hotdiggiddy, says. “You know that you’re getting involved with someone that has some of the same values as you do and that they have the ability to love.”

Previously Murray had another dating site connecting pet lovers in general, but found including all animals was too broad.

“I wanted Hotdiggiddy to be more focussed, and connecting dog lovers just seemed like a natural fit.”

It’s free to create a profile with hotdiggiddy, but if you want to communicate with the people you have matched with, you will have to pay a fee.

Although Murray says the main focus of the site is to link people romantically, it is not the only option for users. People may just want a dog walking companion or to join a local group of dog lovers.

Hotdiggiddy is also working with companies that Murray says he thinks would cater to users.

“For example, say you’re traveling and are looking for a dog friendly hotel, we want to be able to link you to our preferred partners that would fit in the category you’re looking for,” he says.

The dating site also has a blog and they will be launching a forum page in the coming weeks.

“We’d like this to become not just a dating site for dog lovers but a place people can go for information,” Murray says. “Say you want to find information on how to give your dog medication, we want you to be able to be able to come to our site for that.”

Hotdiggiddy currently has about 100 members.

“We’re looking for people living life to the fullest, we accept anyone over the age of 18, but our key demographic would be 30 and up,” Murray says. “We want people who enjoy life, who have been around a bit and have a good head on their shoulders, and obviously people who love dogs.”

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