Dr. Arlene Scarano is the founder and chief executive officer of PETLOVERSCHAT. She established the company with her husband, Dr. Joseph Scarano, during September 2021. The PETLOVERSCHAT website and mobile applications went live during April of 2022.
Arlene was born in Clarendon, Jamaica and moved to Florida at the age of twenty-four. A life-long student, she has a bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing practice, doctoral degree in nursing practice, and most recently has obtained her medical degree. Dr. Scarano is an internal medicine nurse practitioner providing care for adult/elderly patients. Arlene married Dr. Joseph Scarano, a pediatrician, in 2018.
FWM: Tell us your background and what led you to launch PETLOVERSCHAT.
I have enjoyed a successful career in medicine, advancing my status by obtaining bachelors, masters, doctorate and medical degrees. Although the science behind medicine has always fascinated me, it is the humanism and art of medicine that allow me to provide meaningful care for my patients and make an impact on society. Throughout my medical career, patients have shared with me their love for, and devotion to, their pets. Some have presented with grief and depression because of the loss of their dear pet. Many reveal the sense of purpose and emotional reward associated with pet ownership. My love for pets and animals allows me to empathize with patients who are distraught because of a pet’s illness or misfortune. I have found that patients who are reticent to “open up” become animated and engaged when I inquire about their pet…often sharing, with smiles and laughter, their pet photos and stories. Eventually, I realized the need for an open forum where owners could share their passion for pets…and PETLOVERSCHAT was born.
FWM: The Nextdoor social media app for neighborhoods is worth $4.3 Billion. Do you see synergy between Nextdoor and PETLOVERSCHAT?
PETLOVERSCHAT, like NextDoor, is a revolutionary, multidimensional platform that, unlike NextDoor, is distinguished by unique features including: Pet of the Day, Pet Play Date, Pet Tricks, Pet Wedding Album, Pet Lost & Found, Pet Adoption, a marketplace and an ad center. These features put PETLOVERSCHAT ahead of, and set it aside from, traditional social media platforms.
FWM: Take us through your revolutionary multidimensional platform for pet ownership.
PETLOVERSCHAT enables pet lovers to engage in an active community with other pet lovers. Our signature feature is Pet of the Day, displayed on the landing page of our app and website. Joe and I personally curate this, choosing an intriguing and eye-catching pet to be featured for a day. Pet Playdate allows users to transition their online relationships into real-world relationships, broadening both the pet’s and owner’s social network and facilitating healthy pet interactions. Pet Tricks enables owners to showcase their pets’ remarkable skills. Pet Tails is dedicated to noteworthy and heartwarming stories of pets acting heroically or aiding others. We invite owners of service animals of all sorts to give them the notoriety they deserve. Pet Adoption enables users to list their pet for adoption or find a pet to adopt. Animal shelters and rescue agencies can utilize this component to find homes for their needy pets. Likewise, Pet Lost and Found is a forum for reuniting wayward pets and their owners. The Marketplace is where users can list goods for sale, providing direct-to-consumer marketing for individuals and businesses.
Our Ad Center utilizes an innovative, affordable, flexible and user-friendly model which supports companies within and without the pet industry. Our advertising campaigns are highly effective and are designed to generate revenue for businesses of all sizes. Advertisers enjoy real-time analytics, allowing businesses to assess the impact of their ad campaign and monitor advertisement performance with precision.
FWM: What was important to you when building your app, is it user-friendly?
Our primary goals were to invent an application and website that are unique, fun, friendly and entertaining. Pet lovers, even those who are not “tech savvy”, can navigate through the platform easily. We have continually made refinements to the application/website to improve the user experience.
FWM: Tell us about some of the Facts about PETLOVERSCHAT?
PETLOVERSCHAT was launched in 2021 and has worldwide users. It is the first-ever social media platform dedicated to pets and their owners.
Arlene and Joseph Scarano are the founders and owners of PETLOVERSCHAT.
The application is available at no cost on the Apple App store and the Google Play store.
Users must be eighteen years of age or older.
The social media platform includes a wealth of unique features which are catered toward pet lovers.
FWM: You offer an area for adoption and also lost and found. Are people notified when there are posts?
Automatic notifications are not generated but users can communicate with messaging.
FWM: How is the platform a way to build friendships?
The platform features live chat/messaging and the ability to “like” and “comment” on other users’ posts. Users can “friend” others and “People You May Know” allows you to expand your network of friends.
FWM: What is your vision for your company?
First, my vision for PETLOVERSCHAT is to connect and strengthen the animal and pet lover community through the power and innovation of social media, and revolutionize the pet owner world by bringing together millions of happy pets, their masters, and fans in a massive worldwide forum where users can share the joy and happiness of owning a pet. PETLOVERSCHAT achieves this while cultivating an environment of quality, care and trust.
Secondly, I would like PETLOVERSCHAT to be the preeminent worldwide marketplace for recurring pet goods and services.
