Specialized Dating Soars

UNION LEADER -- Oct 24-- DateMyPet.com is one of hundreds now available for people trying to find mates with whom they share a common interest. For daters new to the online world, niche dating offers hundreds of alternatives to the more commonly used dating sites. There are dating sites for Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Italians, Greeks, Indians, and Latinos, among other groups. Vegetarians, cyclists, recovering addicts, fitness fanatics, and disabled singles have their own sites, too. SquareDating.com helps connect single alumni from top colleges and universities. NoLongerLonely.com allows singles suffering a mental illness to seek each other out. LittlePeopleMeet.com is one of several sites exclusively for singles with dwarfism. And MilitaryDate.com hooks up servicemen and women across the country. GreenSingles.com is celebrating its 10th year online shortly. "When people begin to get serious about looking for long-term relationships or marriage, they're more likely to want to meet people of a similar background, race, or religion," said Gail Laguna, VP for Spark Networks. Spark recently acquired MingleMatch which oversees 21 affinity-focused online personals sites, including DeafSinglesConnection, Interracial Singles Connection, Single Parents Mingle, and Prime Singles Connection - for online daters more than 40 years old.  FULL ARTICLE @ UNION LEADER