Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
The Truth About Having a Pet Rabbit
I’ve always been one to advocate for adopt don’t shop. But sometimes, the inside of you twists your mind and heart into a knot. You see these animals behind a small glass box. Sometimes more than one in each, giving them just enough space to snuggle together to keep warm. You can't help yourself but want to take them out of that situation and give them the happiness they deserve. Other times, you walk into a pet store and your heart melts. You see these adorable fluffy, feather, or even scale-y animals that you just are dying to have to call your own, and to give a home to. Whatever the case may be, you do it. As did I. I was heading to get my eyebrows done with my boyfriend’s sister, who has also become a close friend. We arrived there way too early, stupidly not looking at what time the store opened, but saw a pet store across the street. “Oh! Let’s go in there!” I cried out, already using that voice we use when we talk to our pets. We walked in and were greeted by the friendly workers in the small shop and a bunny hoping around the store alongside a cat. Our eyes immediately drew to the bunnies and ferrets, the first two glass boxes to the left of us.
By Griffin Elfant7 years ago in Petlife
How My Dog Saved My Life
This is only a short story, but I have to tell it. This is Gypsy and she saved my life. For the past 10 years or so I’ve been fighting a battle with depression, and I even attempted to take my own life a few times, I felt like everything was getting too much and only I was to blame for that. With my brother in prison and my sister in a mental health institute, life became too much for me to handle.
By Alan Brooks7 years ago in Petlife
The Frog and Other Visitors
I love frogs. They're so beneficial and plus they're cute. Keeping bugs away. Every year, I would get visited by a frog or frogs. When Allie, my bearded dragon passed away, a month later, a toad paid a visit to me, every day. I looked up the mystical facts about frogs and toads visiting after a death. Well, the toad signaled that I was being visited by Allie's spirit. Whenever I would come visit her grave in the backyard, the little toad was there. It didn't flee. It stayed around for the whole summer. This year, a tree frog and a toad visited me again. This time, I was able to handle both without having them pee on my hands. All toads and frogs pee when nervous or it's a defense against predators. I have been told not to handle toads because they have warts and can cause warts. Well, thankfully, it hasn't been the case with any frog or toad. I've rescued both toad and tree frog from spider webs.One particular tree frog always seems to trust me and they even traveled to the stores with me. One day after a shopping trip, he had sneaked into the trunk of my SUV. I took him back to where I had believed he should be. The next day, he was stuck in between the plastic sheeting and door. It seems he liked to be warmed up and given the same love I gave to Allie. When he was done with getting warmed up and loved, he would leave. I think he was a miracle frog and visited every night, climbing on my windows. The toad didn't return, but the tree frog always did pay a visit either to eat the bugs or to send a message.
By Tracy Lawson7 years ago in Petlife
Rescue Snakes
Hey! My name is Colin, and I’ve always loved weird animals. I finally was able to get a snake, back when I was about 13. I still have him, and he’s still as lovely as ever. But he sparked something inside me. A need to help the reptiles that did need homes. Two snakes later, and I found one of my biggest supporters. His name is King Julien, and honestly. He’s a very sweet boy. He’s defensive and was left beaten badly before being turned into a pet store anonymously. They couldn’t help him, so they sold him to me! $50 and damn, I’ve loved him ever since. He’s a troubled soul, with a bashed in nose, and neurological issues from being hit in the head so many times. He has scars from being burned, and honestly. I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I figured, hey, boa constrictors need homes! People buy them when they’re little and don’t expect them to get so big! So I went on a search, and found one of my dearest snakes. Big Mona (pictured!) was so sweet and lovely. She never hissed, she never struck, and she never, ever, bit anybody. She was a model citizen. Unfortunately, the people who had her before me, power fed her from a young age. Having been fed frequent, fatty meals, was detrimental to her. She died of fatty liver this past summer. Losing a pet is hard, especially one you’ve loved and known needed somebody to care for them. Losing her, shook me completely. I struggled with my own abilities as a keeper of snakes. But by the time we knew, it was far too late. She was a sweetheart, despite being seven feet when she died. She was way overweight too, unfortunately. She was a massive girl, and with her calm demeanour, she helped people around me to realize that snakes weren’t a terrible thing. Snakes could be something other than an angry monster, out to bite everybody.
By Colin Pitaoulis7 years ago in Petlife
Spike, Pongo, Sadie, and Allie
I had four dogs. One of them isn't pictured here. Her name is Dollie.Four beautiful lovely dogs. All with souls and were the best dogs we've ever had. Our beautiful dogs were taken from us way too early. Spike was a Black Labrador. The youngest member of our family. He had the most soulful eyes. He was a silly goofy boy! He was the biggest baby though. He loved going outside, playing tug of war, running around the yard with his rawhide bones and burying them so no one else could get them, barking at squirrels, birds, rabbits, and anyone who came up our driveway. He talked, smiled the biggest smile he could give when got into trouble. It was so funny and you couldn't help but laugh. He was a sweet heart. My late father coaxed him with dog treats and took him home. First, we thought it was Dollie, but Dollie didn't look like this big goofy puppy.
By Tracy Lawson7 years ago in Petlife
Animal Shelter Staff Worker
I used to work at an animal shelter. I know what you’re thinking, “you’re so lucky, you get to play with puppies and kitties all day.” If by playing you mean cleaning litter boxes, spraying out kennels, and having kittens using you as a scratching post, then yes. It was a lot of work taking care of all the animals: making sure everyone has fresh food and water, changing litter boxes, letting all the dogs out, mopping all the floors, etc... but I loved it anyway.
By Laura Jelsma7 years ago in Petlife
Allie's Story
Four years ago, I rescued a bearded dragon lizard named Alice. Alice turned into Allie. Allie was a sweet bearded dragon lizard. We didn't know her approximate age so we were told she was seven to nine months old. While I didn't have enough information on her, I dived right in to a world I didn't know anything about bearded dragon lizards. There is a lot of conflicting information about them and due to that conflicting information, I didn't know if I was doing everything right. When I asked her previous owner about what she ate, she told me to look it up and that was it. I went website to website, looking for information, looking for things she would need for a happy long life with me.
By Tracy Lawson7 years ago in Petlife
Goodbye Shiloh
I came home from school in a bad mood. I saw your leash outside and as I entered I yelled, "Why is there a leash outside?" Little did I know my life was about to get so much happier. I walked into the living room and saw a dog there. I said what's her name? My mom replied Shiloh (like the movie). Over the next little while, I taught her how to pee outside, how to sit, give paw, lay, and speak for a treat. I couldn't wait to get home from school anymore to see my little puppy. She was an excellent dog.
By Marcus Azaria7 years ago in Petlife
The Day I Became an Angel
I've always loved horses. There are pictures of me on horses before I was able to walk. I've diligently collected everything horses, from registration papers to saddles to statues to toys and even paintings for as long as I can remember. I started with barrel racing and of course had a Quarter Horse. After years of failing I gave up and moved to riding Missouri Fox Trotters. My first Fox Trotter was a huge 15+ white gelding with a yellow mane and tail. He literally looked like something you'd see in a book about a princess waiting for her knight in shining armor. He saved my life twice, once when I got lost in a lightning storm, and again when an angry bull tried to kill me. Needless to say he made an impression on me that would never be forgotten. I started showing another Fox Trotter who was a short bay mare. I loved it. After a while we had to sell the show horses and my childhood dreams of winning the World Grand Championship were washed away. I found another cheap Quarter Horse and went back to barrel racing. After a while the novelty of it wore off and I remembered why I left Quarter Horses in the first place. So the hunt was on for another Fox Trotter to ride. At this point I had trained my barrel horse enough that I could sell him and get money for a fair show horse. So I listed him and started checking out what was on the market. I came to a Fox Trotter group on Facebook that rescues horses from the kill pen and decided to join. I never expected to find anything for myself. As days passed I found trail horses, foals, and horses listed for such a price I'd have to spend two years earning the money. Then one day I scrolled onto a horse posted in the rescue group. The first words I saw were "registered Missouri Fox Trotter mare." For those that don't know much about kill pens, it's where unwanted horses get sent to die. When you sell to kill buyer you're lucky to get an eighth of what your horse is worth so the main horses I expected to see neglected, injured, sick, or highly aggressive. Seeing that a Fox Trotter was there was a shock and it being a registered mare even more so. As I watched the videos and looked at the pictures I could tell she was none of what I thought. She was beautiful with a flowing gait and such a sweet personality... the last thing I came to was her papers and I nearly choked. Her bloodlines were some of the best I had ever seen and her father was one of my favorite horses. Immediately I called my grandpa (who used to breed Fox Trotters) and told him about the mare. He was hesitant because like me he never expected anything even able to survive to be there. We eventually decided she was too good to leave, even if she did have issues. After a couple days we were ready to leave and get her. We drove four hours to get her. When we went to catch her I saw fear in her eyes. The truck to ship her and others to their deaths was two days from arriving. I still wonder if she thought we were that truck. On the way home we stopped to get gas and I went to the trailer to check on her. She had calmed down and looked at me with thankful eyes. That look of exhaustion and peace still feels like it just happened. She knew she was sent to die. On the first day home I gave her some fresh hay and water. That's when I learned that she likes to play with buckets. After finishing the first bit of water she grabbed the side of the bucket and slung it onto the ground. The look she gave seemed like she was laughing. The second time I filled the bucket she splashed the water with her nose then again threw it and the remaining contents on the ground. That time I laughed! Most horses would've jumped the trailer if they saw that spectacle, but she did it for fun. After a few hours of resting she went to the vet to be checked out. Nothing was wrong with her. That's where it gets confusing. She is in perfect health, she's gentle and broke to ride, she has amazing papers, and is show horse material. Absolutely nothing to land her in a kill pen. I still can't figure it out. Of course, that doesn't matter now. Now, she's safe, standing in the barn watching the rain fall outside. She will never face that fate again.
By Aleesa Rudder7 years ago in Petlife
