Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Petlife.

Teddy Bears and Apple Slices
I first suspected Oso was sick a month before he died. Earlier that year I had decided that I wanted to be a baker after watching too many episodes of The Great British Bake Off. I was scowling at my poorly made lattice, silently debating whether or not I should remake it when I noticed Oso laying by my feet.
By Jade4 years ago in Petlife
The Comfort of the Most Loyal Dog
It is often said that dog is man’s best friend. And it’s a maxim that true best friends will stick by you through thick and thin, no matter what. I could definitely say this for one of my family’s dogs, Woody.
By Max Kanin4 years ago in Petlife
“The Basement Babe”.
Lola wasn’t supposed to be here. In fact, she lived a very different life before being sheltered with peanut butter bones and cuddles.
By Alexis Henry4 years ago in Petlife
Zoonotic Diseases: Diseases Passed Between Animals and People
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be passed from animals to people (and back and forth). The most common one is Rabies, though we don't see that disease much anymore, which is a good thing.
By Shelley Wenger4 years ago in Petlife
Don't Let Go!
Rascal was that dog. You know, the dog who's lifespan runs parallel to the most formative years of your childhood. We adopted Rascal from the Humane Society in Erie, Pennsylvania, when I was five years old.
By Sydney Chapman4 years ago in Petlife
Her Life, Unleashed
She passed away on October 12th, 2013, but this was not the last memory we made together. No, this was only the moment she was freed from the confines of her arthritis-riddled, twelve-and-a-half-year-old body, and she was now ready to experience true freedom.
By Ashe G.4 years ago in Petlife
Tacoma: A Dog and a Snowy Mountain
Tacoma. What a screwball! What can I say? He kept me on my toes! Every day coming home from work, there he was to slide into the door from a full sprint to greet me! As soon as he’d hear the key in the doorknob…game over for me! You could hear his claws rapidly clicking across the hardwood floor as he scrambled down the hallway towards the front door.
By Tonya Wood4 years ago in Petlife
Mandatory Adoption
Moving to a new place is difficult for anyone, not to mention the confusion of the pets. This particular move was not our choice, but hers. Little girls can be awfully cute and full of energy, but sometimes too hands-on for small animals.
By Maureen Webb4 years ago in Petlife
A Dog's Person
I’m not a dog person, but I might be one dog’s person. After a recent, terrifying, experience of getting attacked and bitten—twice—by a strange dog, I was keeping my distance from all creatures canine. Except for my grand dog Charlie, I steered clear from dogs I didn’t know, so when our new neighbors moved in with their dog Gandalf, I avoided getting too close. There is a fence between our houses and I was never so happy to have a fence than I was that first day Gandalf bounded out of his house, over to where I was near the fence and promptly started barking at me. I turned on my heel and practically ran into my house, never, ever, having felt so scared of a dog before in my life. I wasn’t so sure I’d like having an aggressive dog for a neighbor and it already seemed like Gandalf wasn’t crazy about me, either. But Gandalf and I had a different relationship in store for us, one neither of us saw coming.
By Cindy Eastman4 years ago in Petlife
Pablo and the Open Road
Most people buy or adopt a dog, but very few are paid to take a dog! My little man Pablo, a Chihuahua-Beagle mix, came into my life in the most unexpected way. As an international college student from Ireland – thousands of miles away from home in Nebraska – I had been longing for a dog. I grew up on a farm, surrounded by dogs, and being away from animals made the United States even more lonely. I longed for a furry best friend.
By alice akers4 years ago in Petlife
Hide and Seek
Out in the bush that day, we gulped in deep breaths of life as we played, serenaded by the familiar and comforting hum of nature. The Summer sun trickled through the eucalypts above, giving Charlie’s ebony coat a brilliant shine. This was our happy place, where we worked for the simple goal of wringing out the energy that always built to overflowing in his little Jack Russell body. The leaves crunched beneath our feet, releasing bursts of eucalyptus oil that clashed with the hot summer sun, serving to intensify the delicious smell of the Australian bush. Snakes probably slithered beneath our feet, but we were both unaware and didn’t care as we began Charlie’s first game of Hide and Seek. I am struck with Charlie’s apparent knowledge of how this game works, despite having never played before.
By Rachel Webb4 years ago in Petlife
Snow Day
Mylie & Me Mylie was 6 months old when she came into my life in May 2015. I had no plans to become a dog owner again, after all, I had a busy work life and not much time to myself as it was, so the arrival of a beautiful little puppy was totally unexpected and changed my life completely, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
By Dawn Vardigans4 years ago in Petlife