Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Petlife.

The College Stowaway
As a college student, I knew adopting a dog was probably not the best idea. The day I took Mason back to my apartment, I had only a few dollars in my bank account and final exams a week away. Besides financially and mentally struggling, I was also a horrible emotional mess that had just been dumped earlier that month. I had no time, money, or energy, yet I couldn’t stand the idea of him being sent away to a pound. Mason, a 70-pound black mixed bully breed, was sure to meet misfortune if he went to the pound.
By Stephanie Rosas4 years ago in Petlife
How My Dog Saved My Life
Freshly twenty-two and moving into a new apartment, I was coming to terms with a lot of traumas. Though I’d always had some nagging thoughts about my father, I went to therapy as an adult for the first time and came to realize that he was a narcissist, and I was coming to terms with the fact that I had witnessed so much abuse and toxicity as a child. On top of that I was dealing with the aftermath of an awkward breakup with my boyfriend of the last four years, my mother had been diagnosed with Stage three breast cancer the year before, divorced my dad, and I was dealing with delayed healing from a sexual assault that occurred when I was eighteen. To say that I was a mess would have been the understatement of the century.
By C. L. Henderson4 years ago in Petlife
Where Does a Dog go When They Die?
Background Good old trusty. Though she was a 13-pound peakapoo, her namesake was the old baritone bloodhound from Lady and the Tramp (that’s another story). We found her after responding to a classified ad for the only hypoallergenic dogs we could find, which was a requirement in our home. The “breeder” introduced us to a variety of mutts of different sizes and ages. She pointed out the black one with the white face that appeared to be protecting the only puppy in the group, almost as an afterthought. We knew the timid little misfit was the perfect fit for our family. We found out later, through the local news, that the breeders were quite the opposite of reputable, which we expect may have explained some of Trusty's initial wariness. One of my favorite memories was the morning after we brought her home. It was as if she came to life. She was surrounded by us three ecstatic kids giving her a milk bone, and her tail was wagging so vigorously the whole bottom half of her body wagged with it as she sneezed with excitement. It was pure happiness for 10-year-old me, and I liked to imagine is was for Trusty too.
By Jenna J4 years ago in Petlife
Chasing Charlie
Chasing Charlie By Elizabeth Bradley “I am the master, I am the master, I AM THE MASTER.” I pound this in my head like a drum, but all that comes out of my mouth while I chase my 130 pound Saint Bernard Charlie is “let her sniff the dog’s butt, let her sniff the dog’s butt.”
By Elizabeth Bradley4 years ago in Petlife
6 Training Tips for Dogs and Puppies!!!
My (Samantha's) dog, Winnie, has always barked at the door — be it for the mail carrier or her best friends. This was always a little annoying but manageable. Until we moved into a condo in D.C. with nine units. That's nine doors, plus the front door, and Winnie was barking at all of them.
By Vimal Saran4 years ago in Petlife
Snakeman
Snakeman by Ann Swann When we lost Droopy to distemper, Mom vowed not to get another puppy. We were not rich, and she’d already spent a whole week’s grocery money at the vet trying to save him. Besides, the sight of our poor little shepherd under her bed, convulsing with fever, would stay with us forever.
By Ann Swann4 years ago in Petlife
My Dog & A Horse
There was this particular period in my life, about a decade ago, where I was in a quiet place of introspection, and chose to largely isolate myself from people. The vast majority of the inevitably necessary company I received was provided by my dog, Dexter. His muted, stoic presence filled the inevitable void dredged by solitude with a warmer, more comforting energy than any human could conjure. The cool thing about dogs is that you don’t feel the need to tirelessly impress them; they’re simple creatures, easy to please, and they don’t talk back.
By Nicholas Pietrowski4 years ago in Petlife
Bakula And Gangoat
Bakula and Gangoat There was a pond in a forest decorated with many aquatic animals. The pond was inhabited by various species of frogs, fish, snakes, gangs and crocodiles as well as goats. One of the goats, an old goat, was unable to make a living by fishing with his strength. One day he was sitting at the bottom of the pond crying with tears in his eyes. Seeing him crying like this, a gangster came with some other aquatic friends and sadly asked him respectfully, "Mama, you are not managing your food today, you are just crying and crying, what's the matter?" Tell us, can you help? % 3 Hearing Gangato's words, he said - you guessed right. I am living here with the determination to give up my life as a penance by retiring from the work of catching and eating fish. For the same reason, I am sitting here without catching the fish that come near.
By Dipak Sah4 years ago in Petlife
A Bit of Honey
I was never really much of a dog person growing up. It was not because I did not like them, just that I gravitated towards cats more. It was not until meeting a certain brindled beauty that I gained a new appreciation for them. So starts the story of how I met the love of my life.
By A_Skeleton_Speaks4 years ago in Petlife
Miss Mandy
It all started when my mom decided that my brother should have a dog, he didn’t live with us anymore, but he should have a dog at our house for when he came over. This was nothing new to me, at fourteen I had become accustomed to the baby getting whatever he wanted plus more. He had lived with my dad for 3 years and was only 7 at the time. We went down to the shelter to see about adopting a stray, it was cheaper, and it gave a deserving animal a home. They looked at a few different dogs, but she was the first one to connect with the whole family. She was only 3 months old and had been on the street for her whole young life. My mom and her boyfriend decided that she was the one. I got to name her, which my brother was ok with because he was bad at girl names.
By C.T. COLE4 years ago in Petlife
Beware the Winter Wonderland
A winter walk may be dangerous, as anyone from a cold, snowy climate can verify. Usually the danger lies in hypothermia, frostbite, or a slip and fall on black ice.
By Emily Sowulewski4 years ago in Petlife
Whisper
I have been a lover of dogs ever since I was a young girl. Some would say I was dog crazy or obsessed. I prefer the term enthusiast. In elementary school, I would ask my granny to sew dog patches on all my pants. There is picture evidence to this day. My second-grade school picture is a whole-body shot versus a headshot. On the flare of my bell-bottom jeans is a dog patch resembling Lassie. In middle school, all my art projects or writing assignments were about dogs. When asked to design a cool catchphrase using a clipart, later to be made into a wearable button pin, I chose the phrase “Dogs Rock!” The clipart I chose to accompany the phrase was a dog in sunglasses playing the guitar. Of course, I wore the button pin on my bookbag. My folders and binders all had pictures of dogs on them. In seventh grade, I cried in class when we read “Where the Red Fern Grows.” My middle school yearbook is full of signatures along the lines of, “Keep loving dogs!” or “H.A.G.S. crazy dog lover!”
By Caitlin Humphreys4 years ago in Petlife