Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Saved by You
When adopting a new pet, often times the act is seen as 'saving them' from a tormented life, or even from the possibility of death. Yet in actuality, what if it is them that saves you? Or contributes to your life in a way you hadn't realized you were in need of?
By Veronica Smeltzer5 years ago in Petlife
Adopt, Don't Shop
All dogs and cats want is a loving, caring family, and nothing makes humans’ hearts break more than reading a happy-ending adoption story. I had read some stories that, at their finest, restore your faith in humanity, thoroughly demonstrate the transformative power of compassion, and serve as a reminder that we do not choose our pets nearly as much as they choose us. I had recently been diagnosed with a heart condition and I believe that having a pet would be better for me so as to help me with the condition.
By Vashish Ramoutar 5 years ago in Petlife
Adopt, don’t shop: A critical look at the popular slogan
Domestic animal overpopulation is a global problem. In the United States alone, over 6.5 million animals enter shelters annually. Many of them find forever homes, but some never make it out. But why is that? What is causing pet overpopulation, and how can we stop it? Many people believe that the answer lies in the phrase “Adopt, don’t shop” after all, aren’t breeders to blame for this? Unfortunately, we can’t solve this problem by boycotting breeders or exclusively supporting shelters. There is hope for ending pet overpopulation, but it involves all of us. We need to change how we think about this issue.
By Alanna Weeks5 years ago in Petlife
Finding Comfort in the Chaos
Ten years of life had been dedicated to a doting dog. He was praised, beloved by many, and spoiled beyond most. I had had him since he was a puppy; given to me with a heart murmur and undeveloped lung. We had been given a warning from the vet that we’d only get two months and yet together we beat the odds. Over time his heart had outgrown the murmur and his lung fully developed. Everyone joked that it was love which healed him but I knew they were right. We completed each other because he found me when I, too, was broken with no spare parts to heal what was missing inside. As the years went on he made whole what did not exist before and taught me how to love while accepting love in return. That was what led to the horrendous sorrow that came the day he died. November 7th of 2019 my world drastically changed and he was gone.
By Kathryn Mayer5 years ago in Petlife
She's More Than "Just a Rabbit"
She was a foster. I was excited because I'd had a rabbit as a kid and love how cute they are like anyone else. I'd fostered several kittens from the same shelter previously, and on this particular day they had reached capacity in their small animal room and needed someone to take one of the rabbits off their hands for a little while. I thought sure! Why not?
By Rochelle Gordon5 years ago in Petlife
More than a Best Friend
When two souls born in the same environment, later find each other in a new state, energies are matched. Sharing the same frequencies and continue as they move forward, they share a path of breaking the ticks that were created by unacknowledged doubted environment. Between social anxiety, attachment tendencies, unconditional love, and forgiveness, these best friends share their story. One can be told to love with conditioned affections, simply catering, as we are told don’t bite the hand that feeds us. I however, saw this story through a different perspective. This was created, by being together for a certain amount of time yes, but knowing they are always there no matter how many faults had occurred, and how many times she had traveled without the Gilda. It is about coming back to each other like nothing has changed. That is the friendship that Gilda and I have. I a 22 year old who has been across the united states, and the soon to be 12 year old Pomeranian poodle partner in crime. My birth place was Atlanta Georgia, but it didn’t take me long to find myself traveling around and ending up in Virginia. At the age of 10 I was told about my aunt having puppies and wanted to know if we would be interested. Hesitant, considering our living conditions, my mom had to make some moves to make it possible. The puppies had been born in July and needed some time with the mother before separation. After receiving pictures, questions came into play. That is not the type of dogs she had had. So where did these puppies come from?
By Valentine Casey5 years ago in Petlife
All Thanks to Alice
I was once given this visual during a cord cutting meditation. Imagine you are holding a bundle of helium balloons. Each balloon representing someone in your life you have difficulty letting go. One by one, you focus on each person and then when you are ready, release the balloon from your hand and that person from your heart. As I closed my eyes, people I had loved and lost swayed above me. I held their face in my mind and felt the irrational unwavering loyalty I still held for them pierce my heart. My hands painfully gripped the strings of the balloons tight, unable to release them. Then, when I finally did, hot panic rushed to my face and anxiety filled my chest.
By Jessica Jones5 years ago in Petlife
My Gypsie Girl
I stared at the Facebook post my boyfriend Rich had tagged me in, at a despondent and badly photographed black dog, slightly of the Labrador persuasion. Her neck was bent in a submissive, touching gesture of cowed despair that was moving, to say the least. All around her was dirty concrete, floor and walls. I read the caption Rich had placed above it.
By Anna Marie Biscotti Molloy5 years ago in Petlife
The More The Merrier
The More the Merrier I have a sweet and demanding pack of five furry babies. That wasn’t the plan. I wanted a Husky and had looked at shelters in and around Portland OR. I would check the shelters website regularly and when I would see a likely adoptee would go to visit them. By the time I got there…. every time…. for weeks, they had already been adopted. I started to think that I wasn’t meant to have a dog.
By Elizabeth Petersen5 years ago in Petlife
Finding Home
When I got recruited for a new position in Michigan, I knew it was time to get a dog. After all, I’d be moving alone to a different state where I knew no one and didn’t want to be too lonely. My senior dog, Doby had recently passed away after 14 years. I was heartbroken but I wanted to fall in love again. I scoured Petfinder.com and other adoption sites for the perfect dog. I was open to any breed or size. I was hoping to find a small or medium-sized dog though since I’d be living in an apartment. I spent several weeks looking at cute portraits of adorable pups. I even emailed a few different shelters inquiring about some. Then, I saw her. I saw her cute little innocent brown face with light brown eyebrows, stubby legs, and floppy ears. She was one and a half years old, housebroken, and loved to roll in the grass. My intuition said this was it. I knew she was the one for me. I just knew.
By Melissa Marie Watson5 years ago in Petlife
