Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
The First Fourteen Years
We weren't in the market for a pet when she adopted us. My husband was full-time college student two months away from his undergrad degree and planning to leave the country for a year to work on his master's. I had just started freelancing full-time.
By LUCINDA M GUNNIN5 years ago in Petlife
A Tough Decision
"We can't give her away," I found myself saying, eyes welling. “Maybe we can convince your parents to take her." My husband and I had never intended to adopt two, let alone one puppy during our nine months in Israel. But here we were, two adorable, rambunctious puppies chasing each other around our apartment.
By Emily Fine5 years ago in Petlife
How Cat People Discouraged me From Getting a Cat
“I had a cat once who would wake me up every morning just a minute or two before my alarm went off by tapping me on the mouth with his paw. Not that hard, but not that gentle either, with his claws extended just a tiny bit. ‘Hey, time for breakfast, bud.’ ” — Josh Fruhlinger as quoted in The Guardian
By Denise Shelton5 years ago in Petlife
Little Puppy
I have a tiny dog. Like, a really tiny dog. He is going to be 19 years old in September. I remember his birthday because we share it. It is probably not his real birthday but it is easier to remember this way. He is the biggest pain in the butt but I can’t remember a life without him.
By Vicky DiMichele5 years ago in Petlife
Her Name was Riley
I called her Riley because she came to me at a time when I was opening up to a more spiritual way of living. I looked up "prosperity" in the thesaurus and found "the life of Riley". I hadn't even met her yet, but I knew I wanted her name to remind me of what I had to be grateful for.
By Hilda Carroll5 years ago in Petlife
Golden Girl
I have had a very difficult few days but have finally found the courage to edit this story. My wife and I had to make the most difficult decision of our life's on September 24-2022. We helped Mei Li end her pain and cross the Rainbow bridge. She has given us so much and in an act of pure love for her we broke our hearts into a million pieces.
By Gerald Holmes5 years ago in Petlife
Bold As Brass
It was 3am, and the air was hot and heady with the scent of the coming storm. The highway stretched monotonously into the distance, the moon my only driving companion now while my family slept. I thought maybe I could keep going without a break, make it to my In-Laws before dawn. My eyes grew heavy, the road blurring slightly as I tried to stay alert. I don’t know what made me choose that exit, but without even realizing it I was indicating and heading for the nearest gas station, the word ‘coffee’ flashing in my mind like a beacon. So strange; I rarely touched the stuff and especially never at night, yet here I was suddenly craving that caustic, bitter kick of caffeine.
By Angel Whelan5 years ago in Petlife
A Cat’s Guide to Adoption
Marvin got his name from the book, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. If you have read the book, or seen the movie, you would know it comes from the friendly but misunderstood robot, Marvin. Both Marvins have trouble in social settings, and are unsure of themselves, but in a pinch, they can make a rainy day full of sunshine. When we let our dog, Chloe, depart due to age, health, and quality of life, Marvin was still there. He opened up like he never had before.
By Sarah Durrer5 years ago in Petlife
Every Creature Has a Backstory
The room of my apartment felt dark and the walls seemed as though they were caving in on me. Reflecting back on this chapter of my life, everything seemed as though I was seeing life through a black and white filter. The depression I found myself in, muted the colors and noises around me. I barely had enough energy to do the bare minimum-- often just enough to save me from getting fired from work. For an overachiever like myself, coasting hit my pride hard. I would muster up just enough strength to get out of bed only to find myself in the shower, crumpled into a ball, my chest throbbing with excruciating pain. I sat there sobbing and grabbing my chest until the shower turned ice cold. Maybe the worst part of it all was finally getting to work and acting like everything was fine. Gosh, it would take a lot of energy to perform and put on a show for everyone.
By Allison Marie Hoshide5 years ago in Petlife
