Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Mirabella
When I first met my beloved kitten, my aunt and I were fostering her and her two little sisters. We had fostered kittens previously, but these three were the youngest we had ever had, only six weeks old. We didn’t know where their mother was or what happened to her, but these small little babies were terrified of everything and everyone. We had them in their own room, so they would be separate from the other cats that belonged to my aunt.
By Samantha Lambert5 years ago in Petlife
In the Time of Your Life, Live
We named her Seven. But my youngest wasn't sold on the name, so I took the red magnetic 9 off our fridge, placed it in the kitten's dish and said: "Wouldn't it be funny if Seven ate 9?" That rocked my four year old's body with laughter and from then on Seven was our new cat's official name. My eldest always called her Sevy.
By Marie Wilson5 years ago in Petlife
Bear
We have a beautiful fall night , didn't we? The sky could have been more clear. I don't believe we'd ever taken a walk with so many stars watching us, right? The cherry on top of this bittersweet night was that lightly gusting wind. We love having having the wind whip our hair around. up and down, up and down. We enjoyed the heck out of that!! My hair is longer than yours was but we are both brunettes!
By Teresa Wegrzyn5 years ago in Petlife
Lala Y El Vaquero
I’ve been a cowgirl for 12 years, standing my post on the porch of the living room everyday, waiting to warn off delivery men who might want to infiltrate. It was perfect for me as I basked in the sun, but that all changed when El Vaquero joined our band.
By Ariana GonBon5 years ago in Petlife
My Buddy
I suppose Buddy’s story with our family starts as most other pets does: child begs parent for dog, parent says no, repeat for years, parent finally relents. That kid was me, and boy I never could’ve predicted the journey that Buddy would take us on. The day we got Buddy was most likely a Saturday, since that was when the shelter had the adoption trailer outside our local PetSmart. I was around 9 or 10, so my only concerns about this future puppy was that it was, well...a puppy. My mom, being a single mother with me, an apartment, and 2 other pets to take care of (a rabbit and a guinea pig) wanted something medium sized. Easier to care for you know. They brought out baby Buddy, and gosh he was cute. I was sold. The kennel attendant said that he had a fear of men from a previous adoption. Buddy was still very much a puppy when we adopted him, so it hurts me to think of what someone could’ve done to him in such a short amount of time for him to have a phobia that would persist throughout his life. Anyway, papers were signed and adoption fees were paid, and we left with a tiny brown and white puppy in a St Patrick’s day themed green bandanna. I don’t remember everything from that day (it was 20 some odd years ago) but I clearly remember a moment when we first got into the car with Buddy. He had started to cry in my lap and my mom asked if I was sure I wanted this dog. It was one of those turning point moments, a moment that I knew was going to be important. Small me of course said yes, and I’m really glad she did.
By Kacie Johnsen5 years ago in Petlife
The Zoo
My life is kind of crazy. Usually one maybe two animals max are all a family needs for a furry companion. I grew up with two wonderful cats. Our first adopted was Chopper, she was one years old at the time of her adoption. At our local Humane Society any animal over a year old was a "name your own fee" most people would cheap out and say like ten maybe 20 dollars. Not this family, we offered 120 dollars for this black and gold beauty. She was a skittish little thing but as time went on she warmed up to us. About a year later my family felt as though Chopper was lonely so we packed into the car and took a trip over to the humane society and that day we went home with a multicolored fluffy tabby cat named Starla. She brought so much joy to Choppers life, at first they despised each other but eventually learned to love one another. They spent the next 12 years together, then one day the family packed into the car once again and went to another local humane society, later that day we brought home a tree walking coon hound named Ace. The size of his paws were massive at a young age of three months old. He was going to be a big boy. Needless to say Chopper, Starla and Ace all had a love hate relationship. Still to this day they don't get along very well but are learning to coexist. A normal family would stop at three animals especially when there's a dog living with two cats. To say the animals ruled the house is an understatement. Keeping the trend going, a year later my brother adopted a spunky and sassy "tiger" cat—she looks like a tiger—named Romeo, she is the sassiest cat I think I have ever met. As you can tell we really like the boy names for girls. Life was great, we were surrounded by furry companions. Two years later my brother was volunteering at the local humane society that we adopted Ace from, he came across this orange tabby cat. He had a severely injured back right leg. My brother fell in love with the cat's face and bold personality. We were informed that this specific cat was run over by a car and would need to have his leg amputated if he wanted to live a long and healthy life moving forward. Being the family that we are we took on the honorable challenge of bringing home an amputee animal. Needless to say, we were outnumbered at this point. There were more animals living in the house than humans. Harley, the amputee cat, hobbled at first but as he gained the strength in his legs he was faster than the other cats in the house. Those animals saved us we weren't the ones who saved them. Unfortunately at the age of 17, we lost Chopper. She was our first ever fur baby and it was a tough one to overcome. She meant the absolute world to not only us but the other animals in the house especially Starla. These animals are stray to stay. We have learned that we will take in any animal that is sick or needs help and we will give them the life they deserved just like we did with Chopper and will continue to do with our other companions. Forever in our hearts, Chopper.
By Sami Geiger5 years ago in Petlife
An Unlikely Pair
So many people have said they preferred animals over humans. I can well understand why someone might feel that way. I have many human friends but my animal companions have always been ranked in the "best friend" category along with a privileged few humans! Let me share one of my favorite stories about our two favorite family pets.
By Leslie Perkel5 years ago in Petlife
Chud's Tale
In the spring of 2008, I was in a dark place mentally and had recently quit drinking to try to take control of my life. Between failed relationships, a lack of trust in friends, dead end jobs, all topped off with substance abuse issues, I found myself in a misanthropic state. Were it not for the few friends I still had around I would have been ready to give up on the entire human race. It was growing harder and harder to trust each new face that came into my life no matter how good their intentions may have been. I was becoming more isolated with each day that passed, longing for a companion who I trusted and cared for me as much as I cared for them. Something I was coming to believe was impossible. After some time living life like this, (which I hardly considered living), a coworker suggested I get a dog, this is how Chud came into my life.
By Jarred S Baker5 years ago in Petlife
Doggy days
Here we are, walking down this same road that we have been down plenty of times. The flowers are in full bloom, the skies are the most perfect shade of blue. The only problem is that we must change course because the forecast calls for rain. That always happens on our best walks. You know, those walks where the world seems at perfect peace and you believe that just maybe those days will last forever? It was not always like this though. I remember the first time that I met this poor little guy. Here is that story.
By Chassity Renea Rodriguez5 years ago in Petlife
28 Paws
It all really started with my cat Smokey. She was not a stray or a rescue. My neighbor’s cat had kittens and I took the gray one. I named her Smokey. She was a good cat: affectionate but not pushy, used her litter box, didn’t go outside, loved catnip but hated riding in a car anywhere (Not just the vet). Smokey and I lived together happily for many years.
By Sharon Koehler5 years ago in Petlife
