Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Hunter and Benson
Benson pushes his snout under Hunter’s face and lets out a big breath. Hunter opens his groggy 14-year-old eyes and stretches, yawning “Good morning, Benson.” Benson, a sturdy but sweet 130-pound bloodhound dog, stretches and yawns, too. Benson hops out of bed and lets out a massive howl. Ah, Benson’s howls. Benson’s howls are deep and calming, especially for Hunter. His morning howl is a suburban rooster, signaling the start of the day.
By lauren sisino freeman5 years ago in Petlife
Good Deed Unpunished
Kate felt as drab, soggy, and unendingly gray as the Virginia late winter mist she drove through. The landscape rarely varied; the smaller houses adorned with bigger satellite dishes she passed were splashed here and there with dirty snow the color of old nickels.
By Cat Needham5 years ago in Petlife
Kringle
In the wild and dangerous streets of Tijuana, a small puppy was born. He was brindle, mostly brown and had short hair and dark, happy eyes. The little boy was happy and played in the sun with the other street dogs there. Although being a street dog in Mexico wasn’t easy by any account, the little boy found bits of food to eat and felt happy to be alive and play with his other pup friends as they ran and ran and ran and sometimes wrestled or played tug of war. He loved laying in the sun and closing his eyes. He thought nothing else could feel so nice. Occasionally, a kind human would stop to share a morsel with the tiny pup and offer a few pets, something the boy loved more than anything. The unfortunate reality, though, was that evil people exist in the world. Some of them didn’t care about his life at all, and the poor pup learned this the hard way one night as the shadows were beginning to descend on the streets.
By Lisa Perez5 years ago in Petlife
Love is Blind
I came from an animal loving family. I had been around all kinds of animals growing up. Dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens, cows, you name it. I wouldn't call myself a country bumpkin, but I lived in that little part of suburbia that fit right between the city and the farm. So when it came time for me to go to college in Los Angeles and leave my childhood pets at home across the country it wouldn't come as much of a surprise that I didn't take it too well. Animals had been one of my main coping mechanisms for my mental illness for years, and here I was, in a completely new environment, on my own for the first time in my life, and not a dog, cat, or hamster in sight. Don't get me wrong, I was excited to start this new part of my life and get a degree in an industry I love, but even with roommates and classmates and new friends, I felt unbelievably lonely.
By Abby Ramsay5 years ago in Petlife
The Royal Hunt of the Cockroach
My years in Manhattan (long ago, my children) were an exciting and happy period. I dropped out of grad school (/long story), took a low-paying and undemanding day-job, moved into my own little rent-stabilized apartment on the Upper West Side (remember when barely-employed people in Manhattan could afford an apartment?) and took over the kitten that a friend found himself stuck with when the roommates who brought her home moved out and left her behind.
By Marion Carroll5 years ago in Petlife
Spiders Are Definitely Cool, not Creepy
I think spiders are fascinating. I know a lot of people are scared of them, and that they can be deadly. I have had a few runs-in with them, and I warn you, if you are scared of them, the second part of this might be a hard read. Hopefully, however, I can help you see that they really are a great spirit animal to have come into your life.
By ExploringWriting5 years ago in Petlife
An Unexpected Inheritance
I worked one summer in the wilderness for an old-timer named Dinty. Dinty lived on an isolated homestead that had been pieced out of the surrounding national forest – "guvment land," as Dinty used to call it. It was a unique work opportunity for me, as Dinty lived in a roadless area with no phone, no electricity, and no running water. The best way I could describe his lifestyle is Honest Rustic. No frills and no complaints. Just plain ol' hard work in the midst of paradise.
By Kennedy Farr5 years ago in Petlife
The Owl Catcher
The child dragged a five-foot ladder as she walked the grassy path between a ripened cornfield and the bank of a slow-moving river. The child’s foraging bag hung from her shoulder and in the bag was a pair of her father’s work gloves. She wore a faded cotton dress and was walking barefoot. The year was 1955 and the child was nine years old. This was a time when little girls wore dresses, even little girls who climbed trees and caught frogs along muddy shorelines.
By Judith Hankes5 years ago in Petlife
6 Things You Need to Know About Rabbits
1. They are prey animals This does mean that they will take some time to get used to you and trust you. They don’t like to be picked up as this makes them think they are going to die so don’t expect your new pet rabbit to be okay with getting picked up.
By Terri Allen5 years ago in Petlife
The Gift the Horses Give Us
I am outside on an unusual task at an unusual time. Horse lunch was served hours ago, and Kasper and Emma have just finished picking at the last danglers of hay in their nylon nets. Emma’s net lays disheveled in the paddock sand, since apparently horses can magically undo fairly stiff quick links hung on eyebolts.
By Ophelia Keane Braeden5 years ago in Petlife
Leather Halters Supplies And Equipment
Leather Halter is the oldest variety of halters. It is an important part of tack items. It provides a classy look to the horse. Halters are also known as headcollar or sometimes as headstall too. Halters are usually plain in design and used as a piece of working equipment on a daily basis. It consists of a noseband and headpiece that buckles around the horse's head and allows the horse to be tied with lead. To tie the horse with a halter, a lead line, lead shank or lead rope is required. But sometimes they are customized in a designer leather halter with nameplate.
By Horse Saddlery5 years ago in Petlife
