Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Son of a Nightmare
If you're reading this, my name's Lyell and, though I'm almost ashamed to admit it, I'm a unicorn. People nowadays hear that and, immediately, there are certain ideas that come to mind. To clarify things, I don't sparkle, I don't shit rainbows, and I am as masculine as a pile of highly combustible bacon playing poker while driving a tank.
By Cassandra Norton5 years ago in Petlife
Owls Are Sad Too
Owen the Owl seems to dismiss the matter that he’s a sad boy. That’s such a guy thing to do. To feel defeated and lost by other suffering somebody’s. To be hopeless with their situation because masculinity is seen as strength when men have every right to feel weak or vulnerable whenever they may need to be that way. In no way does he feel any less alone when the stigma around mental illness in males gets violated to the point most just have no trust in the people or world around them.
By Keanna Barry 5 years ago in Petlife
Where Did Everyone Go? - A Short Story
Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I live near the ocean. I’m half-brown and half-black in color. Both my ears are black; my tail is all brown. We are a group of four who own this area. We don’t allow other dogs to enter our territory. We usually get scraps of meat from the nearby butcher shop. We have to fight with the rowdy cats who roam around in the same area for a meager piece of meat. There’s also a food cart nearby; we lick the leftover food from the discarded plates. Also, there’s an overflowing dustbin near the statue where the cows usually go. We get plenty there. So overall, life was good.
By vaisrinivasan5 years ago in Petlife
Dog sharing during lockdown
This year has indeed been tough for most of us. Some have been more affected than others, but being thrown off the train you are on is a challange for everyone. But I am also sure a lot of good has come out of this, maybe someone has found their call in life, maybe someone was fired and therefore has no choice but to start that business that they dreamt of. Maybe someone went back to school and got a degree. My year started in Italy, in my husband's family home where we had lived for 3 years. The first lockdown started in March there and we were forced to stay in the house. This was not all too bad due to the big garden and the sunshine. But in mid-may we moved back to London, where we now live. And since we moved, I have been on my own with my toddler and my dog as my husband has been overseas working. Due to the pandemic, he hasn’t been able to return home as often as we wanted so it’s been a rough year to say the least. In order to handle a full-time job, a toddler and a dog in a London flat without a garden I had to start looking for a dog sitter that could help me from time to time. I got in contact with a guy, let’s call him Pete, on a pet sitters’ website and he seemed lovely so we decided to meet up so he could meet our dog. They fell instantly in love and a few days later he took her home to his wife.
By Emelie Sahlen5 years ago in Petlife
The Night Owls
The dimmed red numbers on the bedroom alarm showed 4:29am. A large, leathered hand came across and hit the shut off before the alarm. Farmer Jim looked over to his wife who was right beside him in the barn all night helping a cow with her newborn calf. As he descended the stairs of the 120-year-old family farmhouse, the morning wisp of fresh coffee brewing and the thumping of Chase’s tail in the mudroom makes him smile every morning. He went to the mudroom and took the barn clothes of the twisted metal hooks on the wall and sat on the bench while his trusty old lab ambled over for the morning pat on the head. The Team left the house towards the barn inhaling the crisp morning air as the sunrise was clambering to rise above the sight line of the farm fields. He looked over to where the deer herd comes out for the morning feed. He did not mind deer sharing his fields. Generations of his family have been stewards of the land many years before it was a cliché. Poachers knew not to come close to the Benson farm fields.
By Rusty Rustenburg5 years ago in Petlife
The Night Owls
The dimmed red numbers on the bedroom alarm showed 4:29am. A large, leathered hand came across and hit the shut off before the alarm. Farmer Jim looked over to his wife who was right beside him in the barn all night helping a cow with her newborn calf. As he descended down the stairs of the 120-year-old family farmhouse, the morning wisp of fresh coffee brewing and the thumping of Chase’s tail in the mudroom makes him smile every morning. He went to the mudroom and took the barn clothes of the twisted metal hooks on the wall and sat on the bench while his trusty old lab ambled over for the morning pat on the head. The Team left the house towards the barn inhaling the crisp morning air as the sunrise was clambering to rise above the sight line of the farm fields. He looked over to where the deer herd comes out for the morning feed. He did not mind deer sharing his fields. Generations of his family have been stewards of the land many years before it was a cliché. Poachers knew not to come close to the Benson farm fields.
By Rusty Rustenburg5 years ago in Petlife
Make Believe
I glance beneath the soggy branches and muddy terrains. Where did all the humans go? There used to be thousands of them coming into the forest every day, scaring my babies with their chaos. In one way, it’s good. They’re not coming into our home and leaving their litter everywhere. On the other hand, I love their curiosity. I just wish I could do something about the rubbish.
By Chloe Gilholy5 years ago in Petlife
The Barn Owl and The Bulldog
There once was a Bulldog puppy and a barn owl who lived together on a farm with other types of animals and a wooded area. The little puppy stayed with his mother and his siblings but the one animal who looked out for all the puppies while their mother was asleep and the puppies would tend to roam around.
By Kadiya Schroder5 years ago in Petlife
The Owl
The Owl Living on a farm you can see the most fascinating events while walking in nature. You see there is a very thick woods near our property. I am so happy that we live in the country and by this amazing stretch of wooded area. I have this small farm where my family grow vegetables for the farmer’s market in town. We have fun doing this and the kids love their sheep and horses that they received as Christmas gifts. My wife and I have five children between the ages of 7 to 17. Ben our oldest will start college next year and he wants to be a lawyer, his inspiration is Abraham Lincoln. Diana our second child is a sophomore and does not know what she wants to be. There is Chad, who is in middle school and is on the football team, he wants to go pro. Sally and Steven the twins, they are in grade school. They love their lambs that they receive for their birthday. Life is hard on the farm, but it is so rewarding.
By Walter Murphy5 years ago in Petlife
The story of sweetheart
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I went to investigate and saw a calico cat running around. It started to run away when I went to investigate and it saw me. I called out to it and began a conversation. I called the cat her and sweetheart because she reminded me of a kitten I knew long ago. I asked, "Are you her? You're sweetheart aren't you? I remember you. I think I remember you. I called her sweetheart so I am going to call you sweetheart." It was a female kitten that had gotten caught in an engine when I was a kid.
By James M. Piehl5 years ago in Petlife
