adoption

Our guide to animal adoption; learn why, where, and how to prepare to adopt a cat, kitten, dog or puppy from an animal shelter or rescue group.

The Origins of Oreo
This “tale” is about how our furry family member became my mother’s guardian angel with the age-old saying, “a dog’s bark is worse than its bite.
By Anthony Groves3 years ago in Petlife
Cleo
We don't deserve dogs. This is a universal fact. They are loyal, funny, quirky and are endlessly comforting. And yes, occasionally frustrating. Especially when they pee on the couch. Or chew on the expensive running shoes you finally bought yourself (that was a dark day).
By Cassandra Colley-Couse3 years ago in Petlife
My Rock, My World, My Flicka-Girl
I didn't develop anxiety until my early twenties. Prior to that, I had sincerely believed that people who claimed to have anxiety were over-exaggerating and being dramatic.
By I. Lazyryn3 years ago in Petlife
Home
They say, when you walk into your home, you know. You can look at ten, twenty, thirty houses, and then, you pull up to one more, stand on another kerb, look up at another frontage, step through another front door…and recognise that you are home. It was like that the first time I saw you. The shelter had taken out a double page ad in the paper, it’s motley crew of furred friends-to-be arranged around the page, and you, meeting my eyes from the centrefold. I had been flicking through, taking a break, not looking for love, but there you were. I knew. I took the paper home, and I showed you to my mum. I knew that she knew too. I showed you to my dad.
By Hannah Moore3 years ago in Petlife
Broken Hearts Need Tending
There is no greater remedy for a broken heart than the boundless warmth of an animal’s love. In 2017, a woman named Susan experienced a terrible tragedy. In the midst of a messy breakup, an unexpected career change, and financial hardship, the one person who kept her going was her dog, Bucky. Bucky, named for the Marvel superhero Bucky Barnes, was a very good boy. At a glance, most would call him a Pitbull, but his mismatched blue and brown eyes and his penchant for mischief betrayed his Siberian Husky ancestry. For more than two years, Susan and Bucky had been inseparable. The pair could often be found on the couch, Bucky’s head tucked under Susan’s arm as she played her video games or scoured the web for the latest memes pertaining to Brenden Frasier. They were a perfect match and a loving god wouldn’t have had the heart to tear them apart.
By James Delhauer3 years ago in Petlife
The Dog that Saved my Life
The day my dog, Denali, saved my life is definitely my fondest memory of her. She is my unofficial service animal and I highly recommend you get one of your own. You never know when their unconditional love, dedication, and steadfast companionship will come in handy. Dogs are known for saving the lives of humans for many years running. They can even be trained to do so in a number of ways. The course of action she took to rescue me would probably be considered a non-traditional method, with no training required.
By Amy Hall3 years ago in Petlife
Hopeless Dog
“Your dog just tried to bite me,” my best friend Lynk said. She’d popped over for a quick visit and was trying to make her way toward the back bathroom.
By Avin3 years ago in Petlife
Meeting Denali
I remember the first time I met my best friend in life and I will cherish that memory forever. I walked into her previous owner’s home and she barked at me timidly, then circled around my person, growling. Her owner, Matthew, said, “Denali, it’s o.k. girl!” Obediently, with her tail between her legs, she walked to the corner of the room and laid down, watching my every move. The humans talked for a while as she laid there in her safe place, watching me, sizing up my intentions within this house.
By Amy Hall3 years ago in Petlife
The Hidden Inner World
I've always tried to imagine what animals think and feel when I'm with them. What common ground of experience do we have? Could we even comprehend their emotional existence? I think we can, especially dogs. Our last dog was a rescued Great Dane called Jess. A beautiful and gentle giant. It sounds funny to say, but she was a very respectful dog. She was incredibly gentle with children and older people, polite and reserved with visitors but unleashed her most outlandish behavior around us. Perhaps her best trait was that if you wanted a duvet day, she'd spend all day on the sofa watching TV with you. Truly dogs can be introverts too. Sometimes, I'd watch a nature documentary or rugby over something I wanted because those were her favorite things to watch. As adorable as it sounds, in reality, I think those excited her prey instinct, especially when tackles were made. But then again, do deeper primordial themes not underpin all that we find entertaining as well?
By Vince Mac3 years ago in Petlife
A Love Letter
Dear Cricket, The year 2006 had been a rough one. It started with the death of my grandmother, finding out I had a tumor (non-cancerous) in my brain that messed with my body, totaling my car, and breaking my back off of a very large horse. This was all capped off in November by having to put down the dog and best friend I had grown up with for 17 years: Brandy girl. My life had become a sad country song. A broken back, a broken spirit, a broken heart- these were all words that described me the day I met you.
By Stacey Mock3 years ago in Petlife
Sadistic is in the Heart of the Beholder
While my chosen title speaks of sadism, the memory I’ve chosen to share holds no cruelty at its heart. I ask only this; stay to the end and see if you still feel the same.
By Odyssey 3 years ago in Petlife
How a Dog's Stars Changed
Woof! Amazing. I barked straight into your head then. You know what that makes you, don't you? "Barking." Ha ha ha!
By Caroline Jane3 years ago in Petlife