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.
Snow Flake
I was coming home from a snack run to the store at the beginning of winter. I wasn't sure why at first but I had suddenly gotten a craving for a specific type of candy (I think it was Skittles) and just had to go to the store and get some. As I got home and the snow started falling harder I heard the sound of a cat meowing. It sounded sad and I began looking around. I missed it at first as the cat's white fur blended in with the snow. As it came towards me I could spotted the movements and I knelt down to wait patiently for it to decide if I was worth coming to. It hardly needed any coaxing though as it climbed right into my arms seeking warmth.
By KLMillward5 years ago in Petlife
The Final Confirmation
When my husband and I rescued our dog, Miko, we thought that we were merely giving him a safe and loving home to die at. He was eleven years old when his family told us that he was not going to live for very long. They said that he had given up eating and that he was depressed, spending his days in the bathroom staring at the wall. My husband had known Miko’s family for years before I came along and Miko, as a puppy, had fallen in love with him at first sight. They had been buddies for years and after we started dating it was not long before Miko and I fell in love too.
By Jess White5 years ago in Petlife
3 Ways Pet Adoption Can Be a Win for All
Pet adoption improves — and sometimes saves — the lives of millions of furry friends each year. However, the benefits of adoption are not a one-way street. Research continues to emerge supporting the positive impact pets add to owners’ lives, as well as the benefits pet adoption has on communities as a whole.
By raghul Raja5 years ago in Petlife
It's the Little Things
I remember walking down the side of the road in the torrential rainfall. I had the small German shepherd pup in my arms, but he was shivering so badly. I decided to put him inside my hoodie so that my own body heat could warm him up. I recall feeling so close to him. I could feel his little chest rising and falling as he laid his head exasperatedly against my chest.
By Amber Dawn5 years ago in Petlife
Love on a Leash
Brian and I waited for his husband to show up to the brewer. I had a flight in front of me that I drank down in order of color - light to dark - and he had a lager. A young boy walked through the brewery with a tub of candy bars and said he was raising money for his after school programs.
By Kaitlin Oster5 years ago in Petlife
HOW I GOT GCATS & A GPUP
When my daughter was nine years old she rescued a kitten from a neighbor in our apartment complex. The elderly man had over twenty cats that were all being neglected in a two-bedroom one-bathroom unit. The kitten was covered in fleas. It was so small she fit in one of my daughters' hands. At the time neither my daughter nor I knew anything about taking care of a cat. I never had any animals of my own when I was growing up because I traveled out of town too much. We made a horrible decision to give the cat a shower. Alexandria held the cat to her chest while I washed it with flea soap and warm water from an adjustable shower head. The cat had fleas coming out of its eyes and getting all over Alexandria, not to mention its claws were hurting my poor daughter. We were able to get quite a bit of the fleas off of the kitten especially after drying her and putting flea powder all over her and the room they stayed in. Alexandria was traumatized from the whole shower experience and after only one short week she found a home for the kitten.
By Greer Collins5 years ago in Petlife
My North Star
You don't have to live a long life to live a good life. Some of us don't start off with ideal circumstances, but each of us has the power to change the ending of our story. When we adopt animals, we have the power to give someone a second chance and hold space for something better.
By Dion Garcia5 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
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
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
