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.
I adopted a sixteen-year-old cat
This story starts in February of 2014. I was sitting at the computer in the living room. I do not know why I was looking at the adoptable cats on a local animal shelters website. I already had one cat at the time, and we did not have any plans to get another. When I saw a sixteen-year-old black cat named Blanca listed on the webpage for adoption, I felt sorry for her. I knew her age and fur color lowered her chances for getting adopted. It is common knowledge that kittens get adopted quicker than adult cats. Back in 2008 I had gotten my other cat Sherri from the same shelter. She was only two years old at the time, but she had already been at the shelter for three months. Even for the young adult cats adoption can take a while. I knew it would be hard for a sixteen-year-old cat to find a home when it took three months for a two-year-old cat to do so. Also, when it comes to cats there a people who believe that black cats are bad luck. This makes it much harder for black cats to get adopted compared to cats with other fur colors. I somehow was able to convince my parents that we should adopt her. The next day my mom and I went to the animal shelter and asked to see her. She was very friendly and could walk around and jump without any problem. We found out that she had been brought to the shelter to be euthanized but the vets could not find any medical reason to put her down. She was an old cat, but she was a healthy cat. We brought her home and set her up with everything she needed in my room. I must be honest I did not think that Blanca would be around for long. Especially since according to my friend Google cats live an average of fourteen years. Since Blanca was already two years past that I figured she would be with us for a few months or hopefully even a year. It turns out that Blanca did not agree with Google’s answer and that she had other plans. After getting to know Blanca some more I learned that she was a small cat with a big personality. She loved attention when she wanted me to pet her, she would lay down right on my chest and do her absolute best to get between me and my phone. She also had a very loud meow and she knew how to use it. When she wanted something, she made sure that you knew it. I have never had another cat that was as loud as she was. Two words that describe her best are sweet and sassy. After having her for a few years I adopted a kitten who I named Cooper that had be found in a trash can. She made sure to let him know who was boss. Cooper loved to cuddle so they had their cute moments. Unfortunately, Blanca and Sherri never become friends, but they did tolerate each other. My adventure with the sweet and sassy Blanca lasted almost six years! I miss being able to say that I have a cat that is only eight years younger than I am. I absolutely adored her she was friendly and not shy at all. She wanted every visitor to pet her. It was so hard to see her go but I was so blessed to have her for as long as I did. Adopting a senior pet was one of the best choices I have ever made. If you are looking to adopt a new pet, I would suggest that you consider sharing your home with a senior pet because they still have a lot of love to give.
By Christina Epperly5 years ago in Petlife
Mama Honda
I love animals, let's get that straight. Dogs, cats, lizards, every kind man. So, let's talk about how my wife and I found a cat in the engine bay of a car one day. Yes you read that right. It was a wild day, about three to four years ago. We've had cats almost since we've been together, making it six years this year. (insert congratulations here)
By Tristan Palmer5 years ago in Petlife
An Adoption Meant to Be
After nineteen years of being told there would never be a cat in our household - either because of concerns of my dad's allergy to cat hair, or how our dog would respond to a much smaller furry friend than they were used to - I had decided it would probably just be easier to wait till I moved out to adopt myself a cat.
By Natalie Kaia Christiansen5 years ago in Petlife
Voices Unheard: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
There is only a few things things in life that I just cannot stand hearing or seeing, and that my friend is animal abuse, animal cruelty, and animal shelters. If you see animals in a shelter or pound that means they were strays, abused, or left for dead. The owners did not want them anymore. You always see animals for adoption which I love and hate. I love it because people are trying to find them good homes, means they care about these animals. I hate it because the fact these animals are in a shelter due to humans. The fact they sit and wait, kind of like a nursing home or jail for humans. You get visitors, food, shelter, but you wait until you get to go home. Well I cannot afford to save them all, but whenever an opportunity comes to save an animal, I will accept that opportunity to do so. One day that opportunity came and I would like to share my adoption story.
By Jessica Sheely5 years ago in Petlife
A Story About Socks
This story is about my family's dog, Socks, and how he came to be such an important part of our family. The story does not begin with him, but many years before. It starts with a family and a flea market on a hot summer day. This flea market has indoor and outdoor portions, but it's blazing hot no matter whether your inside or out. Now at this flea market is a stall with a large tent and many dog carriers. They are all empty, with the dogs free roaming in a caged in area. Now what's a family to do with two small children who spot dogs to do but to fall in love with one?
By Cody Dunnington5 years ago in Petlife
Save a Pet, I Saved a Pacco
A dog can change a life. I like to think I changed Pacco’s life. As a kid growing up, my family had dogs; Schipperkes to be precise. Belgian herding dogs the color of midnight, no tail, and plenty of spunk. My parents had owned Drexel and Jackson, sibling Schipperkes from an AKC licensed breeder in Nebraska prior to and during their time in Georgia, which was several years prior to my birth and I lived with these two wonderful Schipperkes until my mid tweens. Jackson was the first to go; he developed throat cancer and after several months of my parents witnessing him deteriorate, they had him put down at the ripe old age of 14.
By Spenser Odell5 years ago in Petlife
Moon Dog
There is something magical about a solar eclipse. Something that makes it feel like anything is possible. During the "Great American Eclipse" in August of 2017, I know I felt that way. I was in Columbia, South Carolina, one of the best places in the country to see the total eclipse. I was just starting my sophomore year of college, and life felt like my oyster. There I was, sitting cross-legged on a blanket in Maxcy Gregg Park, black-tinted glasses on, and eyes pointing towards the sky. The sun was just about covered, only a few more moments and it would be completely hidden behind the moon.
By Isabelle Carroll5 years ago in Petlife
