dog
It's no coincidence that a dog is a man's best friend; they're more faithful than most other animals, and more faithful than many people.
The Day I Brought You Home
I remember the day I met our dog for the first time. My family and I received a pamphlet from an animal shelter looking for people to adopt mistreated cats and dogs. As a family, we concluded that it was time to add another member to the family. The day finally came, and it was time to go to the event the shelter organized. My siblings and I were overjoyed on the ride over and beamed with excitement as we looked over at the event. The shelter had hundreds of animals looking for new homes, ranging from every breed and age. We were specifically looking for a dog due to my parent's cat allergy and roamed the event looking for the right one. My attention was mostly focused on all the different breeds of puppies I came across. Although my siblings and I enjoyed playing with the puppies, our parents strictly told us we were looking for a grown dog. It was hard to overlook the puppies, but we knew they were often the first to go. We looked over many different dogs spanning from German Shepards, Poodles, Dalmations, and even a very mean Chihuahua. My siblings and I looked over some dogs more than once but couldn't seem to find the right one. We became worried that we would return home without a new friend. At one point my dad called my sister and me over-pointed at a dog and said, "What about this one?" My sister and I took one look and replied, "No, I don't think so." I remember looking over at the dog and thought that it wasn't the best-looking, and I couldn't even begin to comprehend the breed. The dog's fur was a long unkempt brown color with golden eyes. My sister and I weren't interested in bringing a mutt home and continued to look at other more presentable dogs. Eventually, my dad had convinced me to come over to meet the dog outside of the cage it occupied. When I arrived the dog was licking my dad's face as he kneeled to greet it. He looked over and said, "Her name is Tilly." I kneeled next to her and got a good whiff of the stench she radiated. As she took a look at me, I got a good look at those beautiful golden eyes she possessed. The next thing I knew, my face was covered in the saliva she engrossed onto my face. I don't think I ever smiled as big as I did then. It wasn't long before the rest of my family was welcomed by the same engross licking of our new family member. I don't think I've ever seen a dog as happy as she was then. We were told she was saved from the house of a dog hoarder who mistreated them and left the dogs in very unsanitary conditions. They told us they didn't know much about her and assumed she was around two years old. It didn't take long for us to decide to adopt her and fill out her adoption papers. My siblings and I happily skipped with her to our car and argued about who she was going to sit next to in our big minivan. Immediately we drove to the pet store and allowed her to pick out anything she wanted to take home with her. She picked out a nice big bed to sleep on, and a red collar to put around her neck. It wasn't until we arrived home that she had begun to come out of her shell. Intuitively I could tell how happy she was. She was zooming all around the house and on the furniture. It was exciting to watch her run around in our fenced-in backyard, where she showed us how fast she could run. Our dog Chan Tilly was finally allowed to run around freely without feeling cramped or neglected. The day we brought her home has become my favorite memory of her and I can guarantee it was the best day of her life.
By sarah neely4 years ago in Petlife
The Ballerina Tiger Whippet Incident Convinced Me Our 15 Pound Jackchi Thinks He Has 999 Lives to Spare
Our Jackchi, Nugget, is one year old, thinks he has 999 lives (take that, cats!), and has probably used a quarter of them up by now. Nugget again tried to prove his immortality to me this morning when I least expected it.
By Aimee Gramblin4 years ago in Petlife
Fallen Heroes, Furry Healers
Chapter One - Fallen Comrade Silence filled the room. Some looked down, others just stared. One or two opened their mouths, then shut them. Next to me, the chaplain shifted, head turning to look at the commander, standing in front of everyone. The scene was interrupted by only a single sound: a dog's whimper.
By Brian Guthrie4 years ago in Petlife
Cash and the unthinkable, unimaginable, and terrible chainsaw incident
I’m not a lumber jack, but for a few days back in 2019, I was. To be exact it was late August of 2019, the time of year when summer makes its final stand in the Pennsylvania sky before winter sets in. The temperatures that year were still in the high eighties. Good weather to get out and saw wood, I thought. Wanting to be safe on my first day of cutting and maiden voyage as a brethren of Paul Bunyan I wore long sleeves, boots, and long pants which led to a lot of sweating later on. I started out early, well early for me about ten or so in the morning which means I got up around eight and before you chastise me too much and say that’s not early, I should tell you that I work at night and get off at two or three in the morning most days. Okay, that explained back to the story. I had been outside in almost ninety-degree heat wearing long sleeves, jeans, and work boots with sweat dripping from the sides of my face, as if rain clouds had nested in my hair. My hands were numb from hours of constant vibrations coming from the new Craftsmen chainsaw I bought the week prior. The safety precautions I had practiced at every point most of which concerned my dog, a black German Shepherd, named Cash had started to lax and at this moment several hours in, I had almost completely forgotten them.
By The Invisible Writer4 years ago in Petlife
Unconditional Love
When Ranger joined our family, I had no idea what an impact he was going to have on my life. I was raised with a dog in the family, but the last time we had a puppy I was just a child. My younger brother had been asking for a dog for Christmas for awhile when my mom decided she was going to give in and get him and evidently the who family a puppy last year. After a few weeks of searching and researching we found a puppy. She went to pick him up while I was the only one that was aware of the surprise she was going to bring home with her.
By Jessica Edinger4 years ago in Petlife
~ The Paw Print In My Heart ~
My story begins on a calm winter morning, where the sun shone and shimmery snowflakes blanketed the trees. Excitement filled the air in my home, and everyone in my family was smiling – especially me. Anticipation and enthusiasm made me toss and turn all night, but the sun had finally risen and it was morning. It was the day I had been waiting so long for; the day where my life would become complete!
By Avery Durand4 years ago in Petlife
Without a Doubt
My love for animals began as a little girl. I grew up on 40 acres of fields and woods. I had a special place in the field I would escape to where there was wide trench in the field with a crab apple tree at it's edge. I would go there and sit in the crab apple tree and envision all the animals of the forest coming out and rejoicing with me and just enjoy the presence of each unique creature. It filled my heart with joy as well as theirs. I would beg my father for a horse, but he would sternly shoot that notion down telling me to get that idea out of my head. My father grew up on a farm and had to take care of the livestock, so as an adult, he wanted no part of it. He would only allow for domesticated animals. We had a dog, a couple cats, a few rabbits, and a couple of hamsters. I had a few dogs in my days and they all have a very special place in my heart. My volunteer efforts have always been with dog rescues and horses. Each dog was so special in their own unique way.
By Brandie Ramsdell4 years ago in Petlife
Rocky!
I got my dog. I got my little angel from a shelter in the month of February in 2017. His original name was Little Dude. There he was a small white and black little dog. He was looking all scared and meek and mild. I thought to myself, he will be a calm mannered dog, oh boy was I wrong. Wrong for all the right reasons though, because what he has inside of him, helped me come back to life. I have a dear friend who told me once that dog is spelled God backwards. That has always stuck with me, and I believe that God put me and my dog together for a reason. I named him Rocky! Rocky, because I love the Rocky movie series and have always found them inspirational! An underdog from the streets of Philly shocks the world with his grit and determination. Although I found Rocky in Denver, Colorado, and not in Philly, his heart is a fighting one. I say that he saved my life. He brought me back from a place where I was in deep despair and gave me new hope. I had never had any being love me as unconditionally as this little dog does. Rocky, because I love how Sylvester Stallone yells out “Adrian!!” at the end of his Rocky movies, and because I am an Adrienne as well! Since, I didn’t have a real life flesh and blood male human of a Rocky in my life, I thought that having a dog bark at me like he is yelling “Adrienne, yo, Adrienne, I did it!!” would be the next best thing! To this day, he has never let me down! Oh, yes, we have had our adventures, both good and bad. Scary ones too! Like when he kept eating things he shouldn’t have and we have spent hours in emergency rooms together. Also like when he got so jealous of other dogs, who I gave my attention to during my pet sitting days, and got his ear bit and I had to take him to the emergency room to get his ear stitched up! He got his ear bit because he snapped ferociously one too many times at a sweet boy dog named Jack, who after he millionth time of rocky being a little brat had had enough! I can’t say I blamed Jack! Boy was that scary for both of us! Now he has an ear with a tear in it and I think it gives him a bit of character! He is still the cutest pup in the whole world to me!
By Adrienne Elizabeth4 years ago in Petlife
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All my life I had begged for a dog. My parents (perhaps wisely) knowing all the extra work it would introduce into our lives, gently refused my requests for a very long time. Add to that some family struggles and a turbulent time in puberty, and thoughts of a dog were largely forgotten during my teenage years.
By Bethy Parr4 years ago in Petlife
