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.
Can Dogs Eat Vegan and Vegetarian Meals?
We all want the best for our furry friends, whether we’re buying them hypoallergenic dog food or a new collar that matches their personality. The topic of vegan and vegetarian meals for dogs has garnered attention lately, attracting Google search interest scores of up to 100 over the last year, as you can see in the graph below. This is likely due to the growing number of vegans and vegetarians across the UK — statistics report there were 600,000 vegans in the UK in 2019, so it isn’t surprising to learn that we’re considering this diet shift for our furry friends too. After all, if we want the best for them, we must find out if what is good for us is good for them too.
By Fay McFarlane6 years ago in Petlife
To the moon and back.
Finding Luna (who was previously named Roxy) was no stroke of luck. One night on a walk home from being out having a drink with a friend in Surry Hills, Sydney, I came across a sad and clearly neglected dog wandering aimlessly through busy inner-city streets. It seemed that she had just had a litter of puppies, and perhaps even more heartbreaking was that she was dumped, like trash, in a terrifying new environment full of danger. This stray dog was lost, and I can still feel the terror that she felt. Her nails were like talons, having not been clipped. Her ears were bloody. Her skin dry and flakey. She waddled up to me, and looked me in the eyes and asked me for help. She let me take her home so I could feed her and keep her warm for the night - and it was made very clear she had not been shown any kindness for a long time. In NSW, if a stray dog is taken to the pound and the owner does not claim their dog, they become the property of the pound. Due diligence by the folk at the pound meant they had to contact the owners who had treated her as trash - "we gave that thing away years ago". Those seven words have rung clear in my mind ever since the woman at the pound told me over the phone what her previous owners had said about her. She is not a 'thing' or a possession. Now, when I found Luna, I was not at all equipped to have a dog - but that's the beauty of this story; nothing made logical sense, but gave that gut feeling when you know it's what you have to do. Two weeks passed, and after a visit to the pound to check in on her, it was official. She was my new best mate with a brand new name that seemed fitting. Unfortunately Luna clearly lived a life as a breeding dog, and the scars on her face and sunken black eyes told a story of pain and angst. Her anxieties were something I could never have been prepared for, but giving her the space and time to rest and just 'be a dog' again has allowed her to heal, recover and bounce back. She is my world. The brightest light on my darkest days. I have shaped my life around her, and meeting her sparked a passion for rescue that has opened new career opportunities and introduced me to so many life long friends. I told her when I adopted her that she would be safe, and that I would make the res of her days as happy as I could. She's just turned 12, and is enjoying her golden years by my side. The funny thing about 'saving' Luna was that she doesn't and won't ever realise how difficult adopting a dog has made things for me (like applying for a house to rent and live, or planning holidays, or grabbing coffee with friends) - but that is exactly how it should be. She makes the superficial things in life seem less important and has told me to focus on relationship that fulfill your heart and soul. She deserves nothing but love and compassion. Ironically, she was the one who 'saved' me, and has pulled me out of deep, dark holes countless times. Meeting Luna on a cross road - on a full moon - at midnight - was a sign; we were meant to be together and destined to tackle life as a team. I only wish that everybody could find their Luna in life, and to learn the true meaning of life - compassion.
By Chris Croker6 years ago in Petlife
Sweet Creature
I remember when I first met you. I had come over to surprise your mama in an act of love. And you were there because you were always there. Looking back, I realize that meeting you was even more important than meeting her parents. Because you are her heart externalized. We both understood: if I can love you, then she knows that I can love her.
By Pallavi Juneja6 years ago in Petlife
Out of the Dog's Mouth
Hello. Do you like my picture? I am thirteen years old in this picture, and I'm still looking good, don't you think? This is my story, a story of my life with my master as seen through my eyes, and why I love the person I call my master (or mother), and how we came to know each other and learn from each other.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Petlife
The Golden Adventure of Ritz
Hi. My name is Ritz. I am a fluffy golden retriever. I love to sleep and fetch and chew on toys. But the thing I love most of all is swimming. My breed was made to swim through the water to retrieve ducks. I don't think I've ever retrieved a real duck before. I did have a toy duck when I was a young puppy that I thought was real for a long time. I chewed and chewed on him and I didn't understand why he kept squeaking. Then, finally, I tore him open and I found fluff inside. Fluff! My humans tricked me! All that time I thought I was being a hero, bringing down a mighty, mighty duck. Anyway, I digress. I've never retrieved a real duck, but I do love to retrieve tennis balls when my humans throw them into the water.
By Reese Marie6 years ago in Petlife
The Sweetness of "Sugar"
About 15 years ago, my sister Michelle brought my 84-year-old Mom to various places in search of a dog or a puppy for her. It was the last stop on the route home where my Mom met “Sugar,“ an American Eskimo who totally lived up to her name in sweetness. Apparently, lucky for my Mom and our family, Sugar’s previous owner had brought her back to this pet seller because she wasn’t a match for that person’s household. Michelle gave my Mom the most wonderful gift when she stopped into that pet store that day - Sugar was then about 6 months old when my Mom first locked eyes with her for what would prove to be a divine pairing of souls.
By Kathleen Thompson6 years ago in Petlife
Why My Dog is a Nymphomaniac
I never quite thought a dog could be a nymphomaniac, until I purchased Carla. Carla was a Jack Russell. I knew Jack Russell's were affectionate, but I didn't quite realise to the degree that she would literally prowl upon anything that released even a microgram of testosterone.
By Hyper Homo6 years ago in Petlife
A Dog Named Joey
I kneel down at the crest of the meadow; the trail is winding up through the junipers; cutting through the grassland where cattle are roaming. I pause sitting back on the rocks that edge the trail leading towards the Pacific Crest. I’m tired, my shirt soaked with sweat clinging to my back. Joey my four-legged hiking partner is prancing at the edge of the leash, frenzied with the need to chase the cattle. He glances back at me, his sigh showing his displeasure at my not allowing him to herd. He licks at my hand, then glances back at the them as though to remind me that he’s a cattle dog and that I’m interfering with the nature of things. I smile, kissing the top of his head, hugging him close I whisper a lullaby to calm his nerves. Joey my Joey, the best dingo dog there could be, Joey my Joey my heart belongs to thee.
By Michele Genzardi6 years ago in Petlife
