Top Stories

Stories in Petlife that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.

Perfection Is A Fig
The hot July sun beams in through the open window, creating a patch of warmth that Fig happily stretches out on. He yawns lazily, waving his tail slowly back and forth, his fur warm to the touch. Oregon has been on a record stretch of heat, the suburban air scented coconut from sunscreen and summer cocktails enjoyed in the shade. Fig remains content in his heat-induced delirium, a level of relaxation one can only achieve after a lifetime of having nowhere to be and nothing to do. Voices downstairs pull Fig out of his summer daze, he squints his good eye open, wondering if it is worth investigating or not. He lost his left eye many years ago, when he was a kitten, in a fight over something he can’t remember. It took him months to build up the courage to look at himself, scared that such a disfigurement would be too much for others to accept. Now, most days, he likes being different, and he takes pride in the fact that his one eye contains more appreciation for art and culture than most cats have with two.
By Alexis Makepeace5 years ago in Petlife
Spot's Secret
We adopted Spot from the shelter the day after my older brother left for college. Spot was about six months old when we got him. I don’t know how he got the name Spot. He looked nothing like a Spot to me. He was a golden retriever puppy, with big blue eyes. No spots anywhere. However, this was the name he responded to, so the shelter recommended that we keep his name, to help manage his anxiety.
By Joyce Kay5 years ago in Petlife
The Scuba-Diving Cat
It all started with a cat. I caught a glimpse of her one day as she streaked by me in the garage. I had promised myself to never owe more than $10,000 of credit card debt, but there I was at $9,997, buying cat food at the corner store. I hit $10,011 the next day when I realized that she was pregnant. When I got to $10,061, I named her Christmas, because she came bearing gifts and had a fat belly. She had seven babies that summer, shortly after I hit $10,098. I did not name the kittens, except for the one that died. I found him in the morning when I went out to the garage to empty the trash. I buried Carrot in my neighbor’s geraniums while they were at work.
By RG5 years ago in Petlife
What The Swallows Know. First Place in Capture the Wild Challenge.
In her newest book, Rising Strong, author and resiliency researcher Brené Brown quotes a proverb she learned from the Asaro tribe of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea:
By Lacey Doddrow5 years ago in Petlife
How Pets Could Be a Solution to Touch Deprivation
Do you remember the days when we could kiss our loved ones with no fear? Or when we could hug a stranger for a nice deed? Well, now that the handshakes are put on hold and people are requested to distance, those heartwarming acts are harshly replaced by fear and anxiety.
By Tina S5 years ago in Petlife
How did my Home Become a Sanctuary for Random Creatures?
Perhaps the title should read: How did my home become an involuntary sanctuary for random creatures? I certainly didn't send out invitations. Oddly enough, this is not a complaint. Each unique encounter has been either intriguing, entertaining, or at the very least educational. Only one of our visitors cost us money to remove. Perhaps I'll file that one under complaints.
By Erica Roberts 5 years ago in Petlife
My 2021 Resolution - Be More Dog
It is 7.30am on a wet and dreary January day. I am contemplating getting out of bed and preparing for the day ahead, not really wanting to move from the cosy comfort of my nest beneath the duvet but knowing that I really ought to.
By Sophie Jackson5 years ago in Petlife
Hanging Out at the Crow Bar: the Secret Lives of America's Smartest Birds
My roommate has developed a close personal relationship with the neighborhood crows. First, she started putting out water for them. Then she started feeding them. And now they are starting to communicate with her.
By Rose Bak 5 years ago in Petlife
A Song of the Stars
A single brown leaf was swept up as a soft breeze weaved through the branches. The sun had set much earlier than usual; it would soon be time to leave.
By Alanna Weeks5 years ago in Petlife
The Night Hunter
The journey over the ridge to the forest was a peaceful but long journey. The sun was setting quickly. Golden rays blended with shades of pinks and blues that trickled through the trees. Aside from a light chill the evening was nearly perfect for a night hunt.
By Cassondra Cofresi-Tuska5 years ago in Petlife
Pets Are Returning to the White House After Four Years
Pets have always been a tradition in the White House for presidents and their families. The most popular ones are dogs, but other pets have also been welcomed inside the White House and on the grounds.
By Margaret Minnicks5 years ago in Petlife
A House That Will Last 9 Lives
If you have a cat, then you probably have noticed how they sleep where they want, eat what they want, and pretty much do whatever they want whenever they want. As cat owners, we find ourselves adjusting to their preferences probably ninety percent of the time. However, that other ten percent is when we go above and beyond for our furry beasts because we want to.
By Cathryn Dennison5 years ago in Petlife