Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
It Was "Meant to Be!"
For months my wife and I had been eagerly waiting for a puppy that we had put a deposit on earlier that year. That January, we had found a breeder for Alaskan Malamutes near Seattle, Washington. She had told us that we would either be eighth in line for the February/March litter or we would be first for the April/May litter. She warned us that she cannot predict how many puppies her female would have so we may or may not get a puppy with the first litter. March comes around and there were seven puppies. Disappointed of course, we were hopeful and excited to get a puppy in the next few months.
By Emily Elliott7 years ago in Petlife
Aging Pets Need TLC. Top Story - October 2018.
When we adopt a cute little puppy or kitten, we generally are not thinking that at some point that puppy or kitten is going to become a senior citizen and require special care and pampering. But, the fact is dogs and cats have a much shorter life span than their human companions.
By Linda Paul7 years ago in Petlife
Keeping Pets in University Halls
Anyone that has been to university can probably tell you stories about animals being kept SAS style in halls. I can tell you stories about everything from fish to sheep being kept in university halls, it was not uncommon to see a hamster cage being passed between flats on inspection day or a cry for help on the university message boards saying, “Can anyone look after my snake for a night so he doesn’t get found?” Pets were hidden under beds, in cupboards and locked in bathrooms whenever the maintenance team came around (on the rare occasion they responded to one of our problems).
By Charlie Mcloud7 years ago in Petlife
A Tail of Two Dogs
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”—Roger Caras. Now, I never expected to be the proud owner of a beautiful grey, black, white, with a splash of brown husky/malamute mix, but alas, here I am today, writing about my beautiful Diamond. We went to an fairly affluent apartment complex, that cost roughly $1,500 a month for a two bedroom apartment, on a Thursday evening. We buy and sell items frequently on Facebook, so I figured this was just another typical transaction. What I didn't expect was a beautiful eighty pound dog coming my way. At first I was hesitant to accept a new dog into our household, as we live in a fairly small three bedroom house without a fence in the yard, but I was excited to have such a gorgeous dog.
By Jereimiah Armani7 years ago in Petlife
10 Things All Veterinary Technicians Wish You Wouldn't Do
Most pet owners only see veterinary interactions from one view, the view of the pet owner. I have been a veterinary technician for five years and I have seen veterinary interactions from the view of the tech and the owner. There are several things done by the pet owner that SHOULD be avoided at all costs. These things are not just to benefit the technician and veterinarian, but to allow for the entire visit for the patient, owner, and staff to be smooth and effective.
By Charlee Love7 years ago in Petlife
Pollution Could Kill Half of the World’s Wild Orca Populations
Around the world, many wild orca populations are affected by pollution caused by man-made toxins. These toxins are made of various chemicals that often are used on land for different purposes, only to end up in waterways through runoffs before making their way into the ocean as a form of pollution. These various chemicals include flame retardants, industrial pollutants, oils, and pesticides, and they have all been known to enter into oceanic waters through waterways and are now, having a major impact on marine wildlife, including the orcas. Speaking of orcas, a new study has recently confirmed that half of all of the known wild orca populations could be at risk of dying out as a result of exposure to the effects of toxins and ongoing pollution in various parts of the world.
By Jenna Deedy7 years ago in Petlife
So You Want a Parrot?
Ever thought about getting a parrot? I didn't but here I am and I am going to give you the facts. Meet my feathered friend Poncho. He's beautiful, isn't he? Beware, though, because sometimes what you see is not what you get. There is a lot more to him than just a coat of colored feathers. This inquisitive creature is demanding, bossy, and very vocal. Before you make that decision to purchase a parrot, I would like to introduce you to my facts. Poncho was given to me roughly eight years ago by a friend of mine. I decided to meet this feathered mess on a trial basis; however, he eventually stole my heart. The most important thing to consider before you make that purchase should be, "Will this bird like me?" Poncho is a one person bird. I have been fortunate enough to be that one person. He will not bring himself to like anyone else and that, my friend, is one of the main reasons why most people will get rid of their birds. Do realize, though, you can't "HATE" them for it. It's just in their nature to do what they do so if they don't like you, you can't take it personally yet you can't punish them either. I am an avid animal lover so my animals regardless of any situation are my forever family. I am the one that makes the adjustment. How do you make it work? If you decide to keep it regardless of its desire to be with one person only, it's going to take some compromise between you and everyone in the household. You will have to set boundaries and you're going to have to set rules. My husband knows that if the doors are closed to the living room, Poncho is probably out and most likely on my shoulder so he knows that if he doesn't want to get attacked, he will have to ENTER WITH CAUTION.
By Linda Blankenship7 years ago in Petlife
Untranslatable Words
Only when there’s about two football fields in between you and the shore will the horse reluctantly pick its hooves up off the ocean floor. They’ve memorized the patterns of the sand and the fluctuating depths of their ocean. Down there, you want to imagine the water as a mirror, or diamonds, but it moves too fast for you to really see straight down to the bottom.
By Julia Smith7 years ago in Petlife
