Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
A Dog's Dog
Baby May came into my life as Blueberry, a long haired Chihuahua that had been taken from an abusive home. Every noise scared her, the tiny little ball of black fur hiding in the back of her cage at the adoption fair, cowering if anyone dared to come near her cage, but that didn't stop me. No one else was interested in her, everyone wanted the puppies and the dogs that wagged their tails at everyone, but I wanted her, I wanted to help her. I sat down outside her cage, offering her treats and love, slowly coaxing her out. It was official, I was in love. I called my mom to come see her, as I needed her approval since I lived with her, begging for her to come see this timid little dog. When my mom arrived, the look on my face told her everything that she needed to know; this dog was coming home with us. Papers were signed, visits were arranged, and she came home with us. As soon as we got home, she walked the perimeter of our backyard, unsure of the new space, looking like a fox stalking prey.
By Janelle Hammonds8 years ago in Petlife
Living With Cats
If there's one thing I've learned about living with cats, it's that you don't own them. They own you. I am owned by two kitties. One of whom is shy, and the other is outgoing and playful. Mouse, the littlest baby, is outgoing, playful and full of energy. She naps through most days, gearing up for her short bursts of playing. Sometimes she can convince her brother to play with her, and sometimes, he just wants to be left alone. This article is going to focus mostly on Mouse, because she's the outgoing, stubborn one. She knows that she owns my husband and I, and isn't shy about making it known. Even as I write this, she's laying on my desk in front of me and my laptop, purring and cuddling with my chest where I'm leaning in to my desk. She knows that there are very few circumstances where I would actually move her. And I know that if she is comfortable, nothing will stop her from coming back. She's a cuddle bug. Most nights when she naps, she's napping either on me or my husband, or somewhere on the bed between us. She's never far away from one of us, and if she wants to play, one must bend to the tiny dictator's wishes.
By Jessye Gould8 years ago in Petlife
The Day My Cats Hijacked the Computer. Top Story - July 2018.
My four whiskerlicking cats like to hang out in my upstairs office. One afternoon, having finished my paperwork, I took my Westie, Brandi, out for a walk. Leaving the computer on and shutting the door behind me, I went downstairs and, with scruffy canine on her leash, started out of the house.
By Chuck Hinson8 years ago in Petlife
Silent No More
Loro Parque. Situated in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, it is apparently considered "the best zoo in the world" according to the park's website and numerous posters plastered across the island. It's hard to ignore the appeal of such a place that offers the world's largest indoor penguin enclosure and Europe's largest shark tunnel, whilst also playing host to a variety of different animal shows throughout the day. So, having been in Tenerife myself recently on holiday with family it seemed only right that which should pay a visit of our own to such a thrilling place. And to be quite honest, from the family-friendly exterior it's hard to imagine that anything could be wrong with a place so driven by the conservation of endangered animals. However, as most people should have come to understand by now, all is not as it seems from the outside looking in and after doing my own research off of knowledge I vaguely had already I discovered something that needs to be uncovered.
By Beth Titchmarsh8 years ago in Petlife
Raising a Stray (Pt. 2)
The hardest thing for me as a cat mom is to not be able to cuddle my babies when they really need the attention. Arno has always been cautious around people. I spoke a little bit in the first Raising a Stray piece about his origin story and what I thought might be the cause of why he's so shy. But I didn't cover what it's like in the day to day life with Arno.
By Jessye Gould8 years ago in Petlife
Do Dogs Have a Sexual Preference?
It’s a common scenario—you’re playing at the park with your dog and suddenly he's across the field, humping another male dog. While you try frantically to stop it, you're thinking "do I have a gay dog?" Homosexuality occurs naturally in humans, so do dogs have a sexual preference? The answer may be more complicated than you think. There are several examples of same-sex relationships throughout the animal kingdom (including some sex lives of animals that are surprisingly violent) that may be applicable to our canine companions. However, very little is understood about animal sexuality and what drives their sexual behavior. Here’s what we do know.
By Lizzie Boudoir8 years ago in Petlife
Pit Bulls
Why do people hate Pit bulls so much? In the 1920s, Pit bulls were known as safe to children and became nanny dogs. Every Pit bull I have met would be really happy and give you kisses. I never once saw a mean Pitbull in my life. Where do they get their behavior from? Well, them acting kind and loving are from their owners. They just want a home and not to be abused. Some dogs are in illegal dog fighting rings. They are forced to attack each other. That is where their behavior comes from. It is not like they want to do this. They are scared. Lots of people need to learn the real truth about Pit bulls. Now I will tell you about my Pit bull.
By Michaela Weiss8 years ago in Petlife
Five Things to Know About Great White Sharks
One of the most celebrated species of shark in the world, the great white shark (Carchardon carcharias) is regarded as the largest species of predatory shark on Earth. A healthy adult shark can grow up to 21 feet in length and weight up to 4,000 pounds. In addition to having powerful jaws that are full of large serrated teeth, they are also capable of exerting lethal forces of more than 20 tons per square inch when biting on prey and foreign objects. So, in honor of “Shark Week”, here are five facts to know about the great white shark...
By Jenna Deedy8 years ago in Petlife
How 9 Kittens Changed My Family
I thought my mom was crazy when she told me we had nine kittens living in our backyard. Downtown Ottawa is not known for its feral cat population, and my yard borders the main street which is not the ideal place for a furry family. However, with some pleading from my mother, I went out to investigate.
By Sage Kirchmann8 years ago in Petlife
Eco Criminals
Eco criminals are those who commit offenses such as killing wildlife, dumping pesticides into nature, importing wildlife, disposing of hazardous waste, selling migratory bird parts, and more. Hunters who try to get ivory tusks off of elephants, those who go after endangered tigers, even people who hunt wolves in Alaska, are all guilty of eco-crimes against humanity as well as nature. The other sorts of eco criminals such as people who think water is not a human right to have like Nestle, are still those who do the environment harm. In Africa, they still go around hunting elephants for their tusks.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Petlife
Why You Must Cut Your Dog's Nails
I am not talking about the aesthetics here, although that counts as well since long nails on dogs aren't a pretty sight. Health issues, particularly pain and problems with posture, are the main reason why you must cut your dog’s nails. It's part of caring or your dog at home.
By April Demarco8 years ago in Petlife
