Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Health Benefits of Having Pets
Pets have been an integral part of human life for thousands of years. Whether hunting, helping out on the farm, or simply providing companionship, our furry friends have always been important family members. But can pets actually make us live longer? The answer appears to be a resounding yes! The health benefits of having pets are well-documented. Here are a few ways your four-legged friend will help you live a long and happy life.
By April Demarco8 years ago in Petlife
Blondie and Butterscotch
This is a story of four dogs and their current lives. First is Blondie, a Pitbull boxer mix. She was born on June 5th, 2012. She is currently 6. We adopted her from North Carolina and she arrived on the 24th of June in 2012. At that time she just turned one. The guy who brought her to us said she threw up and peed multiple times in her cage. There were many other dogs and some cats in the van, but they didn't know that they were about to go to there future homes. In the picture my mom found online, Blondie looked very strong and tough. When we let her in the house she met Butterscotch and they became best friends. After that, we brought her outside and she was so happy. If you see Blondie then she would give you kisses. Recently it was her birthday and she got a toy. The thing was that she didn't like it, but Butterscotch did. When we were at Party City, my dad thought this outfit for a baby was for a dog so he bought it. Instead of playing with a toy she played with that. She is fast and always hyper, but honestly she loves everyone. She likes to be rubbed and she is the sweetest dog of them all. If she growls at you she would still give you kisses. Pitbulls are not tough, it is the way you raise any dog.
By Michaela Weiss8 years ago in Petlife
Mr. Darcy and Me. Top Story - July 2018.
For perhaps the first time in my life, this piece is not an ode to Mr. Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. While my Mr. Darcy was given the namesake because of my favorite novel, he is a hero in his own right. Nearly three years ago when I suddenly became very sick I thought that I would suddenly get better. However, that was far from the case. Fast forward through at least ten doctors, six hospitals, fifty-plus medications, six CT scans, two universities, more tests than I can count, and I am still sick. My journey is an ongoing one, it is wrought with fear, sadness, and a very deep loneliness.
By Becca Volk8 years ago in Petlife
Bunny Basics 101: What You Need to Know Before Getting a Pet Rabbit
So you have decided to get a new bunny? Congrats! I'm going to go ahead and assume you clicked on this post because you want to know what you NEED to know before you get a rabbit. Well, fear not, for you have come to the right place! Let me start with some background information about me and why you can trust my bunny knowledge!
By Rebecca Slaney8 years ago in Petlife
Freeing Lolita the Killer Whale Is Not an Option
Lolita is a Southern Resident killer whale who was believed to have been born in 1966 to the Southern Resident orca population. She was collected on August 8, 1970 off the coast of Penn Cove, Washington where she was kept in a pen-based facility for about a month before she was sent to Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, FL. There, she spent the first ten years of her life at the facility with a male orca named Hugo, who was believed to have come from the same pod as she did, until his death in 1980. She has been the only orca in its care since. Today, she currently resides at the facility with four Pacific white sided dolphins, who serve as her companions, and is one of two living killer whales to have been collected from the Pacific Northwest during the 1960s and 70s. Yet, despite the fact that Lolita continues to thrive at Miami Seaquarium, animal rights extremists want Lolita to be “released” from the only home she has ever known for the last 48 years by putting her in a potentially dangerous “return-to-the-wild” that would be run by those with very little to no expertise in animal care. I am here to explain why freeing Lolita may not be in her best interest.
By Jenna Deedy8 years ago in Petlife
Things to Know About Your Pet's Dental Health
Let's admit it: our pets are cherished members of our family. We buy them the best foods, let them sleep in our beds, and take them on vacations. We fret about their health and are worried sick when they become ill. Then why do so many pet owners neglect our pet's dental health? According to Nationwide, a top provider of pet insurance, 80% of dogs have signs of dental disease by age 3! Many of us know how excruciating a toothache can be, and it is no different for our four-legged friends. However, dogs and cats do not often clearly communicate to us that they are hurting. It is essential to learn how to prevent oral health problems in our pets and recognize when they need veterinary dental care. Keep reading for some tips to keep their pearly whites in top shape.
By Izzy Erlich8 years ago in Petlife
Bred for the Bullet
Cub petting has risen in popularity in recent years due to the increase of social media content containing wild animal encounters, rides, walks, and selfies. Wildlife tourist attractions, WTAs, showcase a range of exotic animals and experiences including cub petting, walking with lions, tiger selfies, and bear feeding. Interactions are often presented as educational and tourists are sometimes told cubs are orphans that have been taken in by the business usually masquerading as a sanctuary. This increased consumer demand for wild animal interaction has provided the perfect opportunity for WTAs to turn their animals into profit centers for a non-stop flow of customers who fuel the photo-tourism industry. Unfortunately, businesses that offer wild animal interactions operate far from the idyllic connotations that the word “sanctuary” implies. Specifically, focusing on young cubs (including lions, tigers, jaguars, bears, leopards), being subjected to the unnecessary human interaction that directly disrupts their right to a natural upbringing, resulting in serious negative consequences for the physical and mental well being of the big cats involved.
By Molly Gill8 years ago in Petlife
Essential Things to Know Before Getting a Dog
Getting a dog can be a really exciting time in your life, however, there are a few things you need to consider before jumping in. These are just a few important things to know when thinking about getting a furry companion, or just trying to decide what kind of dog is the best fit for you and your lifestyle. Then feel free to get a pooch and take as many cute pics of them as possible, make them their own Insta account, and achieve internet fame.
By Chloe Francis8 years ago in Petlife
My Monkey
My boy, my boy, my beautiful boy, how much more love can you give? Always there wagging that tail, with eyes so wide, bright and happy, all just for me. I was your everything, your morning, your evening. You are my everything, my smiles, my laughs, and my heart. I received your blessing of a life at four weeks of age, unbeknownst to me, missing your doggie lessons from mom and her nourishing milk. You were so small, you fit in the palms of my hands, I thought for sure I would smoosh you while I slept, so we went and got you a beddy-bye for on the bed, you loved it. You would curl up in it and I would fall asleep staring at you. Turns out you would never really grow out of it, you'd hide treats and food in it and flip it upside down on top of yourself and we'd play hide and seek. I was lied to about you and I hope all my love negated the rough beginning you had.
By Erin Kerlin8 years ago in Petlife
What Everyone Gets Wrong About Syrian Hamsters As Pets
I don't know about you but when I was young, hamsters (and especially syrian hamsters) were the hot first pet for any child. I remember going through several hamsters, same as most of my friends. They are small, but not as small as mice so you can grab them better. Their cage isn't too big so a child is able to clean them out and they "last" only two years, so in case your kid gets bored or something, you don't have to worry too much.
By Adalia Pride8 years ago in Petlife
