Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Tortoise Keeping 101
Tortoises are one of the oldest organisms on the earth today. They have survived meteors, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, ice ages, etc. This makes them great pets because their resilience makes them very hard to kill. However, they do need proper care and attention. Tortoises are found all over the planet. The Sulcata (pictured above in my hand) is found in the grasslands of Africa. They are smaller than a golf ball at birth but within five years of proper care, they can reach the size of a pumpkin, with sexually-matured adults reaching the size of a beach ball. The Sulcatas are popular in warmer states such as Arizona, California, Texas, and Nevada. They roam around backyards and eat weeds and grass and can with stand temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 50 degrees in winter. But unfortunately, since these tortoises thrive here in the southwest, people tend to accidentally and purposely breed them all the time. If you are thinking about adopting or buying a Sulcata, here are some quick tips to make sure they stay healthy.
By Nicholaus Mazzochi8 years ago in Petlife
Best Winter Dog Gear to Keep Your Pup Warm. Top Story - November 2017.
It is important to make sure your best friend is kept warm throughout the wintertime just like you do. Even in the cold weather, it's important for you and your dog to get some exercise outside. Plus, who doesn't need some fresh air on the daily? That is why it's important to accessorize your pooch the best way possible, to ensure they are not uncomfortable or cold.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Petlife
Why I Love My Therapy Dog
About three years ago, my family and had to put down my dog Snoopy. She could no longer walk, eat, or move without being in pain, so we decided to end her suffering. Snoopy was my first dog that I could really remember having memories with, since the first dog my family had died when I was too young to really remember. My family has always had dogs in it, so we didn’t wait too long before getting the dog we have now. It was too quiet in the house without a companion around.
By Katie Jones8 years ago in Petlife
Zack
Zachary is an 8 year old Yorkie-Poo. He also happens to be my best friend. He came to me when I was in the 8th grade when all of my older siblings were leaving for college. In my opinion, he couldn't have arrived at a better time. For me, middle school was not only a time of awkward bodily changes, it was also a time full of pain. Nobody truly wanted to be my friend. I also got cyber-bullied a lot. A 13-14 year old girl with body image/confidence issues already knows her flaws, she doesn't need anyone else to point them out for her. I was beginning to slip into a depression. My only friends, my siblings, were all gone or in the process of leaving... This left me with my parents. Mom? Dad? I love you, but at that age, it was UNTHINKABLE to publicly be friends with your parents. Now that I'm much older, I do consider my mom to be my human best friend. She's pretty great. Alright, back to the loser years. Zack came to me on a crisp, fall afternoon. My mother was in front of my school to pick me up as was custom. This time, however, my father, who happens to be the school superintendent (that helps with my friend problem... not.), escorted me to her car. I didn't mind, usually he gives me money for a pop! This time was different. When I got to the car, I see this little black fur ball looking up at me from the front seat. He was jumping and whimpering and licking the window. My heart soared. I loved him already.
By Madeleine Graves8 years ago in Petlife
So My Dogs are Complete Assholes...
I decided to sit down and write this piece because I'm at my wit's end with my dogs. Simply put, they're complete assholes. Both of them. To me and to each other. Let me give you their backstories before I tell you why they're jerks.
By OJ Diomedi8 years ago in Petlife
Lola
I have a Pit bull-Boxer named Lola. She just turned four in October 2017. She is still as innocent and as happy as she was before she was even fully grown. She loves to stick by my side all the time. When I'm sitting on the couch, she's curled up right next to me snoring, or she's flopped with her head on my lap. When it's bed time, she's either snuggled on my mom's bed or on my bed. She loves to lay very close too! When we go outside in the backyard, she loves to either run laps around the garage, or chase her toy when it's thrown for her. She'll even swing her toys around and throw them herself sometimes! On walks, she's extremely curious and loves to smell everything and gets excited when she sees other dogs or people or anything. Lola loves people, she even gets excited when she has to take trips to the vet. While waiting in the little room, she's always very wiggly and talkative. She sits like a good girl, but still gets fidgety and has problems sitting still when the vet comes in to see her.
By Ashleigh Klemetson8 years ago in Petlife
Fred
This is Fred who sadly had to be put to sleep in October 2017. Fred found us on a cold November day. The sort of day when there is no sunlight, just clouds and rain that was carried through the air on cold biting winds that seemed to come from all points of the compass.
By Alan Russell8 years ago in Petlife
Life of a Snake Hustler Part 1
What is responsible breeding? Like anything where you are bringing living breathing creatures (humans included) into the world. It's very tough to decide what constitutes ethics and ethical breeding. Generally it classes reptile companies into 2 subsets. You have the make money operations focused on pumping out large numbers of reptiles to distribute often to pet stores, and you have the hobby breeders who love wholeheartedly what they are doing. There are a few odd cases of people who manage to straddle the gap between a make-money and a labour of love, but it remains a tricky balance.
By Andrea Hersom8 years ago in Petlife
My Cat Almost Set My House on Fire
We pull up to our house and all we see is a gargantuan firetruck, taking up the whole width of the street, parked in front of our house. There are blue and red flashing lights, a few smaller fire vehicles, police. We are confused to say the very least. But let's rewind a little.
By Shana Shep8 years ago in Petlife
Best Breeds for Therapy Dogs
The choice of a service dog is a completely different process beside choosing a pet, meaning the amount of cuteness and fluff should not be prospects. You may have a personal favorite breed of dog before this process, but what is most important is the dog that will best service your life.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Petlife
