adoption
Our guide to animal adoption; learn why, where, and how to prepare to adopt a cat, kitten, dog or puppy from an animal shelter or rescue group.
Poppy
I walked into a teeny-tiny, run-down animal shelter without a clue that I would walk out with my soulmate. Piles of papers and files stacked on the shelves behind the front desk, more files and papers piled high on the desk, a small bench in one corner, and peeling linoleum flooring greeted me as I ventured in. The older woman behind the desk greeted me and asked what I was looking for. I paused and asked if I could just take a look around. She waved me on. I wandered around the small square building, three rooms full of cats just… out, being cats, a couple rooms with puppies, then I wandered outside and walked a bit around the yard, finding some dogs in outdoor kennels.
By Davia Buchacher4 years ago in Petlife
Five Rescue Stories In One House
When my stepson was about six years old, he asked if we could go to the shelter and get a cat. That was in 2015. After looking around, my husband decided that it wasn't quite the right time, and I rather agreed with him. When we left the second shelter, my stepson had tears in his eyes. I tried to comfort him as best I could.
By Ashley McGee4 years ago in Petlife
Harvey
I can remember it like it was yesterday. If I close my eyes I can even still feel the cool late October air and hear the light rustling of leaves. I was sitting in the driveway of an old friends house, bundled up in my jacket but shivering because I was wearing shorts and trying to keep my legs warm as I sat legs crossed, deep in conversation with my childhood friend. I know that you were cold too, but I prefer to remember the story as this, you saw me shivering and so you crawled up into my lap to keep me warm. This small beat up ball of fur with gigantic green eyes and a purr box that sounded like a motor boat. I had no idea in that moment all that was to be in store for us. The joy, laughter and tears. They have all been worth it though. Every single step of the way.
By Michelle Paiva4 years ago in Petlife
Lola
In May of 2017, I was visiting with my daughter and we had just pulled up at the pet supermarket in town. As we got out of the car, we saw the animal control truck pull up and we both got excited, knowing we were going to be able to play with some puppies. We walked up and tried to get a sneak peek at the puppies that were being placed for adoption today when one of the workers opened a cage, revealing a scared brindle and white puppy. She looked to be around two to three months old and had the perfect puppy dog eyes as she locked eyes with me. The worker, I’m assuming sensed the connection between me and this puppy, picked up the puppy and put her in my arms.
By Heather Henkes4 years ago in Petlife
My Furever Baby
Let me just start by saying I am no stranger to pets. Growing up, my father always had a string of animals going through our house. We went through so many dogs it was insane. But he was never satisfied with only dogs. We had cats, iguanas, rabbits, birds, snakes, hamsters, turtles, and fish. We were very lucky children to be surrounded by so many different kinds of animals. It was amazing growing up the way I did, and it fed my love of animals today.
By Hannah Coltson 4 years ago in Petlife
A Lolly to Love
”No, we’re not rescuing a third dog! Baxter hasn’t been gone very long and you don’t chip in with the boring parts,” I told my daughter. I was firm and meant what I had said. So how, I wondered, had we found ourselves at the Animal Shelter looking at longing faces yet again?
By Katie Wright4 years ago in Petlife
A Cat Called Psychology
My dad was the first to give in. I wouldn't call him a softy, but he certainly knew that the whole family wanted a cat. Thing was, the little black cat who'd been turning up in our yard wasn't - how to put it - strictly legal. By two standards, he wasn't supposed to be there: by our landlord's and by our mother's. We weren't supposed to have pets, and my mother was very, very allergic.
By Minte Stara4 years ago in Petlife
A Dog Named Sherlock
For the past six years, my work has been all about animals. I write for an animal news website, and for a little while, I also worked with animals directly at a local dog rescue. I love writing and telling stories about dogs, cats, frogs, bees, monkeys, and the like. Working directly with dogs who needed homes hit a little bit differently though.
By Caitlin Jill Anders4 years ago in Petlife
