Petlife
For people who love pets. From dogs, to snakes, cats, and fish, Petlife is all about pets and the humans who care for them.
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Top Stories
Stories in Petlife that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
Don't Let 'Perfect' be the Enemy of 'Good'. Top Story - May 2026.
Any trainer--or anyone who owns multiple dogs over time--can tell you that for every dog that can count the chicken nuggets left in a package of ten, you're going to get three who get their foot stuck in their collar scratching at their ear. You buy a collie thinking that you're going to get a dog that can save Timmy from the well. What you end up with a dog that allows the Frisbee to smack her between the eyes and who thought she had to herd the bookcase into the corner. You know the type. The type that gets lost crossing the floor to the food dish. You despair that your dog will never learn how to sit, let alone achieve a straight automatic sit. A down-stay might as well be advanced algebra. You look at the Reels of Belgian Malinois crossing tightropes between buildings and of agility dogs and of obedience dogs that can clear a jump, pick up the right glove, and sing the second movement of Carmina Burana while making a beeline to a centered front without a hitch. And you think, "why can't I have that perfect dog?"
By Kimberly J Egan4 months ago in Petlife
The cat and the glass room. Top Story - May 2026.
Spring returns; birds chirping, wildflowers blooming. I reclaim my throne: A gigantic cat tree in the glass room, a recent gift from my main human. I watch wildlife for hours, blinking only to nap between bird songs. Beyond the glass, my second human scratches at my sleeping pad, “a laptop,” she insists, filling it with nonsense. I supervise, of course.
By Susan Fourtané 5 months ago in Petlife
Wisteria Woo RIP. Top Story - March 2026. Content Warning.
Wisteria Woo Silver~Rhodesian Ridgeback Cane Corso mix~ 7.19.15-3.2.26 My service dog, Wisteria, had been slowing down, having mysterious health symptoms like severe hives and unexplained injury. She went to the vet last month, but unfortunately, not all tests detect all problems. When we returned to the vet yesterday, upon much more concerning symptoms suddenly appearing, we learned she had a very large mass (10inx10in) likely the very aggressive hemangiosarcoma, and that we would only be buying a few months if we went through with treatment.
By K.B. Silver 7 months ago in Petlife
The Summer I Was Chosen by a Northern Mockingbird. Top Story - January 2026.
During the long, suspended days of the pandemic, a wild mockingbird began visiting my driveway and chose me, again and again. What started as a strange encounter became a brief, meaningful connection that I still carry with me.
By Erica Roberts 8 months ago in Petlife
A Dart at Dusk. Top Story - January 2026.
Seconds ago, the sullen sun set on the two of us… my exuberant furry companion and me. A fresh breeze embraces us, delivering welcome relief from the day’s oppressive heat. His typical stumbling and staggering along — apace with a sloth — has turned into trip-trapping, high-stepping, almost skipping along.
By Angie the Archivist 📚🪶8 months ago in Petlife
Cleo's First Puppy Show. Top Story - January 2026.
"How would you feel about doing the Corsicana show in November?" Kathleen asked me last September. Dog exhibitors speak in shorthand that way. It's easier to say "the Corsicana show" than it is to say the "North East Texas American Eskimo Dog Association Show." And yes, "North East." I guess "Northeast" shortened the name too much for some people's taste . . . But I digress. In response, I asked two of the three important questions that every exhibitor thinks, first thing.
By Kimberly J Egan9 months ago in Petlife
Keeping your pets safe (and calm) this holiday season . Top Story - December 2025.
The holiday season may be magical for some humans, but for pets it only means confusion, changed routines, overstimulation, extra noise, guests or pet sitters come and go, and sometimes the festive season means danger for pets.
By Susan Fourtané 9 months ago in Petlife
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Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Wikie and Keijo Are Running Out of Time: France and Spain Must Clarify Their Plans Before December
Wikie and Keijo, two killer whales who were born under human care, currently live at the former Marineland Antibes in France. While it is true that animal protection laws in France will prohibit keeping cetaceans under human care from December 2026, the exact wording of the new law and the date of its enactment. Possible exceptions must be confirmed.
By Jenna Deedya day ago in Petlife
The Box I Failed to Check
When I started looking for our next pup, I did so with purpose. D had found his perfect companion and future service-dog prospect through a rescue. Now, I wanted to find my own. Our Belgian Malinois, Mabel, is an incredible dog, but for me, her size, energy, and intensity can sometimes be more triggering than comforting. If you have ever experienced an animal triggering your nervous system, you might be reading this and thinking…
By Karina Rasberry2 days ago in Petlife
The Cats Learned to Understand Her
From the moment Chloe entered our sanctuary , she’s had quite a way of making an entrance. She’ll run directly toward another cat, give them a quick, gentle tap on the head, stare at them for a second, then dart off again. Considering how she never puts out her claws, you might think she suddenly remembered something important she had to tell them.
By Special Little Whiskers Kitten Sanctuary3 days ago in Petlife
Living in the Country is Interesting
I've lived in the country--or at least country-adjacent, for most of my life. Over the years, I've contested with the usual things getting into my house: mice, crickets, the occasional sparrow. One of my most interesting moments was telling the person with whom I was conversing on the phone that I had to get the goat out of my kitchen. (Mimi had nudged the door open and was pushing things around on the counter looking for bread.) One of the most bizarre moments came while I was cleaning the crates in the living room, hearing my little five-pound TFT "Drew" letting out a bark that I had never heard before, and turning around to see him standing down a several foot long rat snake.
By Kimberly J Egan8 days ago in Petlife
Remembering Tucker
🌈 🐾 REMEMBERING TUCKER, the little poodle with crusty eyes, a rhinestone-studded collar, and a big heart. 🐾 ❤️ It’s been almost 40 since I held Tucker, but the memories come easy. How surprisingly soft his tightly coiled white fur was. The chronic eye boogers and persistent tear stains despite daily face washings. The way he always smelled like perfumed dog shampoo. His coordinated attacks against my Pound Puppy slippers, who he thought were real, live dogs invading his territory. The way he acted like his own stuntman, sometimes log rolling down longer flights of stairs when momentum and gravity overtook his stubby legs.
By Cassandra Lynn14 days ago in Petlife
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