Petlife

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?"

Goodbye, Good Boy!. Top Story - May 2026.

Dearest Emma… the Best Vet in All the World… my very favourite one! [It's way past my bedtime on Sunday, Treat Day, 10/5/26]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pets Are a Subscription You Can't Cancel. AI-Generated.

Cat Food & Feeding Supplies for Happy, Healthy Cats

Automatic Pet Feeder for Cats and Dogs

Can Good Nutrition Help Your Dog Live a Longer, Healthier Life?

Tonka "The Monster" Truck

The Kitten and the Old Man

Why Your Cat Rips Through the House After Pooping

Cats Rule the World. Dogs Are Just the Loyal Middle Managers.