Perfection Is A Fig
The hot July sun beams in through the open window, creating a patch of warmth that Fig happily stretches out on. He yawns lazily, waving his tail slowly back and forth, his fur warm to the touch. Oregon has been on a record stretch of heat, the suburban air scented coconut from sunscreen and summer cocktails enjoyed in the shade. Fig remains content in his heat-induced delirium, a level of relaxation one can only achieve after a lifetime of having nowhere to be and nothing to do. Voices downstairs pull Fig out of his summer daze, he squints his good eye open, wondering if it is worth investigating or not. He lost his left eye many years ago, when he was a kitten, in a fight over something he can’t remember. It took him months to build up the courage to look at himself, scared that such a disfigurement would be too much for others to accept. Now, most days, he likes being different, and he takes pride in the fact that his one eye contains more appreciation for art and culture than most cats have with two.
Alexis MakepeacePublished 7 days ago in Petlife
A Photographic Journey
I have probably taken a million photos of my dog over the years, starting our first days together. First good photo of Buddy, he was afraid of the camera
Lois CunniffPublished 10 days ago in PetlifePigs Aren’t As Dumb As You Think! We Have Been Underestimating Them.
‘Sweat like a pig’? Really? In fact, they don’t sweat. Humans sweat, Dogs pant. It’s their way of cooling down the body after doing some demanding activity. But what do pigs do? They neither have sweat glands nor could pant like dogs. So, it’s their way of cooling down by wallowing in mud and dung. Their mud-caked appearance gives them an inappropriate reputation for untidiness.
Nikhil VemuPublished 11 days ago in PetlifeSpot's Secret
We adopted Spot from the shelter the day after my older brother left for college. Spot was about six months old when we got him. I don’t know how he got the name Spot. He looked nothing like a Spot to me. He was a golden retriever puppy, with big blue eyes. No spots anywhere. However, this was the name he responded to, so the shelter recommended that we keep his name, to help manage his anxiety.
Second Chances
I hadn’t planned to rescue a dog that day. It was an ordinary day for me; a mid-January Wednesday, full of work, after-work errands and being tired. As it turns out, it was an ordinary day for the dog as well: full of hunger, cold, fear and being targeted by teenagers who thought it was fun to throw bottles at a stray. That our paths crossed was the only extraordinary part of the day – for either of us.
Marney Studaker-CordnerPublished 17 days ago in PetlifeThe Scuba-Diving Cat
It all started with a cat. I caught a glimpse of her one day as she streaked by me in the garage. I had promised myself to never owe more than $10,000 of credit card debt, but there I was at $9,997, buying cat food at the corner store. I hit $10,011 the next day when I realized that she was pregnant. When I got to $10,061, I named her Christmas, because she came bearing gifts and had a fat belly. She had seven babies that summer, shortly after I hit $10,098. I did not name the kittens, except for the one that died. I found him in the morning when I went out to the garage to empty the trash. I buried Carrot in my neighbor’s geraniums while they were at work.
What The Swallows Know
In her newest book, Rising Strong, author and resiliency researcher Brené Brown quotes a proverb she learned from the Asaro tribe of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea:
Lacey DoddrowPublished 19 days ago in PetlifeHow Pets Could Be a Solution to Touch Deprivation
Do you remember the days when we could kiss our loved ones with no fear? Or when we could hug a stranger for a nice deed? Well, now that the handshakes are put on hold and people are requested to distance, those heartwarming acts are harshly replaced by fear and anxiety.
The Pet Whisperers
Being a pet parent is hard. We make it easy. Become a pet whisperer with these tips and tricks.
Beasts of the Wild
Lions and tigers and bears - oh my! Exploring majestic beasts in their natural habitats.
Animals of the Internet
The viral pets that make us squeal, aww, and cry. Making your newsfeed cuter each and every day.
World Warrior
It was that brief moment between sleep and wakefulness. That blissful time before consciousness fully sets in, when you can feel your body waken and enjoy the bliss of a quiet mind. Before reality sets in, before the worries of the day come crashing down on your shoulders and the belly churning begins. Reaching her hands up high over her head and stretching languidly Molly felt her cat imitating her movements beside her and smiled.
Tracey GibbonsPublished 3 minutes ago in Petlife
Dog Bread
Dog Bread by Jesse Stone “Don’t come back ‘till you’ve hayed them hogs,” her voice called hard as the screen door slammed, both sounds of habit at this time of day.
Jesse StonePublished 45 minutes ago in PetlifeAnother Man's Treasure
The pigeon flapped out of the charging toddler’s way, the child squealing in delight as she waddled after it again. Her tiny boots slapped on the damp pavement to match the beat of pigeon wings, echoing around a near vacant Trafalgar Square. Frightened, the bird flitted towards the couple leaning against a lion's hip, just missing their swatting hands.
Ali HuseynliPublished about an hour ago in Petlife
Jazz the Rocker Cat
I have lived with cats most of my life. I have sought out cats and cats have found me. I have never had more than two at a time, except once when I had four. Usually I only have one. I like cats.
Michelle CaustonPublished about 2 hours ago in Petlife
Kitty the mushroom Hunter
Sometimes the world just needs to slow down. I’m no technophobe. I love the immediacy of texting, and Instagram as much as the next person, but there is no denying the way a quiet, disconnected, walk in the forest soothes the soul. Especially if there’s a chance money can be made on that walk.
Sasha WhitePublished about 2 hours ago in Petlife
Present in Arabia
The feeling Bobbie has when she is riding Arabian horses particularly in the Middle East leaves her euphoric, for her there is no other feeling like it in the world. A few years back she couldn’t understand two things: why she loved horses and why she felt euphoric when she was around them. She travelled frequently to the Persian Gulf. Whenever she could that was where she headed. The barren landscape, the extreme heat, the extreme cold, the unreliable and highly erratic rainfalls, the never-ending sand dunes were all part of her spectacular experience.
Veronica LeighPublished about 2 hours ago in Petlife
The Horrible Hirschbaum
The neighbor was painting his trash cans again. While Davis trimmed the hedge between their adjoining yards, he surreptitiously watched him print "Mr. Hirschbaum" and his address in large white brushstrokes, stark against the black plastic.
Emily SowulewskiPublished about 3 hours ago in Petlife
Custard, Sausage and Mash
Monday 16th April I was woken up by Custard sniffing around my front porch again this morning. Well I was already up, but it was early! And it’s lucky I was up because otherwise I wouldn’t have seen him relieving himself on Joshua my garden gnome. AGAIN!
Nathaniel RodriguezPublished about 3 hours ago in Petlife
Creators We’re Loving
The creative faces behind your favorite stories.
Margaret Minnicks
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Erica Ball
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Joyce Kay
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Marney Studaker-Cordner
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Erica Roberts
6 published stories
Rose Bak
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Kathryn Milewski
48 published stories
Lois Cunniff
7 published stories
Alexis Makepeace
1 published story
Katherine Carnes Coleman
3 published stories
Tina S
9 published stories
Nicole McClure
18 published stories
