dog
It's no coincidence that a dog is a man's best friend; they're more faithful than most other animals, and more faithful than many people.
Finding A Friend
At five years old I already knew what heartbreak was, the dog I raised since she was a puppy got hit by a car and crossed over the rainbow bridge. For two years I had taken care of her, played with her (fetch was her favorite) and loved her with all my heart. I was so excited about her that I brought her to my preschool show and tell. My grandma got one of the sisters in the litter and we named them after my favorite characters from sleeping beauty Flora and Fauna. At five I didn’t think I could love anyone as much as I loved my dog so when she died I didn’t think I could love anything again. I blamed myself I thought I was a terrible pet guardian. A year later I still had trepidation about getting another dog. My family however thought another dog would help with the grieving process. I wasn’t fully ready but we started looking anyway. Everyone thought I was looking for a puppy but deep in my heart I knew it would feel too much like I was replacing my Flora. One weekend at the local pet supplies store they were hosting the Animal Friends Connection adoptable pet day, so we decided to check it out. I told myself I was just looking, my mom said I didn’t have to make a commitment. We could take things at my pace. When we walked into the pet supply store there were a lot of people with their foster pets. We went up to the front table and the Animal Friends Connection representatives explained a little about the organization and the rules for the day. We told them we were looking for a dog and they directed us past the aisles of cats, closer to the back of the store where the adoptable dogs were. I started down the first aisle looking at the dogs, most of them were male or already in the possible adoption stage. I was looking for a female as we already had an adult female family dog and wanted to avoid any dominance issues. There was this adorable male bull terrier named Mikey who kept jumping out of his cage and into this lady’s arms. There were rows of empty already adopted dogs, I felt a twinge of disappointment but also a feeling of joy because so many had found homes. I continued walking past the empty cages until I came to this cage with a fluffy auburn colored dog. She was so pretty. The sign on her cage said “hi my name is muffin”. I thought it was a perfect name for her. My mom started talking to muffin’s foster mom Nancy. We found out muffin was a three year old sheltie mix. Nancy told us that muffin’s first family wasn’t always able to afford to feed her. That this was the third time muffin had bounced from her family back to Nancy. She had gotten approval from them this last surrendering of muffin to put her up for adoption. Nancy said due to the situation of not always having food muffin developed issues with becoming aggressive during meals. We talked to Nancy for awhile but I wasn’t ready to make a commitment. Nancy understood and didn’t want us to rush into anything. She encouraged us to keep looking and think about it. We continued down the aisles but muffin kept tugging at my heart. We were both broken and I felt we needed each other. Throughout the day we kept coming back to muffin. My older brothers who had been running around the store had found a cage with a litter of puppies but I was hesitant and didn’t go to see them. We came back to muffin. The Animal Friends Connection were allowing perspective adopters to take one on one walks with the dogs behind the store so Nancy suggested we take muffin for one. During that walk I felt completely comfortable and muffin seemed happy to go for a walk. I think that’s when I knew muffin was the dog for me. My dad and brothers didn’t want me to get muffin but my mom supported me telling them I was the one getting a dog so it was my decision which dog to get. After making arrangements for a home inspection with Nancy I excitedly awaited the day Muffin would come stay with me forever. When that day finally came I was so happy. Nancy said this would start the trial period and if we had any problems we could call her to take muffin back. Muffin had issues from her past but I was determined to help her through them. Muffin was there to stay. For fourteen years we went for walks, played in the backyard, snuggled together. At seventeen years old her body started failing and I had to come to terms with the reality that she was suffering. I had to make the painful decision to let her pass from this life. It was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever had to make but because of the love and friendship we had even to avoid the pain I wouldn’t change anything. Giving an animal a second chance at love and a good life is also accepting love and a good life for yourself.
Trevor
When I first met my fiancé, she had three big dogs. I mean BIG dogs. Their names were Phooey, Stella, and Sophie. Phooey, was her prized favorite. He was a beast of a dog. So big in fact, his nickname "Bear." He had a Foo Man Chu like "beard" across the bottom of his gentle face that earned him his official moniker. He was older, and had lost mobility in his hind legs. She and her ex-husband, who still lived with her, took great care of Phooey.
Recon PaulPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeNapoleon the Conqueror (of Hearts)
This was the text exchange between me and my boyfriend Addison four years ago when he discovered Napoleon. He had found the dog (quite literally, on the street) while visiting a small town called Beersheba in Tennessee where his family stayed every 4th of July, and I was visiting my own family in Richmond.
Emily BergerPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeThe puppy and the punt thieves
I was beaming from ear to ear. The few pints of pale we had chugged at the pub were starting to work their magic. Me and three of my buddies armed with driving licences which belonged to our older brothers, had managed to get served at our local pub.
Ravinder MohanPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeUntil we meet again...
I have always loved dogs and knew I would have a dog as an adult. I never could have imagined the positive impact that being a dog owner would have on my life. I also never imagined that my adoption of Mason on that cold day in January would change my life.
Drama KueenPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeWorth Every Slobber
His drooping jowls and small bottom teeth tucked over his top lip stared back at me through the screen. Months of begging might finally be over. This small bit of hope was crushed by the next words that came out of my mom’s mouth:
Abby ChristensenPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeThe Resuscitation of the Walmart Puppies
It was a cold and rainy night and my cousin and I were out driving around listening to music catching up we had not seen each other in a while. Suddenly I remembered my mother had ask me to stop by Walmart and pick up a few things, so we took a detour before heading home. Now mind you I am a sucker for animals and its hard for me to turn away one that is in need. All of Gods creatures deserve love and attention. As I was walking into the store I noticed that there was a mother and her little girl out front giving away puppies I stopped and of coarse looked at them petted them and made friendly conversation with the mother. Now I knew what happened last time I had brought a puppy home my mother was furious and made me find another home for it, "which I did successfully". So I decided I probably shouldn't go through that again it wouldnt be fair to the puppy. So I told the mother and her daughter I would think about it while I was shopping and went inside.
anthony edmondPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeThe Cattle Dog Who Rescued Us
According to the Merriam and Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of the word adopt is, “to take by choice into a relationship,” (www.merriam-webster.com) and this is precisely what happens when one seeks out a pet from a local rescue, group, or facility. Regardless of whether the animal is a cat or a dog, they will never really know, whether their owners spent $2.00, $200.00, or $2,000.00 to acquire them; the only thing they know is, that they have been given a new life, a second chance, and a new opportunity to live a better life than they could ever possibly know. From my experience, I can assure you that this is something that your pet, as well as the owners, will know. When I have shared my adoption story with fellow pet owners in the past, we always seem to come to the conclusion that, somehow the animals know that they were rescued (adopted), that they are smart enough to know this, and are forever grateful.
Celso ContrerasPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeAbout Roy, It's Complicated
I want to share Roy’s story, but it’s complicated. Roy, an 80-pound mastiff mix, joined us as a foster dog in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. Roy had been found in rural Tennesse, starving, covered in ticks, and dragging a useless front right leg as a result of a shotgun wound. In Tennessee, they amputated his leg and days later put him on a plane to northern Illinois, where we first met him.
Mike BarzacchiniPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeFear to Love – See Them Grow
WOW !! My debut on Vocal is straight into the Challenge. In fact this is what pulled me to join Vocal. And what can be better than facing the real challenge; yes talking about “Stray to Stay” !
Grizzly and Mr. Gooey
To love a rescuer, you must be a special type of person. You must be compassionate – because your rescuer will bring home every stumbled-across animal in need, from birds to bunnies to dogs. You must be tolerant – because your home will literally become a zoo. Your rescuer will assure you “it’s just for the night,” but a few months in, you will come to understand that while spoken with good intentions, there’s no way this will hold true. You must be willing to share – your bed, your money, your bathroom (which will inevitably serve as a night’s respite for a semi-feral cat, one that will claw the s#$* out of you at one o’clock in the morning if you brave a visit to said-bathroom). You must be strong – because you will see first-hand the sorrow and pain that rescue animals are going through as they are saved. You will watch your rescuer’s heart rejoice at the highest times – and break at the lowest. Most of all, you must be willing to share your rescuer, whose heart, time and money will be given to animals on a daily, if not hourly, basis. There is no “half-way” with a rescuer; it is all or nothing. Rescue is like the mafia – once you are in, you never get out. This is the truth of rescue: the guts underneath the glory.
Marney Studaker-CordnerPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeSabrita
No, no, no, no, no – was my first thought when I looked at her and realized what I had to do. I mean, one look – peeling scabs for skin, crusted eyes, corrugated stuck-out spine, bug-infested fur, flinching at my every half-move – and anyone sensible would’ve turned on their heel and left.