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.
My Best Friend
I attended the University of Toledo (go Rockets!) in Ohio. Though I graduated Cum Laude, my proudest academic achievement was that I had the worst attendance rate of any student on campus. If I didn’t have a reason to miss class, I would invent one. Not that I’m suggesting that as a course of action for everyone, but I was a decent student who found most classes snooze worthy. Sadly, my absences rarely involved girls on campus. I was a senior, wrapping up my history degree. This is the story of a day I had a good reason to miss class.
By Ted Lacksonen5 years ago in Petlife
The Miracles In Our Lives
Let me start by saying...I had dogs my entire life, and I never liked cats! As a matter of fact I hated cats! I hated them for the same reason all cat lovers love them. They are sketchy, crazy, arrogant and stubborn. They walk around like they own the damn joint, and god help anyone who tries to pet them when they don't want you too, you could lose a hand! They treat their owners like staff and are always knocking things off of everywhere...and on purpose no less! Getting into things and places they shouldn't! What's to love about them!
By C. M. Sears5 years ago in Petlife
Started From the Bottom, Now It’s Memory Foam Mattresses and Nighttime Cuddles
This is Mason. He is an American Pit Bull Terrier, and my best friend. When Mason was six months old he was found wandering the streets alone with a ruptured cruciate ligament. He was taken to the shelter, in need of extensive medical treatment. Sadly, many shelters are so overwhelmed with unadopted Pit Bulls that they aren’t able to keep ones that show up with serious and expensive injuries. Thankfully, the Treasure Coast Humane Society was not one of those places. They chose to save his life without thinking twice about the cost.
By Kristen Nazzaro5 years ago in Petlife
Riding Shotgun
Yesterday I was crossing Prune Alley, waiting for a break in the tourist traffic. A small, beat-up Datsun pick-up passed me – the very make and model of the truck I used to drive – and I saw a man driving with his dog riding shotgun. Remembering Harley, my Dog-of-Ten-Lifetimes, who used to ride shotgun with me in my beater, I felt a pang of sweet memory laced with grief pass through my very core.
By Kennedy Farr5 years ago in Petlife
Malcolm Jefferson Jordan Clark
Malcolm Jefferson Jordan Clark Bubby Hi bud this is how you came to be in our care for three to four years. My ex, your dad Dylan’s father worked at an animal shelter doing surgeries twice a week. We knew we wanted a dog the second we bought a house, we got you. Okay this happened September 22nd 2016. We go to the shelter in Lewiston. We went there looking for a Shepard mix but also really loved your brother as well. When we went there, he was sick but they said his brother Simon was available to visit. Of course we agreed. You came running out, We had a toy for you. I saw your scars. I knew you were mine just then. I looked at Dylan, who was in awe of you as well. You captured our hearts in seconds. You goofball. Changed your name in seconds to Malcolm. The guy working said we could not take you home today because you had actually not been spayed or neutered yet, and there was not a vet on site. Which online is said you had. Just a quick FYI. Dylan’s father was with us, remember I said he did surgeries there. He jumped right up and said “I’ll do it!!” The tech looked at him and said his name and said all the techs are on lunch. He jumped up and hopped over the gate we were in with you. Came back with a leash not even five minutes later. Said lets go. HAHA. Thank you for that. Always. The surgery took less than 10 minutes. He came out and said you can come get him in two hours due to medications for sedation. For your surgery. We went back to the house and waited, not patiently might I add. Dylan helped his father with stuff while I sat and waited and paced. We had everything in our trunk for you to take you home. We had ducky. The first toy we brought to the shelter. You had him for about a year, before your chewing stage started. We picked you up, filled out all kinds of paperwork and you were still groggy. I laid in the back seat with you as you were coming to, out of sedation. You just laid with me. When we go home you peed outside. Right away. We trained you to be my service animal. We set alarms in the night, took turns taking you outside. Until you were able to just be out in the lawn, while we waited on the steps. We both admit in the winter, we always didn’t clean up your shit. We’re sorry for that. You chewed our bed frame, my favorite heels, you chewed dad's headphones for work. Bubby, you had a chewing naughty period. I give you all my praise though. When dad and I broke up, you took the change well. Spoiled as hell, but well. Then you were all mine. Your dad’s schedule and I didn't work well together co-parenting you. Mostly due to my medical needs with you. I needed you for; balance, noise, pressure work, emotional support, fatigue or heart alerts. You were so well trained. I can’t believe how well we did with you. You were at my side. My health took a turn severely physically and mentally. Family decided it was best to give up on you for my health. I still don't agree with it. I have you everywhere I look in my apartment. I have all your collars, and pictures. Memories. When you left that day my heart broke, and is still broken. I failed you. I’m so sorry. The anguish I feel will always be there. No other dog could take the place of how beautiful your soul was. You were my best friend, partner in crime. Fun; lazy, goofy, silly, wild puppers. I would never replace you in my heart for another animal. I couldn’t. I’m leaving soon. Terminally ill, and leaving. Please visit me in the next room or life, baby loves. Please
By Erica Jordan5 years ago in Petlife
My Super Dog
I was not Pokey’s first owner. In fact, I wasn’t even her second. She came to me through my daughter’s ex-boyfriend. The young man had named her Pokey after dog in the Little Golden Book, "The Poky Little Puppy," because of the similar coloring, although that dog had more white than black. The two young adults broke up and I got his dog! Those youngsters had too many cares of their own to be bothered with owning a pet. I had already been walking Pokey every morning and feeding her, so I considered her mine, and with the way she nuzzled me and perked up when I came home, I’m quite certain she considered me hers.
By Julie Lacksonen5 years ago in Petlife
My Four-legged Savior
My Four-legged Savior by Annette Moody How could you know how heartbroken I was? How could you know your love would save me? As I mourned the passing of my beloved, my heart shattered, you were just beginning your life. You were in and out of foster homes, in and out of adoptions, passed among people who could not understand your heart. It was as if our crossing paths was preplanned by an invisible energy, me as your forever home, you as my heart savior.
By Annette Moody5 years ago in Petlife
Adopting Charcoal
My parents run a business in another city and it has a backyard which is partially paved and partially overgrown with plants. My dad noticed a little black cat that came by a couple times and he gave her some milk and whatever treats that he could find. This kitty made a few visits over the course of a year. I had heard about her, but still hadn't met her yet. One day I was working on location and my dad was approached by the cat again. I went outside and walked slowly up to the kitty. She immediately took to me and I picked her up and held her. She was skin and bones, so hungry and lonely. She clearly didn't have a home and I think that she could tell that I loved to feed cats. I already had a cat at home. My first cat is a pretty black polydactyl cat that loves to roam the neighborhood all day and night. Her name is Millipede and I adopted her from the humane society where I got my childhood dog, who passed away several years ago. My grandmother gave me some cash for my birthday three years ago and I borrowed my mom's car and went to the humane society to look at cats. I got in a lot of trouble for bringing Millipede home, but by the time that I met Charcoal in the yard of my parent's business, Millipede was already a settled down outdoor cat, and fully accepted as a member of the family.
By Sabine Lucile Scott5 years ago in Petlife
