Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
Do Rats Really Carry Disease?
Rats. When most of us hear the word for these furry rodents, our minds picture dirty grey creatures, with red eyes and worm-like tails, crawling out of sewers and garbage cans. The word rat is almost synonymous with "disease." The majority of us live with a preconceived idea that rats are "dirty, sewer animals that carry disease."
By Basil Miller8 years ago in Petlife
The RIGHT Way to Care for Betta Fish
Ah, the betta fish; the fish that everyone seems to have but no one seems to be able to take care of properly. Known as “hardy” and “easy to take care of,” they are quickly becoming the more popular choice of an easy fish now that most people are aware that goldfish should not last two weeks but rather 25 years.
By Hannah Montello8 years ago in Petlife
Not All Disabilities Are Visible
My name is Brittany. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I also suffer from panic attacks. This is why I have been training my dog to be my service dog. The one thing that really annoys me is when someone says "Isn't he too little to be a service dog?" The answer is no. Any breed of dog can be a service dog. This also depends on what you will need the service dog for. Having a smaller dog works well for me because when I feel like I am anxious or about to have a panic attack, I can easily pick him up and hold him close to me. I have also trained him to recognize when my breathing is changing and he will jump up on my leg so I can pick him up. If I am sitting, he will lick my face as a way of stimulation. (Some people have judged me on stimulation, however this is a very successful technique as it calms me down and distracts me from the situation.) I feel like some people don't understand this. I also trained him to do this when I say "Alert" so that he knows something is wrong in case my breathing has not changed.
By Brittany Nicole Allen8 years ago in Petlife
Cat Flap Diaries
I am a mom to three boy cats, all of whom adopted me on separate occasions, obviously. They didn't all rock up together one day asking if there may be any room at the inn with the possibility of some nosh thrown in, if one might be so kind. No, they all arrived at different times but all with one sole purpose in mind, to claim me as their human.
By SusieSquirrel Moon Gazer8 years ago in Petlife
Raising Louis (Part 1)
So it snowed. For the first time properly in a long time. Not as much as some places get, but a lot for the south of England.Louis is nearly 10 months old, and about to see snow for the first time. I'm not sure what he'll make of it, as he's very sensitive to change (even the neighbours putting up a Christmas wreath has set him off), but he's got to go out in it sometime.
By Isaac Rose8 years ago in Petlife
A Letter for My Service Dog
Dear Kodiak, Since you came into my life six months ago, you have been nothing short of a godsend. When my seizures took my independence, you gave me stability. When that weird guy came in that I didn't know, but that slowly reminded me more and more of my past and scared me, you were there to pull me back from flashbacks and nightmares and back into normalcy.
By Danielle Dowdy8 years ago in Petlife
