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For people who love pets. From dogs, to snakes, cats, and fish, Petlife is all about pets and the humans who care for them.
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Stories in Petlife that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
The Summer I Was Chosen by a Northern Mockingbird
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.
By Erica Roberts 13 days ago in Petlife
A Dart at Dusk
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.
By Angie the Archivist 📚🪶19 days ago in Petlife
Cleo's First Puppy Show
"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.
By Kimberly J Egan30 days ago in Petlife
Keeping your pets safe (and calm) this holiday season
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.
By Susan Fourtané about a month ago in Petlife
Cassidy's Walkabout
This is, fortunately, a better post than I have a right to make today. Some of you know about my Australian Shepherd, Cassidy. He's generally out at night, keeping foxes and the occasional coyote away. He's a working-bred Aussie, but he thinks that he's a pack of Great Pyrenees. On occasion, Cassidy used to wander, finding or creating a hole in the fence and taking off to parts unknown. He has been very good in the past few months, no longer even barking at the school bus as it goes by. This morning, he was as quiet as could be when the high school bus and then the middle school bus passed the homestead.
By Kimberly J Egan3 months ago in Petlife
Moving...
No one ever said that moving would be easy. You have to pack all your stuff and load everything into the moving vehicles. Then, after driving to the new location, you have to unload and unpack everything at the new location. While making sure not to forget to clean both houses as you go along. Plus, having to change your address and or phone number with EVERYONE.
By Mother Combs5 months ago in Petlife
Collections
Themed story collections curated by the Vocal moderators.
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.
Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Petlife.
When the night falls silent, my dog starts barking.
When night finally settles in, I expect silence. The lights are off, the phone is charging, and the world feels like it’s holding its breath. This is the moment when everything is supposed to slow down. But just when the silence feels complete, it does.
By Paw Planet about 4 hours ago in Petlife
Explaining Nighttime Barking in Dogs
Barking at Night Can Be Confusing. Your dog may be calm, friendly with everyone, and seemingly well-adjusted all day. Then night falls, the house falls silent, and suddenly the barking starts. Every night. Sometimes briefly. Sometimes endlessly.
By Paw Planet about 4 hours ago in Petlife
The Rift Behind the Palace Smile
Behind the polished smiles, glittering gowns, and carefully choreographed royal appearances, a quieter and more complicated story was unfolding. To the world, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle represented modern royalty: intelligent, elegant, and destined to reshape the future of the British monarchy together. But behind palace walls, the reality was far less harmonious. It began not with shouting matches or public scandals, but with small moments—glances, silences, and subtle discomforts that slowly grew into something impossible to ignore. One of the earliest cracks appeared during the Royal Foundation Forum in 2018. The event was meant to showcase unity between Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry, and Meghan. Cameras captured smiles and friendly conversation. But backstage, tension filled the air. As Meghan prepared for the stage, she casually asked Kate if she could borrow her lip gloss. It was an ordinary request, the kind women make without thinking. Yet Kate hesitated. According to Prince Harry’s later account, Kate looked uncomfortable—almost startled—before reluctantly handing it over. It was a tiny moment, but it spoke volumes. To Meghan, the hesitation felt cold. To Kate, the request felt intrusive. Two women, standing only feet apart, were already operating by completely different emotional rules. Kate had spent nearly a decade learning how to survive inside the royal system. She understood restraint. She believed in caution. Every gesture, every word, every expression was carefully controlled. Meghan came from a world where openness was power. Hollywood had taught her to speak freely, to connect emotionally, and to command attention. She was confident, expressive, and unafraid of being seen. Neither approach was wrong. But together, they collided. At the forum, the contrast became obvious. Meghan spoke passionately, effortlessly engaging the audience. She appeared polished, confident, and natural on stage. Kate, pregnant and exhausted, spoke more quietly and cautiously, following the traditional royal style. Headlines soon praised Meghan’s performance. Some even suggested she had “stolen the show.” For Kate, who had spent years patiently earning her place, it felt unsettling. Behind the scenes, another comment worsened the situation. Meghan reportedly joked about Kate having “baby brain” during her pregnancy. Meghan may have intended it lightly, but Kate was suffering from severe pregnancy sickness and was physically struggling every day. The remark cut deep. Soon, the four royals sat down for a tense private meeting. Emotions were high. No one yelled. No one exploded. But nothing was truly resolved either. They left knowing one truth: coexistence was necessary, but closeness might never be possible. Then came the wedding. In the days before Meghan and Harry’s ceremony, a disagreement broke out over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. Rumors spread quickly that Meghan had made Kate cry. Meghan was labeled difficult, demanding, and cruel. Years later, Harry revealed the opposite: Meghan had been the one in tears. According to Harry, Kate insisted the dress needed to be remade entirely. Meghan, overwhelmed by wedding stress and family chaos, felt pushed too far. The argument ended with Meghan crying alone. Kate later arrived with flowers and apologized. The truth, as always, likely exists somewhere in the middle. But the damage was done. When Meghan publicly addressed the issue during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, she stated clearly: “The reverse happened.” With those three words, a silent war became public. Kate remained quiet, bound by royal tradition. Meghan spoke openly, determined to reclaim her narrative. William stood firmly by his wife. Harry stood firmly by his. Two brothers who once shared everything now stood on opposite sides of a widening divide. What makes this story tragic is not who was right or wrong. It is what was lost. Two women who could have been allies became symbols of rivalry. Two brothers who once walked side by side became strangers. A family built on tradition proved unable to adapt to change without breaking. The lip gloss, the dress, the comments—none of them truly mattered. What mattered was the clash of two worlds: Silence versus expression. Tradition versus transformation. Endurance versus reinvention. And once those forces collided, there was no turning back. The palace remained standing. But the fairy tale did not.
By Behind the Curtainabout 7 hours ago in Petlife
How I Bake For A Living And Raise A Rescue Dog
I bake at 3:30am for work. It pays the bills and allows me to spoil my rescue dog, Asher. I also bake at home while trying not to trip over Asher. Here are a few notes from an early morning baker living in her first-time home with a clingy puppy despite graduating with an english literature degree.
By Rizza Gesmundoa day ago in Petlife
Badger did "Big Hup" Today!
Badger has had a year off since losing his eye to adjust to being a dog again. Since that time, he's lounged around the house or the kennel, taking brief walks on a leash, adjusting to walking in a straight line. Walking in a straight line has actually taken a lot of effort on his part, as his instinct was to drift in the direction that he could see or away from things by which he felt threatened. Heeling was a thing of the past. He either lagged behind me so that he could see me or ended up nearly to the end of his leash, several feet from my left leg because he brushed against me unexpectedly.
By Kimberly J Egan2 days ago in Petlife
Kansas Officials Reveal What Happened to the Over 100,000 Pounds of Invasive Carp Removed from a Single River. AI-Generated.
Kansas officials have disclosed the fate of over 100,000 pounds of invasive carp removed from a single river—a massive ecological intervention aimed at restoring balance to local waterways. The silver carp and bighead carp, species notorious for their rapid reproduction and ecosystem disruption, have long posed a threat to the state’s rivers, lakes, and native fish populations. The recent removal effort not only highlights Kansas’ commitment to combating invasive species but also raises questions about sustainability, public safety, and the potential economic uses of the captured fish.
By Salaar Jamali2 days ago in Petlife
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