Holiday Gift Giving Guide for Pets
Whether you’re a pet lover or know someone who is, the holiday season is the best time for pet gifts for both animals and their loving moms and dads. Pets911.com brings to you our top 8 gift ideas for furry friends and their families!!
- A new pet bed! There are so many new pet bed options out, modern, sleek, rustic, wood, the list goes on. The best thing about this gift is everyone can use more. Pet beds can go through the ringer, after getting washed, chewed on, or dragged around. Plus, a pet bed in every room leads to a happy and well rested four legged friend. Try to pick one that matches the decor and color scheme of the room it is going into. Also make sure to pick one that is large and soft enough for the pet!
- This gift is more for the animal lover, then the animal, but everyone adores it just the same. Take a photo of the animal and get it printed on a mouse pad, clock, t-shirt, hoodie or any of the hundreds of items available online. There are so many custom options out there; you can even add your own text to most products. This is the perfect custom gift that celebrates pets and their owners.
- The gift of education! A great gift to give to yourself or other is a pet training book, or breed specific book. The stores are packed with these how-to-guides and resources for pets and their families. By helping to add some structure and balance to a “pack” you are giving the gift that lasts all year. If buying a breed specific book, be sure to know the animals breed before you purchase. If your not sure, go for the basic dog or cat training tips, those go across breed, age, or size.
- For the proud parent of a pet, make sure to get those little ones a stocking of their very own. Hang it right up there with the rest of the family’s and fill it with healthy treats, new chews, and small stuffed pet toys. A cat would sure love some catnip in there too!
- How about a new place to hang out? A new cat tower or dog house could be the perfect pet gift this year. Cats love places to climb, hide and play. These towers can often be pricey, so this might be a great group gift or special present for those with a new kitty or a bored cat. For dogs, a new house means a great place to call your own! Dog houses come in all shapes and sizes and just like beds can get worn out over time. A replacement could be the perfect gift for Fluffy and their family.
- The gift of safety! Though most of us have a first aid kit at home for people, most don’t have one for animals. This is equally important and a must have. Giving this gift is practical and thoughtful as well as useful. Whether you give it to a pet owner, or to your own pet, if ever needed, you’ll feel good that your gift was able to help.
- Holiday gifts aren’t just for the dogs and cats of the world, many pet families consist of rabbits, birds, fish, gerbils, lizards, snakes, horses and many more! There are great gifts available for all the pets of the world ranging in size and cost. A little internet research and local shopping can reveal the best gift for your type of animal.
- When all else fails, nothing says gift like gift card! Go to a pet supply store or your local pet boutique and pick up a gift card for those proud parents. They know what Fido or Fife needs better then anyone!
Considering giving a pet as a gift? Before doing this, please read our suggestions.
For more holiday gift ideas, check out our holiday gift partners below
Holiday Spirit Ideas:
- Sponsor a shelter pet. Many pets won’t be home for the holidays. Sponsor a shelter pet this year for a friend, family member, or co-worker. This is a great way to teach children how to care for animals and how to be generous during the holiday season. Sponsor a pet in the name of your children and take them to drop off a toy for their sponsored pet.
- Adopt a pet. If your family is looking to add a family member this year, please adopt. Shelters and rescues have pure breeds to mutts, large to small, young to old pets available. You will be sure to find your perfect match! Please be sure to have adequate time to spend with your new pet. If the holidays in your house are too hectic, adopt after the season.
Holiday Do’s and Don’ts: 8 Ways to Keep Everyone full of Cheer!
With many holidays being celebrated in the next couple of months, family traditions and rituals lead to decorations, and lots of new objects for your loving pets to get their teeth into. Following are Pets911.com’s “Holiday Do’s and Don’ts”. We hope these tips will help keep everyone safe and merry during this most wonderful time of year.
1) If a Christmas tree is a part of your families’ celebrations, beware of all the tantalizing opportunities it can bring for your pets. Tree water, shiny objects, hanging tinsel or
blinking lights can be beckons in the night for our four legged friends. Placing the tree in an area your pets can’t get to will help to preserve the beauty of your tree and the health of your little ones. If not, try to create barriers around the tree and always supervise your pets when they are near it.
2) If the Festival of Lights fills your house, make sure to keep your pets away from your menorah. A waging tail or jumping cat can knock over candles and easily start a fire during your Hanukkah or Kwanzaa celebrations.
3) Just like other holidays, resist the urge to give your pets table scrapes and watch them around your trash cans. Animal bones from dinner can be a tempting but potentially deadly treat.
4) Other holiday decorations can also pose a health risk. According to the American Humane Association, “In addition to poinsettias: Other plants, including holly, amaryllis, mistletoe and pine needles can hurt your pet’s stomach. Be careful with them, or use the fake versions as a substitute.”
5) If you live in a part of the nation that enjoys a “White Christmas”, make sure to put snow shoes on your dog before going on a walk. Not only can frostbite occur in paws (read more about hypothermia and frostbite at Pets911.com), but salted sidewalks can lead to pad irritation and dry out.
6) The cold isn’t only harmful to dogs; a neighborhood cat might find solace in the warmth of your parked car engine. If your neighborhood is prone to outdoor or feral cats, check before you start your car by pounding on the hood or honking your horn.
7) In the effort to keep pets warm, sweaters and animal-specific clothing can come in handy. If your pet is wearing their finest holiday threads, keep an eye on them around open flames, other animals, or children. And as always, pets dressed up should be under constant supervision.
8) Don’t just put tags on your gifts! As with any other day, your pets should always being wearing their collars with ID tags. With many holiday guests coming and going, it is easy for your furry family member to slip out a door or gate.
However you choose to celebrate this holiday season, Pets911.com hopes it will be filled with joy and celebration for all! Happy Holidays!!
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/91299/holiday_tips_for_keeping_your_pet_safe.html
Presenting Holiday Partners:
Pet Fashionista
Pet Fashionista is an online “boutique” specializing in high quality, Stylish and Fashionable Pet Accessories. We stock a wide range of products that are not like your “average” pet accessories that are available at every pet shop in town. We carefully pick unique collars, leads, harnesses and Jewelry for your Dog or Cat that allow you and your pet to make a statement about your personality, mood or occasion. We also offer fashion pet furniture, puppy purses and travel bags. So let the PetFashionista in you go crazy this season and Treat Your Pets Like Royalty!
Sugarpaww
Pets make our lives better in so many ways. Their unconditional love and playful spirits inspire us to return that love and include more fun into our daily routines. We discovered this when we added a small Bichon Frise to our family in January of 2007. From the first day that Sugar stepped into his new home, he has warmed our hearts with his enthusiastic energy and passion.
It is an immense joy to see him light up with a new toy or a new treat. We just couldn’t help but want to share this joy with friends and family. This was the start of SugarPaww.com which grew from our desire to “show our love” to four-footed friends everywhere. With SugarPaww.com, you can find a gift basket for your own “best friend” or send baskets to pets of your friends, family, and colleagues.
A primary goal of SugarPaww.com is to grow large enough to form a Sugar Paww Foundation that can provide support for pets that have not been as fortunate as Sugar. To start this dream, we are encouraging people to go online and request free “Pet Emergency Stickers.” These are free to anyone who asks and will also be included with every order. In case of emergency, this sticker alerts emergency personnel to the presence of pets within your home. Pets are family and should never be forgotten!
Show Your Love! Order gifts from www.sugarpaww.com today!!!
Flying Panda carries everything a pet owner and pet lover could ever want. From great gifts for animal enthusiasts, to great products for your pets, Flying Panda has it all.
We donate 10% of your total charges to one of several animal welfare groups you designate at check out. So for all your holiday pet related apparel and gifts for you pets, visit Flying Panda today.