Baxter and Lily each get their own gifts under the tree. Baxter even knows which gifts are his and will somehow pick them out amongst the other gifts under the tree. I get that he can figure out some of them by smell, but others are toys and he still knows the crumpled paper means it’s his toy! He loves it! This will be Lily’s second Christmas so we’ll see if she can figure it out.
So here are my suggestions for some great gifts for pets and pet owners:
1) Gift certificate to Lap It Up
Baxter and Lily had a blast going to this awesome “gym for dogs!” There are agility classes, but Baxter and Lily fell in love with the doggie pool. I can’t wait to take them again soon!
2) Antlers
Lily is allergic to raw hides and she and Baxter finish them in minutes. So we give them antlers. Antlers can be a bit pricey, but they last a LONG LONG LONG time so it evens out to about the same as all of the raw hides you would have to buy.
3) Gift certificate to Doggie Day Care
This is a great gift for your pets and pet owners. There are many great facilities here in the Triangle. Make sure to research the business and ask about supervision of the animals in the play yards. This allows the dogs great socialization and a break for mom and dad.
4) Gourmet treats
We are very fortunate to have both Gourmutt’s Bakery and Woof Gang Bakery (Cary, Raleigh and now Fayetteville) that offer homemade treats and high-quality food products. Great doggie stocking stuffers.
5) Toys. Toys. Toys.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to toys these days for pets. Lily eats all of her toys eventually so we are always testing out to see which toys are the most durable. There are puzzle toys where your pets have to figure out how to get their treats. This mental stimulation is great!
6) A donation in honor of a family member or in memory of a lost pet.
So many shelters and rescues only operate by the grace of donors and sometimes grants. Consider giving a donation in honor of a family member or in memory of a lost pet. So many of us have really everything we need. This is a gift that saves lives and improves our community! Many rescues allow you to donate online. The SPCA of Wake County has special sponsorships available this time of year that comes with a card and ornament with information on sponsoring a senior dog/cat, family of kittens/puppies and more. I gave this as a gift last year to my aunt who is a big animal advocate and it meant the world to her!
Also beware that the ASPCA is not an umbrella organization for other SPCAs. Make sure to donate directly to the shelter or rescue as many organizations that are national or “seem” national, do not benefit local or area shelters.
7) Accessories for your pets! A special bow tie or flower for your dogs’ collars.
8) Accessories for you! A personalized photo necklace using one of the digital images from you session with Tara Lynn!
9) Shop local! There are many awesome local dog and pet stores in our area! Here are a few of my favorite:
Phydeaux (Raleigh and Chapel Hill)
Unleashed (five locations)
Paws at the Corner (Hillsborough)
9) And of course…consider a gift certificate for a pet portrait session with InBetween the Blinks!
