Christmas Pet Gifts

Shopping for Christmas Pet Gifts

During the holiday season, most larger pet stores will have a selection of gift items. If you prefer to shop online, however, you can find a variety of Christmas pet gifts by visiting these websites:

• The Animal Rescue Site is a charitable organization that works to help provide food for unwanted animals at shelters across the United States. You can also purchase pet gifts from their online store to donate a percentage of the purchase price to their animal rescue programs.
• Rowe Pottery sells personalized pet dishes that make for functional yet attractive Christmas presents.
• Entirely Pets offers a number of unique toys that would be excellent Christmas pet gifts. The George W. Bush chew toy is guaranteed to be a hit at your next holiday party!
• Gourmet Gift Baskets offers a small assortment of tasty treats for cats and dogs.
• Animal Stars provides upscale clothing and accessories for pets. You can even place an order for a custom-made pet costume.
• Gift Tree sells Christmas stockings, picture frames, toys, and other fun accessories for your pets.
• Pinnacle Gift Basket offers attractive gift baskets in “puppy love” and “spoiled kitty” themes.
• Greg Robert Pet Supplies has gifts for cat, dog, bird, fish, and horse lovers. The selection includes everything from pet toys to pretty pet note cards and stationery sets.
• FTD sells more than just flowers, including several adorable pet gifts.

Handmade Pet Gifts

For a truly unique gift, consider making a handmade Christmas present. For example:

• Knit or crochet a cuddly chew toy for your favorite pooch.
• Whip up a batch of dog treats and present them in a colorful Christmas tin.
• Make a homemade pet bed.
• Make a scrapbook filled with pet pictures or decorate a blank photo album so the recipient can add his or her own pet photos.
• Make a framed collage that features a special photo of the pet next to a poem or favorite quotation.
• Paint an original pet portrait or commission a talented artist to design one for you. This keepsake is an especially thoughtful present for someone who has recently experienced the death of a beloved pet.

If you’re on a tight budget and lack crafting skills, consider giving a gift certificate that entitles the recipient to your services as a pet sitter the next time he or she needs to leave town.

Giving a Pet for Christmas

While there are many presents available for the animal lover on your list, think twice before you decide to purchase a cat or dog as a Christmas gift. Although a cuddly kitten or puppy may seem like the perfect choice for someone special, a pet is a huge time commitment. Pets require food, water, shelter, medical attention, and plenty of human contact. It’s not a decision that should be made lightly. In addition, selecting a pet involves taking into account personal preferences that are hard to determine unless you have a very close relationship with the recipient of the gift.

If you want to purchase a pet as a Christmas present, consider giving a gift certificate to your local pet store or humane society so the recipient can choose an appropriate animal at a later date. Wrap the gift certificate in pretty box with a few colorful pet toys and a book on proper animal care.

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