Gift shopping for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other occassions can be exhausting and overwhelming. But good news! If the person you’re shopping for is a pet parent, that task can go from overwhelming to simple in the blink of an eye. Here we share 5 categories of simple gifts for the pet parent in your life – whether they have cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, chickens, llamas, or whatever!
Pet Toys & Treats
Every pet is basically a toddler, so toys or snack treats will always be a hit. Just make sure that whatever you’re gifting isn’t going to end in more problems for your pet parent friend! Toys that squeak or flash lights might not be the best idea here, for obvious reasons. And if you’re gifting snacks, make sure your pet parent is okay with the kind you’re gifting. You don’t want to accidentally gift your friend a week of cat diarrhea!
If you’re choosing dog toys, make sure to choose blue colored toys, as dogs can’t see shades of red. To a dog, red and green are the same, so they won’t be able to distinguish the colors on that rubber Christmas tree dog toy.
Pet Supplies & Necessities
It’s no secret that having a pet can get expensive. It might not be the sexiest gift, but helping out with food, bedding, and other necessities can be a godsend for a pet parent. If you’ve been to their house, take a look around and see what items might need to be replaced or what they can stock up on. Maybe their dog’s bed has been chewed all the way through or their cat’s scratching toy has seen better days. Note what kind of food or kitty litter they use and send them extra supplies. These little things can really help a pet parent!
Dog Walking/ Pet Sitting Services
This is one I bet you didn’t think of! Give your pet parent loved one the gift of a little extra time and peace of mind. Hire them a dog walker for a month so they have extra time to finally take care of that thing or to just catch a little break for a bit. Or gift them a pet sitter for a long weekend so they can get away or come and visit you! Check out these articles if you’re not sure how to choose a pet sitter or dog walker?
Personalized Pet Mementos
These days, you can find custom just about anything. I’ve seen customized photo pillows, dog name tags, even high end jewelery made to look exactly like your friend’s pet. A personalized gift is a great way to give something with just a little more meaning and sentiment attached to it. It’s great to pick up some dog toys or treats for your friend’s pet, and that’s a very thoughtful thing to do. But if you have a pet parent that’s a little closer to you and you’d like to find something more meaningful, consider giving a personalized pet memento.
Pet Photography
I’m sure your pet parent loved ones already have a million photos of their fur baby on their phone. But do they have any professional photos? Gifting them professional pet photography and framed photos of their beloved pet is the perfect way to give something meaningful that they will treasure. A professional pet photographer can capture their pet in motion or show a side of their personality that’s hard to capture with your iphone. It’s also a great way for your favorite pet parent to have photos taken WITH their pet. This way, they will have pictures of them together that they can treasure forever.
Donations to Organizations that Help Animals
And what if your favorite pet parent really does have everything? Or what if you just want to give a more meaningful gift? Maybe the gift of a donation to a cherished organization would be the perfect gift. You can give to animal rights organizations, animal shelters, even wildlife preservation NGOs. The ASPCA is always a good choice. Or, if your favorite pet parent has a rescue animal, giving to the shelter where they got there pet can be a truly meaningful gift.