by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
Excited to bring you our 2015 Holiday Pet Gift Guide where you can find gifts for pets and pet parents alike this holiday season! From gifts that help you cherish your pet’s life, their memory – to functional, stylish, comfy and even products to help your pet’s ailments. I invite you to visit each product listed below and visit their website as well to learn more. In the spirit of the Holiday season – while doing your holiday shopping perhaps you can purchase 1 extra gift to give to someone who could really use it for themselves or their pet. Happy shopping!
We often think of our pets who may have passed on, during the holidays and all year long. MiY Pet Perennials Kit is a wonderful way to remember your pet for years to come. It is the is the perfect healing activity for anyone experiencing pet loss. Each kit contains everything necessary to craft 12-14 planting wafers. Each wafer propagates a one square foot area with wildflowers. What a beautiful way to remember you pet and help the earth at the same time! Pet families can customize their
living memorial by incorporating a portion of a pet’s cremation remains into the process. A meaningful gift for sure.
Another really sweet and meaningful holiday gift is to have a pet portrait painted by a talented artist. It doesn’t have to be a memorial, it is something you can do now for your favorite pet parent. I know for myself, when my dog Max passed, a few incredible people in my life had a couple paintings of him done. It was perfect. Animal artist Michelle Kohler located on Long Island does hand painted portraits from your photo onto canvas or wood. Prices start at $75.00 for 8×10 size and paintings are done in acrylic or oil. Michelle also does a mini portrait “CHRISTMAS COOKIE” tree ornament for $30.00. The Christmas Cookie is a miniature portrait of your pet on a slab of last years Christmas tree. They are absolutely beautiful! To order your gift today contact Michelle at mk336soa@yahoo.com or by calling (631) 374-6378.
Have a pet parent in your life that loves, loves, loves jewelry? Well you have to check out this beautiful new dog motif jewelry and photo jewelry in
by Zelda’s Song in their Etsy Store! Brand new designs include our first-ever silver necklaces and photo necklaces. To make gift-giving easy, they have created our Paw Print Cuff Bracelet, pictured below – which is a fashionable paw print emblem presented on their popularleather cuff bracelet. You can just add a name to personalize for your favorite dog lover! You also have to check out all their other products on ZeldasSong.com you are sure to find something you love (and maybe just for yourself!)
If you’re like me you prefer a leather collar for your dog. For me there are many reasons, durability, strength, beauty and of course the many choices there are today. You cannot go wrong with a beautiful dog collar from Auburn Leathercrafters. Hand crafted right here in New York and with high quality leather – a family owned and operated company. They have matching collars and leashes like the ones pictured below, collars with bling, for the largest dog you can imagine down to the tiny pup. You can find their collars in many fine retailers – but if you don’t have a pet store near you go to their consumer website CollarsandMore.com.
If you are looking for a healthy dog treat for spoil your pup with you need to check out Deb’s Healthy Pet Center! Offering a wide range of food, treats and supplements. They sell only all natural items, and the majority of what they offer are single-ingredient products. There are NO steroids, antibiotics, preservatives, hormones, grain or gluten in any of their products, all of which are made in the USA with only farm fresh ingredients grown here. They are committed to 100% sourcing ingredients and manufacturing in the USA. So your pet can be healthy now and healthy for life.
The next two items are perfect to be given as a gift together, you’ll see what I mean in a minute!
The Torus Water Bowls are new to the market and high tech yet simple to use. The water bowls store water inside its reservoir walls, filtering the water as it automatically dispenses. The large capacity means less filling and it’s low profile and grips mean less mess or spills that you will have to clean up. Torus has a lock, fill and drink function for portability and does NOT require batteries. The 1 liter bowl is ideal for small pets and the 2 liter bowl is ideal for larger or mutliple pets. The bowls are available in Charcoal, Red, Blue & Pink (1 L only). Torus includes one carbon filter, lasting 1 month and has a 12 month warranty. Visit their website for more information on this cool new bowl.
Ok, maybe you will get the tie into the next product! 😉
UGODOG is the #1 Indoor Dog Potty approved by the APA. This pet potty is environmentally friendly, keeps paws dry, is easy for pets to use, has absorbent liners that are reusable and biodegradable and owners get a free training manual with purchase. Makes a great gift for pet owners, especially those who are in high rise apartment buildings, in cold weather areas (who can’t get out quickly to take their pets out), and it’s great for older dogs too for them to have a safe clean place to go in your home say if you are out longer than anticipated. And for puppies too!
Brand new to the market, like literally launched 2 weeks ago is Deziner Dogs, brought to you by pet entrepreneur Heather Lehrman, “Deziner Dogs was created not only by me, but by every pet owner I run in to.” Not only will Deziner Dogs differentiate your dog breed with their apparel and leash line, it will also start many conversations between dog owners. Their mission is to make high quality, fashion forward & fun products for you and your pet! Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
If you’re thinking holistic pet care, that can be a personal choice – but I am sure as you’re reading this you know of at least one person who has a dog, cat or horse that may have a specific type of aliment. Perhaps the traditional way of treating that ailment hasn’t really help their pet, if so, I encourage you to check out Dr. Baker’s Canine System Saver. It is an all-natural herbal supplement that is a safe and effective alternative to treating many dogs ailments – instead of using harsh anti-inflammatory medications. Suitable to help manage ailments dogs suffer from such as: Arthritis; Chronic Dermatitis; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Respiratory Disorders; Hip Dysplasia; Cartilage Destruction; Geriatric Wasting; Athletic/Repetitive Stress and Autoimmune Disorders. Created by a holistic veterinarian right here on Long Island, Dr. Don Baker who has 30 years experience and is passionate about helping our pets in a holistic effective way. Of course with any treatment plan you should contact your own vet first – but you need to visit their website and find out more about this great product.
If you’re looking for luxury for your home and your pets, then Tall Tails Authentic Dog Textiles is where you want to look! Tall Tails is a leader in manufacturing high quality textiles and accessories for dogs and their families. Tall Tails offers products that pet parents love to provide for comfortable living, beautiful design, and interaction with their pets. Tall Tails helps provide soothing solutions for everyone in the family after a long day on the mountain peaks or the city streets. Quality products include: supportive beds, super-soft blankets, absorbent grooming towels, interactive toys, durable leashes, and WaterwoofTM pads. You will end up wanting their items for you and your pets, but they make beautiful holiday gifts as well. You can find their products in over 500 pet boutiques across the country.
Wishing you and your pets a very Happy Holiday season!
by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
How do you paw it forward? Personally, I like to bake Christmas cookies during the holidays, but I used to bake healthy dog treats for years for my own dogs. When I got the adorable Paw it Forward cookie cutters for our American Pet Professionals Holiday Party to put in the goody bags, I was inspired to paw it forward more. So last night instead of baking another round of cookies for people, you guessed it – lots of dog cookies were rolled out, baked and packaged up. The number one cookies my dogs loved were, PeaMutt Butter & Honey treats, so that is what you see pictured below. Today I will be going to a couple of local animal shelters so the dogs there can enjoy a holiday treat.
Let the cookie cutting begin!
The adogable Paw it Forward cookie cutter!
Mix up your shapes for fun – and if you have holiday themed cutters add those too!
For your best baking results, use parchment paper to line the cookie trays. I also baked these at 325 degrees and a little longer so they would be nice and crunchy for the pups!
The finished product, ready to go the animal shelter! 6 bags in total of yummy dog treats made with human grade and organic ingredients – like all dogs should be getting!
Hope to have pictures of some of the shelter dogs crunching on the treats later.
In the meantime, please share with us, how do you Paw it Forward? (Comment below!)
by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
In honor of National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Harbor Pet is hosting Long Island’s very first Ugly Christmas Sweater party for dogs (and their owners)!
This funny and festive event encourages pet owners to bring their dogs in their own ugly Christmas sweaters. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweater, most creative, best owner and dog ugly sweater combo and more!
In addition to the ugly sweaters prancing around, there is a pet food collection for North Fork Animal Welfare league. Participants can purchase a pet food donation at Harbor Pet and a 10% discount will be given for pet food purchases made for the food drive. Each pup wearing an ugly holiday sweater will receive a special treat from Life if Grruff and refreshments for humans and dogs alike for added holiday cheer!
A photographer will be on hand to capture pet parents and their pups in all their ugly Christmas sweater glory. For more information on how you can participate contact Harbor Pets at (631) 477-1518.
Think your dog has the ugliest sweater?
By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
Pawliday shopping ideas to help you shop for the furry friends and their owners in your life!
It’s here! The crazy hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season! Our pet holiday shopping guide is geared to help you shop for the pet lover in your life, your own pets and the pet professional that helps you throughout the year. Don’t forget about the dog groomer, pet sitter, trainer, doggie day care people who care for your dog as if they were their own.
1. First you want Fluffy to smell great in-between grooming visits or if you are bathing your pup yourself you have to check out the luxorious line from Dog Fashion Spa. The perfect holiday gift for that pet lover you don’t know what to get (or maybe a hint that their pooch needs a bath! BOL!)
2. After you have your dog smelling and looking good, you might want to capture that moment by a professional Pet Photographer.
These days their are pet photographers all over the country, and here on Long Island you can contact Dee is for Dogs and see when she has photo’s with Santa set up or book a private session. This would make for a great gift for the pet owner in your life that make not be great with the camera – getting a professional pet photo gift certificate!
Click here to find more pet photographers in the NY/LI area.
3. Another way you can show you care for your pet during the holidays is hire a pet sitter and dog walker to help walk your dog. We all get busy and maybe Fido is not getting as much exercise as normal. There are professional pet sitters everywhere these days, but be sure to interview them, get references and do a meet and greet with your dog to make sure your dog is comfortable with them. If you are in the Westbury, Carle Place or Jericho areas of New York contact Beatriz Lewis of Wiggily-Waggily, she will do a no obligation meet and greet. For more pet sitters across NY/LI areas click here. Also you should book soon as pet sitters get really booked this time of year.
4. All that walking is going to make your dog hungry! For the pet owner who is looking into cooking healthy and nutritious meals for their pets – and do it themselves at home, a book written by Christine Filardi a certified holistic chef for animals, this book is the perfect gift. Home Cooking For Your Dog has recipes that you can make at home and shop for the ingredients in your local grocery store. It is beautifully illustrated and wonderful pictures of dogs in it as well.
5. Another product that any pet owner would love is a CritterZoneUSA Air Naturalizer – and for the holiday’s they have special travel pack available. I have this product and it works, in small spaces larger rooms, it gets rid of that stinky puppy smell (and any bad smell for that matter) rather quickly. They have a special happening to, use code LIPP13 when you check out and save $10.00 on the travel pack unit priced at $109.95. I love the unit for my car, since my dog travels a lot in the car with me – it really helps get rid of that dog smell.
6. Looking for that perfect holiday card to send out? Have your favorite breed in mind? Then you want to check out these holiday cards done by Beth Weiner Lipson of MyPetArtWork.com. A lovely way to give a personalized gift to the pit bull, bulldog or beagle afficiando in your life. The are various breeds you can choose from, holiday cards, love cards, mugs, t-shirts and more. Beth can also do a pet portrait from your picture – the ultimate holiday or birthday gift. You can see more images of holiday items here.
7. A beautifully crafted piece of jewerly always makes anyone smile, and if it has diamonds and a paw print in it – even better! Our Paws for Cause is a non-profit rescue group that does incredible work and was started by Candy Udell of London Jewelers. You can shop their line of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and dog tags and a portion of each sale will be donated to help build and support model humane no-kill shelters providing rescue spay and neuter services. Its a beautiful way to show someone you care and help a great mission at the same time.
8. Have an active dog owner who likes to go on hikes and outings with their pup? A great gift you can give is buy a pre-made portable first aid kit – so that when they are out in the middle of the woods, in case of a cut or scrap they will be able to take care of it right there. Or you can make your own with and be sure to put in the items listed here. And also a great product to have incase you do have an issue is Dr. Emmo’s Pet First Aid products. I have used both the wound care gel for scraps and cuts on my own Max and just used the eye wash which did wonders for a slight allergy infection he had in his eye.
9. Treats! Don’t forget the treats! It’s such a great house warming gift to bring, (along with some wine for the humans please!), when you go to a holiday party this year. If you know they are pet owners, they will love getting something for their favorite fur-child too. There are many different holiday designed doggie treats these days to choose from, and they look good enough to eat – so be sure to tell them they are for the dog!
10. Make a donation in their pets name or their name. A fantastic way to show you care, is to make a monetary donation to your favorite pet owners to their favorite animal rescue organization. You can also find out what the animal rescue group needs, make up a donation with those items and go together to drop off the donation. Often times the non-pet owner will get just as big of a gift by doing so. A nice thing to do together, and see the animals in need.
And don’t forget to shop your small pet businesses on Saturday, November 30, 2013 for Shop Small Saturday! Get out there an support your local pet businesses!
Happy Paw-lidays!
by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com
It’s begging to look a lot like…bored dogs, scratchy cats and wheel spinning hampsters! Oops I meant Christmas…or the Holidays if you will. Here at LIPetPlace we are always looking for ways to keep our pets safe, happy and well cared for during the holidays, but know with the overwhelmingly busy time of year many pet owners tend to let things slide. I get it, but for safety sake for your pet, (and your wallet), there are few simple things you can do to ensure you dog, cat, ferret, hampster, parrot or bunny stay happy, healthy and out of the Vets office!
This is after all the busiest time of year that veterinarians see pet emergencies, Sparky could have ingested a holiday decoration, or Buster isn’t feeling well because too many family members gave him things he should not be eating.
Here are some tips to keep your pet out of the vet’s office and have a safe and happy holiday too!
- Pet Proof your house, Dr. Michel A. Selmer of Advanced Animal Care Center said this, “Puppies, in particular, may behave like young children, acting excited and inquisitive around lights, ornaments, candles, trees, unfamiliar foods, an influx of new people, and even a visiting pet. Especially during the holidays you must ‘pet proof’ various areas of your house. Pets must be taught off-limits, such as nibbling of ornaments on the lower branches of trees, or sampling the foods on the coffee table.”
- Instruct your guests and family members not to feed your pet as he could get really sick. This usually does the trick with people falling for puppy dog eye expressions, but really emphasize this with your guests. “Rich food and too much of it can spell gastrointestinal distress for your pet,” said Dr. Selmer, and then you end up at your vet’s office with an unexpected expense and stress worrying about your pet!
- Be mindful when you are opening presents and if your pet is getting into any of the wrapping. “When presents are opened, be aware of what you do with the ribbon, which presents a chocking danger. Mistletoe (Phoradendron species) is extremely toxic if eaten, while Poinsettia is mildly toxic. Tinsel can get caught up in the intestine and cause obstructions,” stated Dr. Selmer.
- Have a safe haven for your pet to retreat to. Whether it is their crate or their bed in a quiet room away from guests and crowds. A Kong stuffed with peanut butter (then frozen) also will help keep him busy while away from the crowd, but check on them often to make sure they are ok.
- Watch your pets behavior, if they seem different or stressed out around the holiday crowds, bring them to their safe haven – never ever as a punishment, but as a place to retreat.
- Christmas Tree as play toys! This picture says it all if you have a cat (I have was always fortunate, our cat just liked to go under the tree and hang out), but if you have a mischievous kitty who likes to climb in the tree, think about this before hanging family heirlooms, glass ornaments or sharp objects the cat could hurt himself on while scaling your Christmas tree.
- A tired dog is a good dog, exercise your dog on a long walk before the crowd comes over! I have said this before and I will say it again! This is one of the best things you can do, if you have to get up earlier or walk longer to have a happy, tired dog the day your guests are there, everyone including your pup will thank you!
Most of all enjoy your holidays, don’t forget about your pets needs too and maybe make a donation of a pet toy to your local animal shelter!
Happy Howlidays from Max!!
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