By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Love is in the air, and while everyone is out buying roses, jewelry and chocolate – I know many pet owners are buying gifts for their pets too.  But what about combining the two ideas?  How about getting your sweetheart something for them of their pet?  A beautiful gift to get is a custom painting of their pet to cherish for years to come.  Jan Guarino, a pet portrait artist of Guarino Graphics in Huntington, N.Y., among one her many talents, paints lovely custom portraits of pets – and this could be the gift to remember.

You can see more of Jan’s beautiful work here and click around on her site to see her other artwork.

Since we know that dogs cannot eat chocolate, (it can make them very sick), why not get them scrumptious, healthy dog biscuits made with human grade ingredients?  A great choice is from The Pert Will Company, made locally right here on Long Island, and available at Barkfield Road in East Northport and Bubbles & Biscuits in Holbrook. It’s great to get dog treats for your own dog, but a nice Valentine’s is to get some as heartfelt gifts to give to your loved ones pets too!

Visit The Pert Will website to learn more – and if you’re a retailer looking to bring the line into your store, click here.

Giving back and spreading some love doesn’t just have to happen around the holidays – why not think of giving your local animal shelter some of their wish list items.  You can be a shelter pet’s Valentine by donating products and good they need and adore.  Simply call and ask what they are in need of, or check their facebook pages – many times they put a call out for items needed.  I can tell you one thing, most shelters always need Kongs and peanut butter for their shelter animals.  But don’t forget about the cats who may not get any cat toys or the shelter often needs newspapers or litter too.

Here’s a nice way to help your local animal shelter have a sweeter smell when you enter their lobbies – ever notice that smell when you walk in?  CritterZoneUSA makes a small air naturalizing unit that plugs into any regular wall outlet and creates a natural, charged flow that fills the room or vehicle and continually cleans the air. Perfect for lobby’s, offices, and other areas that will impact would be adopters the moment they walk into the animal shelter.  A powerful device that packs a punch, and is quiet too. You can purchase a unit or 2 for your local shelter and help make the environment more inviting. Also great for cars that have pets in and out constantly – purchase the ‘corded air naturalizer with travel accessories.’ It’s also Made in the USA baby!

You can save $10 today off your purchase price by using the code LIPP when you check out on their website. How lovely is that? Click here to purchase.

Loving our pets is a given, but having an anxious pet can really try to connect with them even more.  If you have an anxious pet who may be stressed out on a walk due to noise of traffic, thunder, fireworks – or if you’re on a trip with your country pup in the big city.  Some dogs have extreme fear of loud noises they are not used to.  A great gift for your anxious pup is the new UltraCalmer collar device by Pet Acoustics.   The UltraCalmer is a tool for pet owners to aid anxious canine behaviors. UltraCalmer is pre-loaded with frequency-modified UltraCalming Music, created specially for dog hearing. Simply attach it to your dogs collar, adjust the volume and you will notice your dog become in a calmer state.

While the snow is still on the ground, dreaming of warmer days playing with your pup in the sun is not that far off.  You and your dog will love the new Wham-O Pet Frisbee! The Wham-O Pet Frisbee is not like your ordinary flying piece of plastic, but instead this 9 inch soft rubber disc features raised Bone-Tec patterning, which adds dimensionality to a product and provides tooth grip and chew feel.  It’s made from a new custom design consisting of heavier rubber, which makes it extremely durable. Our canines can easily crack or chew apart an ordinary plastic flying disk leading to a potential choking hazard. Priced between $10-15 each, Wham-O Pet’s high-quality Frisbee will give pet owners piece of mind during playtime and last much longer than traditional discs.  It is also colored blue and yellow so your dog can see it better vs. a regular red frisbee that may appear grey to them.

We wish you a lovely Valentine’s Day with your pet and loved ones and can’t wait to hear what your favorite pick from our list is!  Please tell us if you did anything special for your pets or a shelter pet!

This article was a sponsored post.

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Lifers…

By now you should know that October is Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, and while so many people do adopt from shelters (thank you!), many dogs are there way too long – and are overlooked.  A potential adopter may be walking through a local shelter and find out that a dog they are looking at has been there for a year or two and walk away thinking, “there has to be something wrong with that dog.” Which is a real shame.  I encourage you, if you are a potential adoper to stop before you move on and give the dog a chance.  Ask the volunteer or shelter worker about the dog and find out his or her personality, likes and take some time in the adoption room to get to know the dog.  Ask to have them bring the dog outside away from the noise and really take some time with the dog.  You may just find this is the dog for you, the dog that you too were going to over look.  I double-dog dare ya to find out more about the lifer dog that is desperately wishing for his own furever home.

There is a really great quote, that sums it up: “Rescuing one dog may not change the world, but for that one dog, his world will be changed forever.”

Each week, for the next 4 weeks, you will see a ‘Lifer’s’ series of articles here – how can you change a local lifer dogs life? By adopting of course, but if you can’t adopt or foster, you can share his or her story by sharing the article, and just possibly your share can change the world for one of the dogs below!

Thank you to the participating shelters who care for and lobby to find these ‘lifers’ a home.

Envy is a female Pit Bull about 4 years old that needs a home without cats. She gets along with some dogs. Would be fine with children. She has been with the shelter since August of 2012. She waits patiently and quietly in her cage every day but is always overlooked. When out of the cage she loves to roll around on the grass or floor and likes her belly rubbed. She is a happy girl who can entertain herself. Envy is deaf and will need to be taught hand signals for her training. Envy is at the Town of Islip Animal Shelter - call (631) 224-5660 or go to 210 S. Denver Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706

This is Ruby from Almost Home Animal Rescue & Adoption, Inc. Ruby is approx. 4-5 years old, spayed . Ruby loves car rides and going for long walks/jogs! Ruby loves people of all ages, good with children, a real snuggle bug but must be the only pet. She has been with our rescue for 3 years now waiting for her forever home! Please contact Jen @ 631-627-3665 or jen@almosthomeli.org

This beautiful girl is Mona, she has been at the shelter since 2011. Mona is a very happy and playful young three year old and approximately 60 pounds. Mona is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, micro-chipped and heart-worm negative…what more could you ask for. She will bring you sunshine everyday and be a great exercise partner. Could Mona be your perfect match, come down and meet her at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter. Call 631.286.4940 to arrange a date to meet this doll.

Photo by Sole Riley. Sparky was found as a stray in Southampton. This 9 year old still has a lot of energy and has a great love of life. He needs a home without other dogs or cats. A great companion, he enjoys going for long walks and watching movies. Sparky is part of ARF’s Scholarship Program which helps our older animals and special needs animals with minor medical conditions, find homes. The scholarship program will provide financial assistance to the person or family that adopts Sparky into their loving home. Sparky has been at ARF for a few years. For more information call our adoption team at 631-537-0400 x203.

This week is Julie's one year anniversary at the Islip Animal Shelter and Adopt-A-Pet Center. She is a sweet senior Rottie mix who is roughly 7 years old. She would make a great pet for anyone looking for a mature companion. She loves her tennis balls but calms down quick. Julie would prefer to be the only pet and would do best in a home without children. Visit Julie at the Islip Animal Shelter and Adopt-A-Pet Center at 210 South Denver Ave, Bay Shore, New York 11706

Please note the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter is now open again – they have, as of press time of this article, 209 dogs that need homes there.  Please contact the shelter or go visit to help the animals there. 209 DOGS!

Want to feature your rescue dog in this 4-part Lifer Series of articles?

Please email Info@LIPetPlace.com, send a jpg of the dog, description about the dog, what shelter the dog is in, how long the dog has been in the shelter, and Contact info, etc.  The dog must be in a municipal shelter at least 6-months or more and/or with official non-profit Rescue group shelter.  Thank you!