Five Gift Ideas for Pet People

The holidays are coming and you need a gift idea for yet another person on your list. This one likes animals, but you remember you gave a coffee mug with a cat on it last year and a dog sweatshirt the year before. What can you get that's a little bit outside the box -and actually useful? Here are a few tech-savvy ideas.

1. Pedi-Paws –Yes, this is an "as seen on TV" item, but I have tried it on my dogs and it does work – to some extent. According to the website, the product "gently and painlessly files your pet's nails to leave them trim, rounded, and smooth". I will agree with the last parts of that statement. It made my dogs' nails rounded and smooth, with little struggle. I would, however, recommend trimming the nails with a conventional trimmer first; if they are very long, you'll be there all day filing with the Pedi-Paws. Don't forget the batteries!
   
2. Heated Water Bucket – Those caring for horses (or any livestock) in cold climates dread going out to break up the block of ice that's formed in each water bucket overnight. An alternative, if you have access to a safe power supply, is a heated bucket with a thermometer that keeps the water at a safe drinking temperature without allowing it to freeze. (Alternative for warm climates – Equi-Fit Cleanbucket – controls bacterial growth to "minimize 'bucket slime' and reduce need for frequent scrubbing".)
   
3. Automatic Pet Feeder – Yes, auto-feeders have been around for awhile, but newer models have more bells and whistles. They also point out more reasons for use that you might not have thought of – in addition to weekends away, there's portion and weight control, better feeding routine, and better sleeping habits for you while your pet is distracted. This model is pet-proof, has battery backup for power loss, claims to be easy to use and adjust, and can feed just about any amount.
   
4. Aquarium Controlling System – Fish seem easy to take care of. They don't have to be walked or brushed. Just sprinkle in some food and they're all set. But anyone who's had an aquarium knows how much of a struggle it can be to maintain the right balance of water temperature, pH, oxygen, and cleanliness. A controller like this one, though pricey, allows you to monitor and adjust your settings from any computer via the Internet. If you have invested a lot in your fish, it just might be worth it. But you'll still have to keep the tank clean!
   
5. SNIF Tag – Ever wonder what your dog is up to while you're at work? You may have read my entry about the now-famous puppy cam, and while that works if your dog is confined to a certain area, chances are that he's not. According to a statement from SNIF Labs' press release noted on The Boston Globe, the SNIF Tag gives "owners peace of mind to supervise their dog's activities plus a means to socialize and develop relationships online with like-minded owners". Wow, sounds like an awful lot from a simple tracking device! But you can log-in to a site and monitor your dog's movements and if you meet a dog on a walk that has a SNIF Tag, they become "friends".

With a little research, creative gift ideas are endless. The best resource, of course, is the recipient – remember, many pet owners love gifts they can use with the pet. For the cat with excess energy: a remote-controlled mouse. For the loud-mouthed dog: a barking collar. For the Pigpen-like horse: an equine vacuum.

Happy holidays, and happy shopping!

Resources:

http://www.petgadgets.com/

http://www.pedipaws.com/?directLoad&uid=F946CEE1AD7F22265849D55BDC0579D6

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=2005

https://www.doversaddlery.com/equi-fit-cleanbucket/p/X1-27005/cn/1821/

http://www.perfectpetfeeder.com/

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4506

http://www.sniftag.com/

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/11/new_hightech_do.html