GIFT GUIDE: Christmas presents for the doting fur parent aside from collars and chew toys
Thinking of giving a present to your dear ones whose fur babies mean the whole world to them?
As the most wonderful time of the year is dawning near, you might now be scrambling to find the perfect gift for your family and friends. Some may be into gadgets, while others like indulging in food. For the doting fur parent, nothing matters more in the world than their four-legged companions.
While it would be easy to simply go to the nearby pet store and buy a new collar or a chew toy, your loved ones would appreciate it more if you put extra effort in thinking of a unique and creative gift that will encapsulate their love for their pets.
If you haven't got a clue how, then here are some ideas that will make for a purr-fect gift for pet lovers:
Customized items
Customized items are always a welcome present as they carry a unique part of you. This makes them good gift ideas for pet lovers as they can be personalized to contain their furry companions.
A viable option would be these hand-painted bayong bags from Sisidlan by Virginia, with prices starting at P1,000. The bags are created by local weavers and each design is meticulously painted by the store's artists.
Not only is it a fashionable alternative to plastic shopping bags, but you can also personalize it with your loved ones' pets by sending Sisidlan by Virginia a picture of them. Additionally, this helps the store's advocacy of saving poor cats and dogs from being euthanized in adoption centers.
To complement the environmentally-friendly gift, you can also choose to give doting fur parents cute keychains inspired by their pets from Clay Corner, priced at P380.
The store's handmade craft made out of polymer clay captures the look of pets in a charming and cartoonish way,and can be a great present for pet owners who want to remember their fur babies whenever they go.
Photo albums and scrapbooks
Photo albums and scrapbooks are sure to bring a smile to those who love taking pictures with their fur babies. While smartphones have made it convenient, there's still something truly fun about printing photos and filling albums with them.
Papemelroti offers eco-friendly scrapbooks that your pet lover friends and family members will instantly fall in love with. Available in a variety of colors, the books contain a total of 30 blank sheets and are made out of 100% recycled paper.
It can also be used as a journal in case your loved ones would want to write down their favorite memories of their pets, or as a sketchbook in case they want to channel their artistic talents and draw their fur babies. The prices range from P179 to P289.
But if you think that they won't appreciate bulky photo albums and would much rather prefer to keep things simple and miniature, then you may opt to give them mini photo album keychains from Artsy for P145.
The mini albums can store up to 16 pieces of 1.5 inch photos and are also waterproof. It's a delightful gift for fur parents who would want to show pictures of their adorable companions anytime, anywhere.
Fashionable clothes
Does your friend or family member also happen to be a fashionista at heart? If so, then the perfect Christmas gift for them is to give their pets cute and glamorous clothes that will make them woof and meow in style.
After all, what's more endearing than seeing owners taking their pets for a walk in matching outfits?
You can purchase some adorable pet clothes at ARF ARF Love, where you can choose from shirts, hoodies, vests, polos, and dresses that come in a wide array of colors and designs. You can also check out 27 Pets Store for some of their irresistible pajamas, onesies, and other sleepwear priced from P99 to P190.
And if you really want to channel the Christmas spirit, you can opt to buy holiday-themed costumes for the pets. Furrshionista offers Santa Claus and elf-inspired polos and dresses for dogs for P200 while 27 Pets Store sells bibs and caps featuring Santa and his red-nosed reindeer Rudolph for P79 to P128.
Spa Day
If you want to delight your loved ones and their pets with an experience they won't forget, why not treat their fur babies to a spa treatment at the newly-opened Pretty Bubble Boutique in Bonifacio Global City?
Aside from clothes and premium supplies such as hypoallergenic conditioners and shampoos, oral hygiene kits, and poop bag pouches, the pet boutique offers grooming and spa services for pets, where they can have a full body wash and massage, a nail trim session, a dental, ear, and eye care, and a full hair styling.
And if that still isn't enough to make them wag their tails in happiness, they can also experience being massaged with pressurized warm water through the store's hydrobath—a first in the Philippines. The treatments range from P1,500 to P3,500.