It's that time of year, when people start browsing the stores to give Santa Claus a hand.
For many folks, it won't stop there. They will be looking to give Santa Paws a little help as well.
Christmas gifts for pets is a rapidly expanding business, says Brigit Cardin, who, with her husband Art, owns the Pet Valu at 200 Fitch St. in Welland.
“It's not a new trend, but it's definitely increasing,” she says. “Many customers treat their pets as kids, as part of the family.”
Staff at the Fenwick location of Minor Bros. Farm Supply Ltd. agree.
Household pet supplies are a fairly new addition to the Fenwick store, located at 690 Metler Rd., RR 3, at the corner of Metler and Balfour Street. Minor also operates a Fort Erie site, which has had household pet supplies for some time.
And pet gifts are huge sellers there, says, Endie Lore, who's in charge of the warehouse at the Fenwick.
So what's out there to put under the tree or in a stocking for the four-legged family members?
“Toys, toys, toys!” says Karley Kenny, an employee at Minor.
“And treats!” adds Kore.
If you're looking for treats, the offerings at Pet Valu include festively wrapped packages of Bosco and Roxy's “cookies” for dogs, in holiday shapes and colours (an “everyday” version of these treats is carried year-round). They look very much like people cookies, but what looks like chocolate is actually carob, says Cardin (chocolate is normally very toxic to dogs). The “icing” is yogurt-based and the sweetness comes from vanilla cane sugar extracts (no refined sugar) … and peanut butter.
“We can also make custom-made stockings,” says Cardin. “People pick out the items and we'll put it together.”
Minor offers such yummies as Merrick Grammy's Pot Pie gourmet sausage treats and Fromm grain-free Parmesan cheese treats.
If you're looking to give your pet more of a workout than a pigout, there are plenty of toys at both places to choose from.
Minor carries Skinneez for dogs and cats – fluffy toys with no stuffing (though the ones for kitty are stuffed with catnip). This means no cleaning up shredded stuffing that's been scattered all over the house, says Kore. It also means there's no stuffing to be ingested by your pet.
“These are big sellers,” Kore says. They even have some made with Kevlar, which means they don't come apart so easily.
Other ‘non-disintegrating' chew toys include the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Ball, in various sizes, and the Kong toys.
And if you've got a dog that likes cars, you can buy your furry friend their own Pup Treads tire to gnaw on.
Want to give Rover his very own alligator to wrestle with? Pet Valu has alligator-, toothbrush- and hedgehog-shaped chew toys, formed from potato starch, fruits and veggies.
“They're excellent for dogs with allergies,” says Cardin.
For the finicky family feline, Pet Valu carries small festive catnip-filled stockings (they had similar pumpkin toys for Halloween) and ‘nip-filled pillows with winter and Christmas themes.
Dogs enjoy getting out and about. Cats … well, they prefer to snooze. If you're looking for a way to get your snoring feline to actually do something, a laser toy may be the answer.
Minor offers a selection of laser toys, including the Contempo Bella Rockin Laser Toy. It's shaped like a bird and rocks on a weighted base, so the laser light bounces off nearby surfaces. There's also a couple of varieties of Frolicat, one of which stands upright and one which attaches to a vertical surface (people often mount it on a window, says Kenny). They can help keep your cat amused while you are busy with other things (hint: many dogs also like to chase the laser spots).
When the Stevensville site offered them, they sold out in two weeks, Kenny says. “People raved about them.”
A big seller at Christmas is pet beds, says Cardin. “It's winter, and pets need nice warm places to sleep” – especially if they are getting on in years. The cat beds are pyramid-shaped to cater to cats' preference at being enclosed. As Christmas draws nearer she'll also carry a selection of holiday-themed sweaters for dogs.
If it seems there are more gifts for dogs than other animals, there's a reason for that: many dogs learn to recognize the season, Cardin says. The rare cat may do so, but dogs, especially, “know there's something for them under the tree. A lot of people have to keep the dog's gifts hidden until Christmas Day!”
And it's not just the household pets that should benefit from the gift-giving season, as any horse lover will tell you.
Minor has “tons of treats” for horses, says Kenny, who is herself a horse owner. Perhaps the most seasonal one is the box of Candy Cane Crunch biscuits.
Peppermint treats? For horses? Really?
It does smell like peppermint, Kenny says, adding that, like any animal, different horses have differing tastes, but many love it.
“Licks” of various flavours ¬ carrot, apple, even watermelon – is another treat many horses enjoy.
For equine entertainment there are the Jolly Balls, an oversized version of the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Ball. Suspend it in the stall and a horse will bat at it with its head; leave it loose on the ground and horses like to kick it around, or even pick it up in their teeth and then toss it, says Kenny.
If someone has a special request, they will do their best to get it, she adds.
Humans aren't forgotten in the stores, either. Pet Valu has the “Dog Whisperer” tapes, and Minor carries a selection of horse-themed articles, including clothing, magnets, photo frames, keychains …
… and a coffee mug that neighs when you pick it up.
So whether you buy treats or toys, give Santa Paws a helping hand – don't forget your four-legged friends this Christmas.