chloe's favourite things | holiday shopping guide 2011

Hi everyone!

Can you believe there are only 25 days until Christmas? We've already watched our local Santa Claus parade, visited the big man himself at the local nursery to divulge our Christmas lists and started decorating Happy Tails headquarters for the holidays.

If you have a furry friend at home and are trying to think of gift ideas, look no further! Wonder dog Chloe is getting in on the blogging action and sharing a few of her favourite things — all of which are great gift ideas for your four-legger. Since she doesn't have opposable thumbs, I will be typing up her list for her! Please note, these are things that Chloe enjoys and can recommend after using them herself. We can't speak to the quality, durability, etc., aside from our own experience (but we are pretty picky about what comes home with us!).

FOOD

First up, treats of course! Chloe is not a fruit and vegetable kind of gal — she will not eat anything other than straight-up meat treats (just ask our vet, who tries to give her a fruit-laced treat every time we go in but always ends up breaking out the good stuff: freeze-dried liver!). This is just one brand of treat Chloe enjoys. It's wheat, corn and soy free. An added bonus is it's environmentally friendly — the products are made in a facility that is 100 per cent wind powered and the packaging is made out of 100 per cent recycled materials. Plus, Zuke's says it donates a portion of profits to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund — it's multiple gifts in one!

Chloe also gets a homemade, all-natural treat from the "barkery" at the Bark & Fitz pet store on special occasions like her birthday and Christmas. So festive!

TOYS

Moving on to toys, Chloe loves her Chuckit! balls. They are durable and long-lasting. She also likes their bright colours, which make them easy for her humans to spot in the snow or long grass so they can be thrown again and again ... and again. You get the idea.

Another hit at our house is the popular Loofa dog toy from Pet Smart. Chloe knows it as her "binky" and can often be found sleeping with it. Even though she's a medium-size dog, she prefers the small-size Loofa, and small-size dog toys in general — maybe she's a chihuahua at heart?

TAGS & COLLARS

I've mentioned Lucky Pet tags before on the blog. These tags are made from durable enamel, laser engraved and have a lifetime guarantee. They also come in a wide range of colours, sizes and styles, and are very economical at under $10 (plus a few dollars for shipping). Peace of mind is a great gift to give for the holidays!

Chloe, like any girly dog, loves to be in style. She has a variety of collars, including a "fashion" collar from Fido's Fashion Collars. There are so many styles to choose from — Chloe has the "Artsy Fartsy."

CLOTHES

Okay, Chloe did not contribute to this section because she doesn't wear clothes. I wish she would wear sweaters — I've seen so many cute ones out and about, and at the dog park. I can only share the ones that have caught my eye. If you're looking for a piece of Canadiana, why not opt for this iconic pattern from The Hudson Bay Company?

I've seen lots of dogs wearing handmade sweaters by Chilly Dog Sweaters, too. They have lots of fun designs, such as a sock monkey and a one-eyed monster, plus designs with hoods to keep your pooch's ears warm. So cute! No photo, but check them out!

GIFTS THAT NEVER STOP GIVING

One of the best holiday gifts you can give is a donation to your local shelter or humane society on behalf of your pet. Chloe is adopted herself, so she knows how important it is to help pets in need find a forever home. A small donation can help make a shelter animal's Christmas a little merrier this year! For a list of shelters in Canada, click here.

A donation to your local shelter can help give a deserving animal like Noodle a home.

And of course, there's always the gift of memories, which you can give by gifting a Happy Tails Pet Photography session. Contact me for details!

What are you getting your pet this year? If there are favourite items you'd like to share, please leave a comment and let everyone know! Good luck with your holiday shopping this year!

more adoptables | burlington, ontario, pet photographer

It's been a few months now since I started volunteering at the Burlington Humane Society — I pop in every few weeks and take photos of the animals available for adoption for the shelter's website. The feedback I've received makes my heart warm. I get such a nice welcome every time I show up and it sounds like the photos might be making a difference! I haven't posted photos of adoptables on the blog in a while, so I thought I'd give you a quick sample of the sweet faces I've met over the last few weeks.

 As you can imagine, working with animals can be unpredictable and there are so many funny moments that happen "behind the scenes." I post a lot of these outtakes on my Facebook page, so if you're not already a follower, what are you waiting for?

I'm just going to get up on my soapbox for a quick moment ...  if you have the love and the time, adopting a pet in need can be so fulfilling. Help an animal that can't help itself and check out your local shelter!

Wags!