Vetcetera Pet-themed kid gifts for the animal-obsessed
Let’s say you have a kid. Or maybe you have a few kids on your Holiday list. These children like animals—or maybe you just want to pass along a little some of you with that present (and you’re obviously a pet-person). And let’s imagine that giving an animal to a child as a Holiday gift happens to be anathema to your personal ethic. What is a responsible child-gifter to do??
To this end (and by popular demand), I’ll include a list of vet-approved, animal-themed presents this nine year-old’s mom would happily receive on her child’s behalf.
In no particular order with suggestions for ideal ages…
1-Breyer’s horses (6+) usually $10 to $30: I still have a dozen or so of these (circa 1978) but I can’t bring myself to sell them on eBay. My son doesn’t even look at them but my four year-old niece looks like she’ hankering for them already.
2-Zoobie Pets (3+) $25 Winda the Wildebeest is my favorite. She’s purple. But I also adore Hada the Hippo (pink, of course) and Rhaxma the Rhino (gray). Lay on them, cuddle them or use them as a blanket!—these creatures, stuffed or unstuffed, are cute overkill.
3-NintenDogs video game (7+) $30: Last year my son couldn’t put his Nintendo down after getting this game in his stocking (to this day, he won’t play with his handheld GameBoy without hitting this game first). It’s good clean fun, even if it’s just a simple strategy game that relies a bit too heavily on the concept of purebred purchasing.
4-iDog (8+) $35: Plug in your iPod and watch it go. This year-old novelty item is like a mini desktop sound system for your iPod. It irresistibly shakes its head and lights up in time with your music. If your kid-giftee has an iPod (mine wouldn’t know what to do with one yet) it’s a definite winner.
5-BlaBla stuffed animals (all ages) $30: These gorgeous, Peruvian-knit French animal dolls are to die for. I want them all!
6-Rescue Pets Wake-Me-Up Mutt (3+) $25: It’s nice to see at least one pet toy that doesn’t sidle up to the purebred thing as if mutt’s aren’t the US’s number one breed. This one makes a great barking alarm clock for your sleepy little ones.
7-AntWorks Space Age Ant Habitat (8+) $20: This is so cool. Based on a NASA study looking at ant movement in zero gravity, watch transfixed as the ants power through this space age blue gel to build trails and tunnels.
8-Bone shaped muffin and cake pans (8+) $18-$20: For the budding chef in your life. These kitchen tools are available at Target and come with “gourmet recipes” for pet treats your giftee can make in his or her own kitchen.
9-Meerkat slippers (all sizes except men’s) $25: For the Meerkat Manor-lover in your family. Add in a box set of the 1st season on DVD ($30) and you’ve got one super-cute family-friendly gift.
10-Riding lessons (6-12) $250-$500: Really want to splurge? If you’re like my sister, you spoil your nieces and nephews senseless. She purchased a ten-spot of riding lessons for my son’s Christmas present last year. It requires parental willingness to actually take the child but otherwise it’s a spoiler’s ideal horse-obsessed kid’s gift.
Those are mine. Feel free to suggest your own…
December 10th, 2007
| < | December 2007 | > | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
Daily Vet
Recommended
- Dogster.com
- Petfinder.com
- Bark-n-Blog
- Dr. K's MySpace Page
- PetConnection
- Border Wars
- Nathan Winograd
- Underdogged
- K-9 Down
- K9 Diabetes
- Tripawds
- FelineDiabetes.com
- PetMD
Careerists
Did you always want to be a vet or vet technician? Thinking about it? Working on it? Need some Help?
- VetInfo.com
- AVMA
- Miami Vet Specialist
- Penn Vet School
- DVM.com
- VIN
- Vet News Network
- Vet Practice News
- Vetstoria
- Vet Manager Central
- Veterinary Team Jobs
- Veterinary Recruiting
"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mohandas Gandhi
Add Comment16 Comments
What a super idea to suggest gifts. I think they're terrific ones for the animal loving youngster.
Ellie December 10th, 2007 11:41:00 AM
Petfinder.org and the Animal Rescue site, along with the ASPCA, Humane Society, and Best Friends, all have onlline shops with items for adults, children, or pets. Purchases benefit the organizations, and you can also make donations in the name of those hard-to-find-gifts-for-relatives.
Debby December 10th, 2007 11:55:00 AM
All great ideas!
I would like to add books and WEBKINS! All my daughters (6 and 10) want this year is the Collie but they have lots of breeds. (12-15 bucks)
Older daughtrer loves Nintendogs.
The young one LOVES the Littlest Pet Shop and for about 30 bucks they sell the Vet Office. Too cute!
Nancy
nancy December 10th, 2007 11:55:00 AM
I was so happy, but not surprised, to see the Breyer horse top your list! This year is my daughters first Christmas and there will be a Breyer horse under the tree! I plan to make it a tradition (unless of course she doesn't like horses but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree right?).
Meghan RAHT December 10th, 2007 01:52:00 PM
Ha, be aware that Breyer horses are a gateway drug to the model horse hobby, where those of us who cannot keep the real thing can still spend just as much on them.
Of course, it is easier to care for model horses when you go on vacation. And broken limbs are rarely cause for permenant disablement....my childhood horses sometimes galloped better that way.
DrSteggy December 10th, 2007 03:38:00 PM
Hahaha Dr. Steggy ... yes, Breyers are very much a "gateway drug."
I'll never part with mine. NEVER!!
Gina Spadafori December 10th, 2007 05:25:00 PM
I love Folkmanis puppets! They are wonderfully sculpted, and crafted. They have a Golden Retriever, Glen Terrier, Siamese, and Guinea Pig, not to mention fabulous dragons!
http://www.folkmanis.com
lin December 10th, 2007 10:15:00 PM
I have found these zoobie pets on a site at http://www.shinyhappy.com.au. They are selling a bit cheaper too. They also have the most adorable t-shirts for 6-24 month old children with animal prints by Rachael Hale on them, and they come boxed. I'd highly recommend them to any 1-ish year old child for Xmas.
springgirl07 December 11th, 2007 04:22:00 AM
I bought my pal George some triops. They are along the same lines as sea monkeys, but they look like horse shoe crabs and can grow to be about 2 inches, with a lifespan of about 8 weeks. I found them on Amazon. Replacement eggs and food can be purchased seperately. The triops got great reviews from other customers, adults who said they liked the critters as much as their kids did. The kit was only about 20 bucks, so I figured what the heck. I can't wait to see them in person.
Robyn W. December 12th, 2007 09:20:00 AM
My parents are soooo lucky that I was blissfully unaware of the existence of Breyer horses until I was really too old to play with them. I would have bankrupted them....literally. Gateway drug indeed.
Becky December 13th, 2007 09:25:00 AM
good information
sem
search engine marketing
adfdasf June 1st, 2009 03:20:31 AM
دردشة
منتديات
يوتيوب
etret June 26th, 2009 06:23:10 PM
[url=http://www.uggbootsvip.com]ugg[/url]
lill June 29th, 2009 03:12:02 AM
<a href="http://www.uggbootsvip.com">ugg</a>
everything June 29th, 2009 03:13:52 AM
In 1981, <a href="http://www.edhardyuk.co.uk">ed hardy</a> and his wife formed Hardy Marks Publications. In 2004, Christian Bale licensed the rights to produce the high-end Ed Hardy
UK line, which is based on Hardy's imagery. Prior to the <a href="http://www.edhardyuk.co.uk">ed hardy clothing</a> line, Bale was the Head Designer at Von Dutch Originals, which
marketed the imagery of Kenny Howard. Don <a href="http://www.edhardyshop.us">ed hardy</a>,commented, As demand for my artwork continues to skyrocket, I felt it was <a
href="http://www.edhardysell.com">ed hardy clothing</a> time to take on a partner that could help me manage the demand and opportunities for the <a
href="http://www.edhardysell.com">ed hardy</a> T-shirts name. Iconix is at the forefront of brand management and clearly has the capabilities to dramatically grow the Ed Hardy UK
business. I'm thrilled to have them as a partner. Cheap Ed Hardy are located in everywhere. We also believe that by owning the brand alongside <a href="http://www.edhardyshop.us">ed
hardy clothing</a>, the founder, there will be opportunities to further leverage his iconic name along with his new artwork. Largest selection of Ed Hardy T-Shirts and Ed Hardy here.
In 1981, ed hardy and h October 23rd, 2009 12:52:30 AM
In 1981, ed hardy and his wife formed Hardy Marks Publications. In 2004, Christian Bale licensed the rights to produce the high-end Ed Hardy UK line, which is based on Hardy's imagery. Prior to the ed hardy clothing line, Bale was the Head Designer at Von Dutch Originals, which marketed the imagery of Kenny Howard. Don ed hardy, commented, As demand for my artwork continues to skyrocket, I felt it was ed hardy clothing time to take on a partner that could help me manage the demand and opportunities for the ed hardy T-shirts name. Iconix is at the forefront of brand management and clearly has the capabilities to dramatically grow the Ed Hardy UK business. I'm thrilled to have them as a partner. Cheap Ed Hardy are located in everywhere. We also believe that by owning the brand alongside ed hardy clothing, the founder, there will be opportunities to further leverage his iconic name along with his new artwork. Largest selection of Ed Hardy T-Shirts and Ed Hardy here.
ed hardy sale October 23rd, 2009 01:09:02 AM
Add Commment