2018 gift guide: Presents that give back for pets and pet parents

Nov 23 2018, 5:56 am

Pet parents love their four-legged friends, and heap on those holiday presents.

This year, get the pets and pet lovers on your list great gifts that also give back. All of these gift list items pay it forward to animal charities, meaning it’s not just your four-legged friend that gets something special this Christmas.

Personalized pet socks

Custom socks from DivvyUp

Upload your favourite photo of your pet and — BAM — get them on a pair of socks. Custom works from DivvyUp start at $24.

Benefit: For each pair bought, DivvyUp donates a pair of socks to a homeless shelter.

K9 SportSack 

K9 SportSack

The #1 dog carrier on the market, the K9 SportSack (from $79) has the functionality that allows you to travel easily with Fido, with the “just-stepped-out-of-a-catalog” look. Has extra pockets for your bus pass, wallet and keys too.

Benefit: Portion of proceeds benefits US animal charities through its No Dog Left Behind Promise.

LEASH clothes 

LEASH Saving Lives apparel.

In tank tops, t-shirts and sweatshirts, this is the perfect clothing for the pet lover on your list. Slogans include “Dog Mom AF” and “Eat More Plants, Pet More Dogs.” From $18. Purchase at LEASH Loft & Spa in Coquitlam (40-2710 Barnet Hwy) and shipping is available.

Benefit: All proceeds benefit Vancouver-based LEASH Saving Lives.

Dog advent calendar

Dog Treat Advent Calendar/Falvai Creative.

Get your four-legged kiddos in on the Christmas fun with this Christmas dog treat advent calendar ($39.95). Open the doors to find three treat flavours: organic grass-fed beef, wild Pacific salmon and natural peanut butter.

Benefit: $10 of every calendar benefits Paws for Hope Animal Foundation when you write ‘Paws for Hope’ in the notes to seller field.

Personalized flannel bandanas

Monogrammed bandanas from Danes and Divas

Fringe: So hot right now! These custom monogrammed flannel fringe bandanas from Danes and Divas ($42) are the perfect cozy and warm addition to your pup’s winter wardrobe. Try buffalo plaid with gold monogramming for some extra holiday pizazz.

Benefit: Proudly supporting LAPS and RAPS shelters

Bow-wow! Bow ties for Fido

Detachable bow tie from Danes and Divas.

Give Fido the black tie treatment with a detachable bow tie from Danes and Divas (from $17). Their range of preppy bow ties attach to any size collar, and will make Fido the life of the party.

Benefit: A portion of proceeds to LAPS and RAPS shelters

Personalized pet presents

Make Vancouver personalized pet pillows (Ann Luu)

Get personal with the pet lover on your list with a customized mug or pet pillows from Make Vancouver. Not feeling the legwork? Pick up an I LOVE ALL THE DOGS or I LOVE ALL THE CATS T-shirt or tote.

Benefit: 25% of proceeds to the BC SPCA.

Goodboy Collective ceramic dog dishes

Goodboy Collective dog dishes.

Handmade in Vancouver, these one of a kind ceramic bowls are handmade and unique and totally fetching.

Benefit: 10% to Thank Dog I Am Out Rescue

SPUD pet food delivery 

SPUD pet food delivery.

Let your favourite pet owner skip annoying trips to the pet store — and lugging giant bags of food and litter — with delivery service from SPUD. The service has an array of foods for cats and dogs, plus care items like litter and toys, and even poop bags. Use code CRVAN-MATDAH for $20 off your first order.

Benefits: SPUD supports Vancouver-based dog rescue LEASH Animal Welfare Society.

Pet-friendly house cleaning

Courtesy AspenClean

Wet winter & pets = messy house. AspenClean (from $150) are a pet-friendly house cleaning company that only use non-toxic, organic products. They’ll even fill up Fido’s water dish. 

Benefit: Partial proceeds of cleaning services and products benefits the BC SPCA.

Pet Pail

My Pet Pail.

Travel with fido often? The My Pet Pail ($59) keeps all of doggy’s must-haves in one place, with built-in storage, bowls, water bottles, plus poop bags and an extra leash and collar.

Benefit: $5 from every sale goes to Pet Rescue Worldwide Foundation to help pet disaster relief.

Yummy pet treats

Courtesy Rens Pets.

Make it Christmas every day for your dog with these made-in-Canada, 100% beef liver treats. Great for training Fido.

Benefit: Proceeds to Citadel Canine Society, who train shelter dogs to be therapy animals for veterans and first responders

Doggy daycare and boarding

Jet Pet Resort, Olympic Village.

Because your dog needs a holiday vacay too. Give the pup on your list the gift of playtime, exercise and socialization this holiday season with a gift card for play days at the 7,000-square-foot Jet Pet Resort. Bonus: It’s offering free daycare on Saturdays when you make a donation to BC Chihuahua Rescue.

Benefit: Partial proceeds to BC Chihuahua Rescue.

Cozy cabin sweaters 

Cozy cabin sweater from RC Pets.

For the ultimate Canadian doggo on your list, this cozy cabin dog sweater from RC Pets ($35) will make for a Merry Christmas indeed.

Benefits: 100% of the proceeds from sweaters purchased through the BC SPCA online store benefits the animal welfare agency.

Salmon treats from FISH

Made from sustainable wild B.C. salmon, these hand-made doggie treats from Fresh Ideas Start Here will please even the most finicky pet. Rich in Omega 3s, so great for your pup or kitty’s coat too. Available in both store locations (Kits and Burnaby)

Benefits: Part proceeds to SAINTS Sanctuary in Mission.

Subscription box of kitty goodies 

Meowbox/Instagram.

The gift that keeps on giving. Vancouver-based Meowbox will send 5-7 unique toys and goodies for cats to your house every month through its handy subscription service ($29.95, free shipping).

Benefit: For every Meowbox sold, the company donates a can of cat food to a shelter through its One Box Can program.

Go Fetch dog babysitting and boarding

Vancouver listings on the GoFetch website.

Go Fetch is like the Airbnb of dog sitting, allowing pet owners to connect through its app to trusted and fully insured pet care providers in your area. Its newly-launched Go Fetch Health program rivals big-brand pet insurance.

Benefit: $5 from every boarding or Health program booked using the code DailyHive18 will go to the BC SPCA. Use the code DailyHive18 for 10% off all services and a free month of Go Fetch Health.

Happy Spritz towelettes

Sweet Dreams Darling (Happy Spritz)

Bye bye wet dog smell. These 100% biodegradable essential-oil towelettes from Happy Spritz are purr-fect for the animal lover on your list. Their Sweet Dreams Darling formulation with lavender can also be used on pets to help calm and clean their fur.

Benefits: Part proceeds to SAINTS Sanctuary in Mission.

Plus pet stuffies 

Chance the dog (PetSmart).

Dog toy or kid toy? You choose. Part of PetSmart’s Philanthropic Collection, the holiday plushies Chance, Lucky, Hope and Dream are back. With squeakers inside, naturally. A steal at $5 each.  Have a harder-to-buy-for pet lover, you can also get a Chance, Lucky & Friends PetSmart gift card, with 10% of value supporting charity.

Benefit: 10% of sales to PetSmart Charities of Canada.

Sleepypod Air carrier 

The Sleepypod Air in Robin’s Egg Blue.

Hailed as the “Rolls Royce” of pet carriers, the Sleepypod Air ($169) conforms to TSA standards so you can bring your pet along on all your holiday plane, train and automobile journeys. Features a trolley pocket to secure the carrier to other rolling luggage items.

Benefit: The sale of select carriers benefit breast cancer research.

Darcy MathesonDarcy Matheson

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