Gift Certificates are always appreciated

• Other Ideas
• Make your own ID tags and purchase a Microchip for a beloved pet
• Create Gift Baskets for a Dog or a Cat lover
• Make your own treats and toys
• Help Support a local Charity in the name of a Pet Lover
• Dedicate resources, supplies, or time to the Pets of the Homeless or Elderly

A Gift Certificate from Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital

• Show you care about the Person AND the Pet with the gift of Top Rate Veterinary Care
• A Chase Farm Veterinary Gift Certificate can be given in Any Amount
• Our Gift Certificates can be used for Any Service or Product we provide or carry
• These thoughtful gifts never expire, can be used at any time, and an owner with the security that their pet is getting THE BEST in care and products

 

(Tag photo Courtesy Martha Stewart Website)

Customized ID tag with a Home Again Microchip

Pair the fabulous nametag with a Home Again Microchip for a gift that says you care about a pet's safety

A pet microchip creates a forever bond between a person and the pet they love. Together with your Veterinarian and the HomeAgain pet recovery system you'll give that pet the best chance of coming back home to it's beloved human! Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital can microchip a pet for only $54. It is fast, easy, doesn't hurt at all, and provides an owner with the knowledge that their pet can be found if disaster or mishap strikes. (www.HomeAgain.com)

• Martha Stewart provides free downloadable templates to use. Pair that with easy-to-find materials and you can create a customized ID tag for your pet.
• Tools and Materials:
  • Shrinky Dinks printable plastic sheets
  • Regular or decorative-edge scissors
  • Hole punch
  • Pet ID tag template
• Instructions:
  1. Download Pet ID tag template to your computer's desktop: (ttp://www.marthastewart.com/264719/pet-id-tag)
  2. Open the file and type the pet's name and your phone number.
  3. Print tags on a Shrinky Dinks printable plastic sheet.
  4. Cut out with regular or decorative-edge scissors and punch a hole where indicated.
  5. Bake according to package instructions; let cool.
  6. Seal both sides with matte clear-coat spray before attaching to collar.

• Humane Society and Shelter Southcoast serves the communities in and around South Coast Massachusetts and is located at 33 Ventura Drive, Dartmouth MA 02747: Phone (508) 995-6661 http://hsssc.org/
• The Humane Society has truly Adorable Pet Products (collars, leashes, bowls, decorative items) that cost less than those purchased from retail stores, and whose profits benefit a wonderful support system in our community
• Purchase a walkway brick with the name of a friend of an Animal or the Pet's name
• The Humane Society has a Fabulous Grooming Salon! Give a Gift Certificate for a Mani-Pedi or any spa service

Put together a really fun basket filled with things that both your cat lover and their car will love!

• Choose an inspiring or fun book. We love the book Dewey by Vikki Myron: DEWEY "is the heartwarming, true story of an abandoned kitten who went on to live an extraordinary life, inspiring a struggling single mother, transforming a sleepy library and the inhabitants of its depressed Iowa farm town, and ultimately capturing the hearts of animal lovers around the world" (courtesy Dewy.com)
• Add some easy to make toys for the kitty (see below for an easy craft project!)
• Make little baggies of catnip (or purchase some from CFVH with funds going to the Humane Society)!
• Add a little natural "kitty grass" - you can find this at many pet stores

How to make a cat toy

Play Cat & Mouse or make a homemade catnip Fish toy! Playing with your cat is not only fun for you, but also great exercise for your frisky whiskered friend. These felt mouse toys are totally simple to make and super fun for your cat to toss around. The bells and catnip inside make them very appealing to your playful kitty. ((((((EDIT......)))))))

You will need these supplies to create this mouse-shaped cat toy:

• 1 Piece each of grey, pink, white and black craft felt
• 6” White satin ribbon
• Polyester stuffing
• Dried catnip (optional)
• Plastic funnel
• 3 Small metal craft bells (optional)
• Cardstock, wooden dowel
• Marking pen, straight pins, scissors
• Ruler, sewing machine, thread

Step one:

Create your pattern pieces. First, create the shape for the bottom piece. It is shaped, as shown, like half of a seed, and should be approximately 3” long. It will be cut on the fold. To create the body shape, the bottom needs to measure the outside curve of the bottom (marked by the grey dotted line). In this case, it is approximately 3.5” with a very small seam allowance.

Step two:

Using your pattern pieces, trace and cut out the body x 2 and bottom x 1 on the fold. Also cut out circles for the ears x 2, eyes x 2, pupils x 2 and triangles x 2 for the nose.

Step three:

Prepare your body pieces by stitching on the eyes and ears. Stitch the tail to the base. To assemble, sew wrong sides (body) together around the top curve. Ease in the bottom and pin in place. Stitch, leaving a 1 ½” opening for stuffing. Using a wooden dowel and small pieces of stuffing, stuff the mouse. When approximately ½ full, add 2-3 bells and a tablespoon of dried catnip, using a funnel. Continue stuffing the mouse until it is firm. Stitch the opening closed.

Step four:

Clip any loose threads and heat seal the end of your ribbon tail by running it through the flame of a lighter (to melt the end to prevent fraying).

Your cat is sure to spend hours playing with his new mouse toy. Now that you have the basics, you can experiment making many different shapes and sizes of felt cat toys.

 

 

Create a gift box with treats for a dog lover and their faithful friend!

• Choose an inspiring or fun book. For a Great read try "Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family—and a Whole Town—About Hope and Happy Endings" by Janet Elder
• Add some delicious, and easy to make, homemade Grain Free Dog Cookies (see recipe below
• Add a nice brush, some shampoo or bath wipes, and a bow for the dog's collar

Recipe for Homemade Grain Free Dog Cookies - Liver and Potato (Courtesy DogTreatKitchen.com)

Grain free dog treats are not just for dogs with dog food allergies. And even though liver dog treats are often associated with dog training, you can make this recipe any time, and for almost any dog. Playing in Grains is More Fun than Eating Them!

Ingredients:

1 lb. liver; 1 egg; 2 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt); 1 1/4 cup potato flakes; beef or chicken broth

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F
2. Cut liver in to 1" pieces. The size does not need to be accurate since you will be pureeing it. However, the smaller size helps aid the process.
3. Place ingredients, liver through potato flakes, into a food processor.
4. Pulse ingredients.
5. Be ready to add the broth as needed to make the mixture spreadable into the pan. The consistency will be very thick.
6. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan.
7. Bake for 25 minutes.
8. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
9. Use a knife to loosen, then invert pan and empty onto a wire rack.
10. Let it cool completely before cutting.

Storage: Since these dog treats use liver, they will not last as long as other treats. I would recommend no longer than 3 days in a dog treat jar, 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator and 2 months in the freezer.

 

Honor a pet lover with a gift that will benefit the pet of someone in need

The homeless and often the elderly need assistance with caring for a beloved pet. The pet offers comfort and love during difficult and lonely times.

• Give food, bedding, litter to your local homeless shelter, Counsel on Aging, or food bank to help the pet of a homeless owner or elderly neighbor.
• Consider making a Donation in the Name of a Friend or Pet. One great National group can be found at Pets Of The Homeless.Com: Feeding Pets of the Homeless also known as Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides pet food and veterinary care to the homeless and less fortunate in local communities across the United States and Canada.

Dartmouth Council on Aging

628 Dartmouth St.
Dartmouth, MA 02748
(508) 999-4717

Services Provided: Boxes of food to Dartmouth Residents only.

Donations Accepted: Food Donations

Hours for Donations: Mon-Fri 9:00 am-3:00 pm

In need of assistance? Call ahead, Mon-Fri 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Grace Episcopal Church

133 School St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 993-0547

Services Provided: Food assistance

Donations Accepted: Food donations:

Donation Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:00 pm

In need of assistance? Photo ID & MassHealth card

Pantry Hours: Mondays & Fridays 9:30am-10:30am once a month

See a list of Southcoast Food Pantry locations here: www.southcoasthappenings.com/Food_Pantries.html