Okay, here we go. This will be the penultimate Amazon Christmas shopping list. It’s about pets and other animals.<\/p>\n
And this one’s not strictly Amazon. If you or anybody on your gift list is looking for information on raising chickens, goats, rabbits, or any farm animals the place to go is the Backwoods Home Book Store<\/a>. You’ll find livestock books under multiple categories, including Animals & Pets, Food Production, and Self-Sufficiency.<\/p>\n I have NFI in BHM Book Store sales (except for two books I wrote). But without BHM, this blog wouldn’t exist. They’re good people.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n Now on to Amazon …<\/p>\n 1. If your dog (or cat, for that matter) gets out much, especially at night, a Dog-E-Glow collar or leash<\/a> is the ultimate in both coolness<\/a> and safety. If that doesn’t suit your pet’s fashion-consciousness, there are lots of other lighted collars and gear to choose from<\/a><\/p>\n 2. And when you and Fido are not<\/i> getting out on these dark winter nights? Ava and I highly recommend a Chuckit! Indoor Launcher<\/a>, guaranteed to spare your walls, furniture, and windows while keeping your most fetching furfriends entertained for hours.<\/p>\n 3. Kongs are also a great way to provide entertainment and snacks at the same time. Just stuff ’em with kibble, popcorn, Milk Bones or whatever (maybe add a little peanut butter or melted cheese for “glue”) and your pooch will spend happy hours “working” to extract the contents. Kongs come in multiple colors, sizes, and strengths, including large<\/a>, small or puppy-sized<\/a>, and Xtreme<\/a> (for the power-chewer in your life).<\/p>\n 4. Also for the power-dog in your family, the Bamboo Combat Bone Tugger<\/a> is the toughest tug toy ever. I know. You guys have given them to me for Christmasses past. And as long as you never<\/i> let Spike go off in a corner and just chew on it (that is, you use it only for tug-o-war then put it safely away), it really is indestructible. Back when he was a young tough, Robbie could have told you that personally.<\/p>\n 5. Let us not forget our kitty friends. For the bored feline, Amazon has a variety of interactive cat toys<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. And for the cat who prefers boredom, but who would rather exercise it in more than one position or place, cat trees and condos<\/a> are quite the thing.<\/p>\n 7. While not exactly a glamor gift, Amazon also carries a selection of pet medicines<\/a> (and other vaguely health-related items) for dogs, cats, and Other.<\/p>\n 8. And don’t forget pet coats to keep your friend warm and dry<\/a>. Some of them will also keep your critter insufferably cute<\/a>, as well. I prefer the more functional ones. Last year the dogs and I were gifted with this camo raincoat with a warm removable liner<\/a>, and boy has it been great (Robbie’s old bones really appreciated it today, when we had our first snow.)<\/p>\n 9. Finally, Amazon has discounts on pet foods (including Purina<\/a> and Science Diet<\/a>) and special deals on supplies for all manner of pets, organized by type of critter<\/a>. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, bunnies, reptiles, and amphibians. They’re not prejudiced.<\/p>\n For my last Christmas shopping column, I’ll return to one of the themes we started with: gifts and other goodies for preparedness.<\/p>\n Thank you all for using my Amazon links. You gave me a great November (second biggest Amazon month, ever; topped only by last<\/i> November) and December is off to a fantastic start.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n If you missed them, here are the earlier Amazon shopping lists:<\/p>\n VI. Cyber Monday Week Deals<\/a><\/b> in electronics and related things (some of which are going on until the end of the year).<\/p>\n V. Tools and home improvement<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n IV. Gunstuff!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n III. Maple bacon stuff!<\/a><\/b> (Lots of good stocking stuffers.)<\/p>\n