Gifts for dogs, cats

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 15, 2003 by Brandy Nance Capital-Journal

PURCHASES FOR PETS

ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE SHEPHERD

By Brandy Nance

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Children aren't the only ones getting Christmas gifts under the tree this year.

Fido and Fluffy are getting gifts, too, as more and more pet owners flock into pet stores to buy the hot holiday items. From Christmas-themed rawhide bones to jingle bell collars, local pet stores have it all.

Petsmart, 2020 S.W. Westport Drive, has a variety of Christmas- themed gifts for pets, said Lisa Hader, merchandise manager. Petsmart has seen an increase in sales of sweaters and a variety of items, such as holiday chew toys and rawhide chews, pet stockings and holiday stuffed animals.

Petsmart carries items such as a line of cat toy ornaments filled with catnip especially for the lower branches of the tree --- ornaments the cat can be allowed to play with. It carries a variety of collars and stocking stuffers especially for the fluffy friends.

Pets can get their photo taken with Santa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday at Petsmart. Photos can be purchased for $9.95.

PetLand, 2139 S.W. Fairlawn Plaza, also has lots of holiday items for pets.

"We sell everything in the pet industry," said Amber Buchanan, manager of PetLand. "We have lots of Christmas sweaters, toys, collars, reindeer ears, stockings with cat and dog treats in them."

Petland's items are selling well as the holidays draw closer, Buchanan said. Christmas puppies sell well at Petland, but Buchanan cautions on buying puppies during the holidays.

"We don't encourage people to buy pets during the most stressful time of the year," she said.

The CAT Association of Topeka, 1719 S.W. Gage, offers a variety of items for the holidays, some of which are made by the Heart of Jackson Humane Society in Holton.

CAT carries catnip mice in holiday prints, Christmas bandanas that fit over collars, Christmas stockings printed with fish for cats and bones for dogs.

It carries a variety of items, such as pet beds, brushes, grooming aids and treats that can be purchased for holidays gifts for pets, said Mary Tonar, retail manager.

CAT's most popular items are catnip mice. They sell for $2.49 and are made by Heart of Jackson Humane Society.

"We sell hundreds of those," Tonar said. "The catnip is really fresh, and they come in special fabrics during the holidays. They sell well all year long."

Brandy Nance can be reached at (785) 295-1209 or brandy.nance@cjonline.com.