6:15 PM This is how we Christmas

Christmas Eve is a big foodie deal in my family.  Thanksgiving is more of a formal food affair and we do have long back and forths over what food we're going to fight for to keep in the repertoire.  On Christmas Eve though, we experiment.  I can't remember exactly when we decided to do appetizers for the Christmas Eve gathering, but what I do remember is Mom being tired of cooking two large meals right after the other.  I think I was still in Junior High, or maybe I had just entered High School, but for me that translated into "more cheese balls and cookies!"  So naturally I was all for it.

These days our family gathering is much smaller than it used to be due to other parts of the family doing their own thing for the holiday.  But we still gather at one of the family homes to eat together and open presents.  Below is our Christmas table with all of our dishes.  Though apparently we were missing Mom's truffles.  For shame!

Mom is the sweets queen.  She always brings her traditional Christmas cookies and gingerbread men plus whatever other cookies or truffles she feels like throwing together.  It's not Christmas without those Christmas tree and candy cane sugar cookies.  I remember sitting around our kitchen table as a girl decorating those.  the trees have much less of those silver beebee looking candies on them now that I'm not decorating anymore.  I think our dental plans are thankful for that.

Mom also always brings the beef.  Our thinly sliced Burgandy Beef favorite was a tad overcooked this year, but it was still just as good as always.  I'm one of those people who prefers my beef on the medium to medium rare side.  I don't care what Mom said about the dish being overcooked.  I still took a baggy home with me to eat for the rest of this week.  Also seen here is the horseradish sauce that is to accompany the beef as well as my sister's shrimp dip and some cheezy things and bacon wrapped sausage appetizers.

Here we have the Mushroom plate.  

First up is my Mom's stuffed mushroom recipe and her rye bread snacks, which also have a small amount of mushroom in them.  Both of these items have been on the Christmas menu since we started doing this appetizer style meal years ago.  They're one of those items that we all insist on reprising every year.  This year I was supposed to make the stuffed mushrooms, but Mom's recipe ended up being put together by my Brother-in-Law since the makings of that recipe were one of several which were left at my house accidentally.  He did a great job with them considering we realized I got the wrong kind of Parmesan.  The greener of the stuffed mushrooms are Walnut and Spinach Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms from Foods for Long Life.  That recipe was a new one for me.  I've always wanted to add in a raw vegan option for us to try out.  I finally made it this year.  Except, I didn't have time to dehydrate the mushrooms, so they ended up getting lightly baked anyways.  They were a hit in any case, but I sure would like to try them out as they were made to be eaten sometime.  The little white bread appetizers are my sister's mushroom canapés.  If I remember correctly there's mushroom, mayo, and fried onions mixed together on that bread.  

On this next plate we have the Pumpkin Pie Wontons from food.com and Pear & Brie Tart from Beantown Prepster.

Those Pumpkin Pie Wontons were also made by my Brother-in-Law as yet another pre-prepped dish forgotten at my place, but it as it turned out, his were better than mine!  I actually made the Pear & Brie Tart, which was just Divine!  That recipe was a first for me and I was a little nervous about how it was going to work since I've never really worked with phyllo dough much, but it was very easy to put together and it tasted wonderful!  If you click on the link, there is mention of Philly Cream Cheese for the herbed cheese.  I used Boursin cheese because I never saw any such garlic herb Philly Cream Cheese.  But Boursin cheese is made like Neufchatel, which is fancy cream cheese, so it's the same thing.

I had one other item that didn't make it out to the table setting this year.  My Sweet Potato version of Perfect Parsnips from the Good Mood Food Blog.  These were another example of a pre-prepped food that was left at home, so we hurridly tried to replace them.  Unfortunately, I didn't put enough oil on them during the baking process, so they were too flour-ey.  Then after I added the oil, the cheese started over cooking, so the potatoes didn't ever crisp up.  But they tasted ok mushy, so we all snacked on them as we were cooking everything else.  By the time we were ready to put the last food on the table there wasn't even enough of the potatoes to put out.

For Christmas gifts, the adults in the family draw names for gift giving.  But we go all out for the kids.  Since my niece is the only girl child in the family, I've been making her fun costumes or purses or accessories every year for a while now.  I really enjoy it.  This year she asked for Renaissance Faire garb so she can be in costume for Scarborough Faire.  Her little brother also asked for garb as well, but he's still little enough that I think he forgot and would really rather have toys when it comes down to it.  I still made him garb.

Here they are in their new Rennie fashions:

I made my niece's dress from my tried and true Tudor Tailor patterning book.  This is actually the pattern I've used for most of my own garb.  It's simple and easy and can be worn under more embellished looks or alone.  I made it a little big so she has room to grow.  It laces on the sides and in the back and the shoulder straps are  loosely stitched so they can be adjusted as well.  The skirt is a separate piece for mixing and matching as well as full adjustment.

My nephew got a basic Tudor shirt with a collar and basic straight legged pants.  There's going to be a doublet later to fancy it up a bit.  I have all kinds of great fabric to dress him in, but since this was the first thing I made for him, I wanted to make sure I had basics first.  He should be able to grow in that shirt and the pant legs have several inches of hem to give.  Plus if he stays thin he can wear the pants as highwaters and wear cool socks with them.

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and have a Happy and Save New Year!

11:12 AM Looking for a new furry family member? How to be prepared. Pt 3 - Buying from a Breeder

It's been a while since my last installment of this series.  I've been thinking a lot about how I can write this piece responsibly.  And honestly, it's been a little hard.  On the one hand, I believe very firmly in a person's right to choose a path they want to take, so I am not going to just omit this post as I would kind of like to do. On the other hand, I would never ever recommend that someone buy a puppy or kitten, and the more I learn about the small animal business, I'm actually reluctant to recommend purchasing a small animal from a store as well.

The reality is that none of the pets sold in a store come from responsible breeders.  There are a very small hand full of stores who work with small mom and pop breeding operations, but they are rare.  Actually, the pet you purchase is more likely to have been bred in a large scale operation and have been warehoused inhumanely at least once.  And if an animal is known to have been inhumanely housed at least once, it is not an overreaction to assume it may have been inhumanely housed for most of its life or that it may have serious health problems.  Many of us thought this only happened with puppy and kitten mills, but the raid of a North Texas exotic animal warehouse in 2009 showed the rest of us the light.

Though all of this said, I cannot go all the way out on a limb and say that ALL breeders are irresponsible as PETA and other animal welfare groups believe.  I do believe that there are a handful of breeders out there who produce healthy, well cared for litters with all the veterinary care that should be given before sale.  While I hope that everyone will stop purchasing pets and only adopt so we can keep our pet population down, if you're bound and determined to purchase a "pure bred" from a breeder, these small, honest operations are the way to go.

By now I hope you have gone over the pros and cons of adoption vs. purchase and if you have still decided that you must purchase from a breeder, do not purchase unless you have done the following things:

• Visit the breeding facility.  Responsible breeders will allow you to see their facility and will allow you to see the mother of the litter.  If the father of the litter is on site, they will allow that also.  It is important for you to see the stock your pet comes from so you can anticipate any problems.  If the breeder will not allow this, walk away.  This should be an absolute 100% deal breaker.  But if you are allowed a visit, you should: 
• Look for a clean facility.  A dirty kennel or home where the puppies are raised could be a sign of neglect and possible ill health.  This is not to say that farmers who raise their puppies outside are neglectful of their litters.  The point is you need to look for how waste is disposed of and signs of being removed in a timely manner.  You don't have to expect the care takers to pick up after every stool, but if there is a large pile of excrement left unattended for what looks like more than a day, you could have problems.  Any sign of neglect of cleanliness and care should be a deal breaker.
• Discern the age and health of the parents.  It is cruel to allow animals to continue producing litters when they are past their prime.  Breeding into old age endangers their health and increases the risk of something going wrong. You are looking for a responsible breeder and thus someone who has the presence of mind to only breed when the adults are in good health and of a prime age.  This is the sign of someone who truly wants to do the right thing by their animals.  Signs of forcing older, less healthy animals into breeding should be a deal breaker.
• Watch the behavior of the parents.  Sometimes there are behavioral issues which are inherited.  This is not to say that all animals inherit their parents' behavior.  That's just not true.  But occasionally, they will.  I speak about this from experience.  I grew up with a beautiful Labrador Retriever who my mom described as "squirrely".  In layman's terms, he was afraid of a lot of things and that fear could sometimes manifest into undesirable behavior.  Apparently his mother also had the very same "squirrely" personality.  Actually, she was a bit worse.  Had my mother realized the behavior would be passed down, she would never have brought home our dog.  She would have chosen another breeder.  In addition, signs of aggression and fear in the parents could also point to neglect and mishandling.  Neglect and mishandling can also lead to large vet and training bills when you find out you can't handle the issues.  Though our dog was loved and adored and we worked with his issues, a family with little knowledge of these kinds of quirks may have grown frustrated and given him up.  The point here, is to make sure the pet you choose is with you for its whole life, so choose well.  
• Ask for references.  A good breeder will have happy customers, so it should not be a problem for them to have at least one or two of those happy customers vouch for them.  Many exclusive show breeders have no qualms asking you for your references, so do not feel as if you can't be proactive yourself and ask for theirs.
• Ask if you can attend a vet visit.  A good breeder will only offer healthy puppies and kittens.  They'll have begun administering their vaccinations and will have had them checked over by a vet in the process of getting those vaccinations.  If the breeder isn't comfortable with you attending the visit for the litter, offer to meet them at your vet for the single kitten/puppy to have a check-up.  If you are paying for a pet, you have the right to know if it is healthy.  Having a breeder balk at this isn't as much of a deal breaker as the refusal to allow a site visit, but gauge the reaction to your asking.  If they are appalled, you may want to find another breeder.  I would take an absolute refusal with no reason as a sign that they have something to hide.  If they are very forthcoming with the medical records and have a decent reason, use your own judgement.
• Ask what happens if the pet ends up being sickly.  If you get home and, for example, your puppy ends up with parvo.  What happens?  Are you refunded the money you paid?  Will the breeder pay for the vet care?  Will they demand the pet back?  These are all questions you should ask.  Returning the pet isn't always the best idea.  Especially if you begin to have second thoughts about the breeder.  The most important thing is getting the pet the proper care.  Sending it back may not be the avenue for proper care.

And after all of this pre-purchase preparation, you should still expect to take the pet to your own vet for a first check up with someone you trust, unless you really hit the gold mine and the breeder let you do that in the first place.

Purchasing a pet responsibly is not an impulse event.  It takes time and research.  It takes even more such time and research since you can't trust people anymore to do right by the pets they are selling.  And I have to say that makes me angry.  Even if I wasn't an animal rescuer, as a potential customer, it makes me angry that I could be sold a sick animal who could break me financially because a breeder was neglectful and a vendor was a liar about where the pet came from.  Make no mistake, even though large scale breeding operations who supply pets to pet stores are USDA licensed, they are not regulated very well at all.  The facility may receive warnings for issues, but it could be years before the USDA follows up on those issues.  In the mean time, hundreds of pets have been bred and sold.  Some states are putting forth new laws to regulate these breeders.  In Texas, we have the Texas Humane Legislation Network trying to get legislation passed for us.  Missouri was successful in passing their own legislation this year.

Here is a good FAQ from the Humane Society of the United States that addresses questions like "what states have puppy mill laws?"; "I bought a puppy and she got sick. What can I do?"; "Isn't it against the law to sell a sick puppy?"  The more you know about this issue, the better prepared you are for making your decision.

6:35 PM Looking for a new furry family member? How to be prepared. Pt 2 - Adoption

If you read Part 1 of this series, or any of my blog really, you know I am a big fan of adoption.  Growing up, my family raised both cattle dogs as well as AKC show dogs.  Now that I am an adult, I am very involved in animal rescue.  So I've seen both sides of the coin.  And as I got older and started talking with my Mom about Puppy Mills, she's shared with me some of the fraud she saw happen in the dog breeding world that she didn't think I needed to know as a child.  She's right, I wouldn't' have retained that knowledge as a child, but knowing as an adult has must made me even more fervent of a supporter of Adoption.


Now you've done your research and you've decided you want to adopt.  Wonderful!  Now what?

You can go to just about any Veterinarian clinic or Pet Store in town and find flier for pets up for adoption.  Or you may see a rescue set up in the parking lot or store operating an Adopt-a-Pet.  There is absolutely no shortage of animals to adopt.  You may find a shortage of puppies or kittens at some points of the year, but there are always a plethora of animals of just about any age to adopt at any time.  In fact, in some places, like the DFW Metroplex, the sheer number of rescues offering pets for adoption can be dizzying.  But there are plenty of fun and stress-free ways for you to go about finding your perfect pet, so don't let the number of available pets overwhelm you.

• Petfinder is a handy pet search website that allows you to choose what kind of pet you want to adopt and your location and then the program does a lot of the legwork for you.  If you know what kind of pet you are looking for, this service is a great tool to find all the available animals in your area, then all you need to do is call the rescues and set up an appointment to visit.  The search gets even easier if you have an idea of what sex or specific traits you want.  Once you find a pet you like, you can e-mail the rescue right there from the pet's profile page.  Most rescues use Petfinder to list their available pets.  And Petfinder continues to try making the search more accessable for potential adoptors.  There's an App for that.  Really.  Someone developed an iphone app for petfinder searches.  

• Adopt-A-Pet events are many rescues' bread and butter.  Some rescues have shelter facilities they adopt from as well, but many do not and the regular adopt-a-pet events are their sole source for adoptions.  Many rescues increase those events during the Holidays in anticipation of families wanting to adopt  for Christmas so it should be easy to find one in your area.  Just look for any Petsmart or other pet store which does not sell animals and you should find what you are looking for.  And since most rescues operate on sparse volunteer hours, you can bet that you will see pets at each event that are new and never make it to their website or Petfinder.  So if you don't find what you are looking for online, visiting in person may help you find what you are looking for.

• Contacting rescues directly is also a good idea to find what you are looking for.  E-mailing or calling rescues directly will get you the most up to minute information on their roster of pets and you don't have to wait for an event.  If the rescue doesn't have a facility and you do still have to wait for an event to meet the pet, at least you can get your name down as an interested party and you can ask what needs to be done so that the pet isn't adopted before you can meet it.  And sometimes adoption screening can be started over the phone saving you more time when you meet the potential new pet.  If you are at a loss as to who the rescues are in your area, go right back to Petfinder and search for rescues in your area.  If there are rescues in your area using Petfinder, they will pop up on the list with contact information.  And like I mentioned, most rescues use Petfinder as a listing service.

Once you have found a pet that you are interested in adopting, talk to the rescue.  Ask questions.  This pet is coming into your home as a family member, so don't be afraid to ask any and all questions you may have.  Good rescue volunteers wish to make a perfect match just as much as you do.  They are not in this for the money like breeders are.  When you ask questions, volunteers are able to make sure the pet you have chosen is a perfect fit for your home.  Here are some great questions you can ask when you are talking with a rescue:

• Is this pet ok with kids/cats/dogs?  If you have either of these family members in the question, this should be the first question you ask.  Sometimes the adoptable pet will not have been exposed to one or all of the above, but when they are, it is very helpful to know how they reacted.  And even if the potential pet hasn't been exposed, someone should know whether the pet has a risk of reacting adversely to any of those family members in the home.  A dog who can only focus on the flashy squirrel tail in the back yard may not be a good fit for a home with a flighty cat.  A pet of any kind who has food sharing issues may not be appropriate for a home with a small child, or another dog for that matter.

• I have a doggy door, do you allow indoor/outdoor adoptions?  I would say that this is the second question you should ask if you have a pet door or are planning to let your adopted cat go in and out.  There are rescues who will deny adoption based on indoor/outdoor homes unless you meet specific criteria.  I know this sounds harsh, but this is because many people lose their cats every day when they allow them outdoors to play.  Rescues want their pets to live the longest life possible and they don't want to risk a new family losing a cat they have adopted from them.  I suggest you ask this question sooner rather than later so you don't get attached to a pet and then are told at the end of the interview process that you are not approved.  Volunteers don't like telling you that anymore than you like hearing it, so it's best just to get it out of the way early.  But don't give up immediately.  Ask about cat fences.  Some of the rescues who have issues with allowing cats outdoors will approve homes with cat fences.  If you are planning on installing a cat fence, bring the literature with you to show the rescue you are serious about the cat's safety.  Research and honesty goes a long way with volunteers during your adoption interview.  

• Is this pet up to date with it's shots?  Some rescues guarantee all shots upon adoption.  Others only guarantee the minimum required for the city.  A great example of this is the Feline Leukemia vaccination for cats.  Some rescues simply do not have the resources to provide this vaccination.  It is important for you to know what shots have and have not been given.  If you plan to travel with or board your pet this is especially important.  Boarding facilities have differing requirements and they will require shot records to prove what vaccinations your pet has received.  Airlines will likewise require shot records.

• Is this pet spayed/neutered?  Most rescues will already guarantee that the pet is spayed or neutered upon adoption.  Some will allow you to take the pet home if it is too young for such surgery, some will not.  It is important that you know the status of your pet's alteration.  Having a surprise litter when you assumed the pet would be altered is no fun.  And part of the beauty of adopting a pet is that it has already been altered at no cost to you.  It is quite costly to foot the bill for a spay or neuter on your own.  In part 4 of this series, I'll discuss that price comparison further.

• Is this pet microchipped?  Just like certain vaccinations, some rescues do not have the resources to microchip their animals.  But it is such a wonderful bonus if they can.  I suggest that everyone think about getting their pet chipped whether the rescue provides it or not.  We are only human and pets are fast.  As a pet parent who has had a lightning fast cat fly out the door and not be seen for a week, I can say that chipping is one more avenue to ease worry.  Pets can slip their collars when they are out and if a rescuer or animal control officer, or even neighbor doesn't see a collar, a microchip is the only link you have to your lost pet.

• How do I register my microchip?  It is all well and good to adopt a pet with a chip, or to have your pet chipped yourself.  But if you don't register the chip under your name with the chips registry, you may as well have inserted a pebble under the pet's skin for all the good it will do you.  Pets with existing microchips are most often registered to the vet or to the rescue organization.  You need to register the animal under your name with your information.  And don't forget to renew that registration when it expires!

• What food has this pet been eating?  Many people don't realize this, but it is just as important to know this detail as it is to know the shot records of your new pet.  Changing a food cold turkey can cause all kinds of stomach upset.  That includes the dreaded diarrhea and the gas bombs of death!  No matter what your thoughts on food quality and price, always start your new pet on the same food they were eating in the rescue.  You can gradually change the food over time to whatever you want, provided they don't have special dietary needs with special food requirements.

• What Veterinarian can you recommend in my area?  If you don't already have a trusted family Vet, this can be a very important question.  Most rescues have a favorite vet, or even a number of favorite vets.  And if the rescues are using those vets for all of their veterinary needs, then you can be sure there is a continuity of care.  In addition, many rescues have a necessity to use lower cost Vets, so if your rescue has a favorite, you just may be getting the best Vet for the money in the area.

Think you're ready to adopt now?  I hope so!  So many pets need adoptive homes.  It is my hope that one day most people will adopt as well as spay and neuter their pets, so we can bring down this giant number in the pet population.  I can only hope that if we do that the population of pets available will be healthier and happier.  And healthy and happy pets make very good pets.

In Part 3 of this series I will discuss Breeders and what to look for when going about purchasing a puppy from a responsible breeder.

6:24 PM Looking for a new furry family member? How to be prepared. Pt 1 - Making the decision

The Holidays are a time for the celebration of personal culture via the practice of giving gifts.  Each year many homes hope to make their households brighter with the addition of a furry friend.  Whether the new family member is for a child or an adult; a surprise gift or a planned addition, it is important that potential new pet parents consider some questions before they start their search for the perfect furry friend.

The first question you must ask yourself is whether everyone in the household is on board for the new pet.
Giving pets as gifts is so fulfilling.  There's nothing like getting that surprise pet you've always wanted.  But it is also important that everyone in the household from Mom to Dad to the oldest and youngest sibling agrees that the new pet is a good idea.  Sadly, rescues take in gift pets on a regular basis because one or half of the household wanted that precious furry friend, but the others in the home weren't happy with the idea.  Soon resentment can set in and the pet is being sent away for one of a plethora of excuses.  Our rescues are already too full.  Please make sure everyone wants and will love that pet so you aren't the one sending your gift to live in a rescue.

The second question is whether you are going to purchase or adopt your new pet.
As a fervent rescue supporter, I have to say that I hope you choose to adopt.  I'll delve further into why below.  But as an American who is very proud of my right to choose, I do realize that not everyone wants to adopt.  Some people prefer purchasing a puppy or kitten from a breeder.  And because of that, I will also discuss the items to consider when a family wants to purchase a puppy or kitten.  I find it even more important that people who purchase their pets are informed of the pitfalls and expenses of buying without doing some research.

Adoption vs. Purchase
What is the difference between adopting and purchasing from a breeder?  There are vast differences.  When you adopt, you can always have the piece of mind that you have saved a life.  Even when you adopt from a no-kill shelter or rescue, you are assuring that some animal somewhere wasn't euthanized for crowd control in a city shelter.  How is that possible?  Well, when you adopt direct from a "kill" facility, you are tackling the problem directly by making room for one more soul.  But did you know that many rescues receive their adoptable animals from city shelters ready to euthanize?  Yes.  There are groups of people out there who walk city shelters to choose animals to save on a regular basis. There are also city shelters who post their scheduled euthanasia lists for rescues to come to their facility and take however many they have room for.  Sometimes, when transportation is available, animals from city shelters are even sent across the US to safety.  So you see, even when you are adopting from a no-kill rescue, you are still making room in a city shelter somewhere for another pet to live and find a forever home.  In part two of this series, I will offer some tips on where to look and what questions to ask a rescue when looking for an adoptive family member.

When you purchase from a pet store, you are more often than not paying for a manufactured pet.  There are always exceptions, but most of the stores who offer puppies for sale receive their stock from distributers.  Distributers purchase their stock from Puppy Mills.  These Puppy Mill breeders may very well be USDA approved, but they are not regulated very well and they are filthy operations.  It has been proven that Puppy Mill dogs are less healthy due to the breeding and raising conditions.  Recent claims have come to light that certain chain pet stores have knowingly sold sick puppies to the public.  And claims have been made that the AKC registration papers that come with those puppies are fraudulent.  Several states are beginning to enact legislation against Puppy Mill breeders due to the horrific scenes so familiar with raids on these kinds of operations.

The Today Show ran a brief informative story about why Puppy Mills are so disliked.  Some of these images are very sad, but you should see them if you plan to purchase a puppy.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

For a more frank video on the conditions of Puppy Mills, please watch the HSUS's video Puppy Mill Rescue in Tennessee.  The animals in this video were bred and produced puppies to sell through the newspaper or over the internet.  It is very possible you will be purchasing a pet bred in these conditions when you answer that Craigslist ad for either kittens or puppies.

And lastly, the most recognized pet store to have known Puppy Mill associations is Petland.  There are many other pet stores who sell in this same manner, but Petland is the largest chain known to purchase puppy mill animals at this time.  One of Petland's former employees discusses his issues with their practices in this interview.  Earlier this year Animal Planet produced an investigative report on Petland.  Below is a video precluding that broadcast.



It is true that you will likely adopt a puppy mill animal from a rescue anyway, but you can be assured that the rescue will be up front with you about the origins of the animal, and it will have received proper medical care before being put up for adoption.

Purchasing from a Breeder isn't a guarrantee that you'll be sold a healthy pet either.  There are responsible breeders out there who will never sell you a sick pet, but more often than not, the breeders you will have easy access to are not those responsible breeders.  I will discuss how to go about purchasing from a responsible breeder in Part 3 of this series.

Adoption vs. Free
You've seen advertisements for free puppies or kittens on Craigslist or you've seen someone giving them away out of the back of a truck in a parking lot.  But is free really free?  Not so fast.  In Part 4 of this series, I'll break down some of the costs of veterinary care and do a side by side cost comparison between Free and Adoption.

10:28 AM Holiday shopping for my pets

If you're like me and you love your pets like they are family, you are prone to spending quite a bit of your Christmas budget on the little guys before even realizing what you've done. This year I have made a pact to keep the costs down. At least I'm going to try really hard!

My first obstacle is getting a gift for my aging dog, Maizy.


Maizy is a 13 1/2 year old Catahoula Leopard Dog with arthritis. She is in great health, but her arthritic joints deteriorate a little each year. About a year and a half ago I purchased a very large orthopedic bed for her from Petsmart. She loves this bed because it is huge and she can sprawl out any which way she likes while still sharing the bed with whatever cat decides to bed down nearby. However, within a few months, she began to be uncomfortable on the bed because the foam was breaking down and sagging in the middle. That really doesn't offer much support. So I had decided I was going to just buck up and buy one of those high dollar support mattresses from Dr. Foster & Smith. And then I came across something different.

The Snoozzy OrthoAir Dog Bed.

Image courtesy of dogbedsandcrates.com

This bed looks like it meets all of my requirements and then some for a bed:

1. Supportive
2. Washable
3. Scratchproof

And as a bonus, it is easy to travel with as well as it is accident proof! Maizy has also begun to have little accidents in her sleep, so being accident proof is just about as fabulous as it gets for me. And even better, this bed is much cheaper than even the orthopedic bed I already bought her which is none of the above.

So now I know what Miss Maizy Loo is getting for Christmas. But what to get for the cats?

This idea comes via the Modern Cat website, which was then used to suggest cat gifts on Martha Stewart's website. Meet the Cat Eye Bed.

Image courtesy of dogbedsandcrates.com

I am constantly on the look out for new perches, scratching posts, and beds that the cats in my household will enjoy. They tend to cycle through each one whenever their mood strikes for a change. And since everyone of them will go after my furniture when not stimulated to scratch elsewhere, I am forever trying to keep up! This little bed looks like a lot of fun. And you know what? The price isn't bad either. Sure, it's not as cheap as the modulars I got from Target, but this will actually hold the body weight of one or more of my cats. And in general good scratching areas are always somewhere in the $60 range and above. So the function and price both are just right.

I see my Taquita Banana enjoying this bed most of all with Nabisco in at a close second.

The torti girls

And Roz enjoys scratching beneath her as opposed to scratching on a pillar. She would likely enjoy lounging on the top of the bed.

Sweet Rozaline

My other favored option for pet presents is Etsy. I've never shopped for homemade gifts before, but I've been told that there's some good quality crafts out there for both people and animals. And it sure would be nice to support someone directly as opposed to a corporation.