With all the expense of Christmas, you might not have enough money to buy your dog a gift such as a handsome designer collar. So here’s a good idea – make your own!
NOAH (the National Office of Animal Health) teamed up with craft expert and animal lover Amy Fleuriot to create a range of instructions for you to make decorative gifts for your pets – including a party collar for dogs. This follows some research that showed 76% of pet owners celebrating a special gift did so with a gift.
Templates and instructions are free to download from www.pethealthinfo.org.uk. (The site also has lots of free advice from vets on small animal health - their ‘I heart my pet’ campaign was created as a way of encouraging owners to seek expert advice on helping to keep their pets healthy).
Clear, step-by-step instructions are provided for every gift, complete with photos, making it a straightforward and something to do with your kids in the run up to Christmas. All the materials are easy to obtain and low-cost - ribbons, buttons, bells, coloured felt and Velcro.
As well as the dog collar, there’s a passport holder, a food bowl and an Easter toy – in case you’re too busy in the Christmas season. Some of the designs are suitable for cats and rabbits.
Twitter via @IHeartMyPetUK
