The Southwest Voice

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 I am in the fortunate position of occasionally having the opportunity to try out some of the specialty pet products in the marketplace. Over the last several months I’ve found a few items that I think are so terrific I’d like to make sure you know about them, too.

• Yummy Chummies – Made with real Alaskan Salmon (and not that farm-raised stuff), Yummy Chummies are an incredible dog treat.  I’ve always wondered why the dog treat companies didn’t do more with fish-flavored treats, since salmon night is the one time you can count on the cats and me running for the dinner table.  Coming in both soft and crunchy versions, and flavored as well as “natural,” they are bite-sized bits of goodness.  Your dog will wonder why he had to go so long without them!  Primarily available online.

• Chrome Bones Collars – There are a lot of frou-frou collars out there, but most of them are made for the itty-bitty dog set.  Chrome Bones has collars that are fashionable and fit both the itty-bittys and the big dogs of the world.  Made of high-quality leather, they come in a variety of styles, from subtle to WOW!  Sure, they’re a little pricey, but it’s not like you have to send us to college.  And the big-screen TV is always right where you left it when you come home at night, isn’t it? Splurge a little. Available online (and at a couple of select boutiques in town).

• Kahuna Dog Toy – If you’re one of those dogs who have a penchant for destroying every toy you’ve ever met, then you need to meet Kahuna.  Made of heavy-duty materials and available in two sizes, these are the toughest soft toys I’ve found in the marketplace.  They’re shaped like gingerbread men and come in red or blue tropical designs. What’s not to love?  Bamboo, the manufacturer of the Kahuna, even offers a “Battle-Tested” guarantee that these guys will outlast other soft-toys currently in the marketplace, or they’ll replace it for free.  On a side note, they are aerodynamically designed for great indoor throwing (not that Kahuna endorses this, but let’s just say I have a little experience in this area).  The Kahuna is one of the few toys I own that still has a squeaker and all of its original stuffing more than four weeks after its original purchase.  Available online and in select pet stores.

• For those of you looking to spoil you cat, look no further than Grandma Lucy’s freeze-dried tuna treats.  These delectable treats are made of USDA Yellow Fin and Ahi tuna filets, and nothing more.   The freeze-drying process might make it seem like you’re not getting much for your money, but you’d be wrong on that count.  Cats go crazy for these bits of goodness, and you can easily re-hydrate them with a bit of warm water for older cats.  These are one of the few treats that all of the cats in the house seemed to agree on.  And much like salmon night, there frequently seemed to be a little dog conveniently in the area whenever the jar was open.  Available online.

• Kitty Hooch is a relatively new player in the catnip toy market, but if taking their time is what produced this superior catnip, I’m glad they waited.  You know you’re dealing with high-quality catnip when the cats are on the table, chewing on the unopened package that was holding the Kitty Hooch toys.  My biggest recommendation for this product line?  If you have multiple cats, buy multiple toys.  The cats in my house actually had a couple of scuffles trying to claim ownership of the single mouse that arrived in the mail…although one of them did make peace with snorting the padded envelope until it was her turn to play.  Available online.

So, if you’re in the mood to get a little something for one of your four-footed kids, take a peek at a few of these items and see if something catches your fancy.

Bow-wow for now,

Daphne