Gifts for your pet

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is traditionally a time for abusing animals. Just ask Santa's reindeer, or any of the thousands of cats and dogs that spend December in the living room, dressed up like Christmas trees. But that's no excuse to screw over your pet with another half-assed holiday gift. Tying a ribbon on a dime bag of catnip was fine for last year, but this go-round try to think more creatively. Your pet will appreciate something functional, healthy, and most important, species specific.

Your pet iguana or monitor lizard, for example, will probably be in mating season around this time of year, a very frustrating situation for everyone. We already know inflatable sex-dolls make great presents for coworkers, so why not get one for your reptile? Sue Solomon, a member of the Northern California Herpetological Society and the caretaker of about 100 snakes, lizards, rodents, and cats, recommends the IgMate – a heavy-duty, cloth-covered iguana sex toy into which you insert a microwavable heat pack. The IgMate even has a flap of fake neck skin your lizard can grab between its teeth to simulate blazing-hot, cold-blooded action. IgMates and MonitorMates can be purchased online from Elli, the woman who invented them, for about $25 (www.iggear.com).

Michaela Blanchard, of the Bay Area Rat and Mouse Club of America, suggests stringing popcorn on cotton thread and hanging it across the cage. "Strings of popcorn are not only delicious but very entertaining," Blanchard explains. Sure, but pet rodents like them almost as much as we do. After fattening your mouse up with popcorn, you might want to consider the ASPCA-sanctioned Wodent Wheel – a plastic, semi-enclosed exercise wheel that's much safer and more versatile than its wire counterparts. The Wodent Wheel can be purchased for about $20 at the Evergreen Pet Center (408-274-2555) or Butchie's Pet Supply (408-374-9722), both in San Jose, or via the company's Web site at www.transoniq.com.

Dog owners should stop by Happy Pet, the only organic canine bakery in San Francisco (709 Taraval, 415-566-2952). Co-owner Sandra Estrada suggests the gold-boxed Canine Confections ($6-$10) for the holiday season, but there are many other choices, including organic sweet potato bars and the mouth-watering Pup-Tart – a human-grade pastry shell stuffed with simmered barley. The store hand-cuts about 200 treats into heart shapes every day and packages them in attractive candy boxes. Rodent and other small-animal treats are also available.

Choices for other animals abound. A rabbit will appreciate an edible basket or a package of wooden "cookies" from the Busy Bunny company in San Bruno (650-872-2920, www.busybunny.com), or even an empty toilet paper roll stuffed with hay. Aquatic turtles and amphibians will be happy with a floating raft from Zoo Med Laboratories in San Luis Obispo (www.zoomed.com), and bird owners can find bird-safe toys and personalized birdie holiday stockings at one of the adoption fairs organized by Mickaboo Cockatiel Rescue (check www.mickaboo.org for dates and locations).

Whatever you decide to do, always remember that the greatest gifts of all are love and affection. And food.

Dan Engber