Best Local and U.S. Pet Gifts
By RyanJo Summers
Each year pet parents search for the best gifts to buy their pets, and for their pet-owning and pet-loving family. This year we have searched the local pet supply stores to bring you a list of the best gifts to give this year, and most items on this list are USA made. Here are some of our favorites:
Barker’s Anonymous, 401 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, 828-513-1131 offers Barker’s Box kits, a subscription of monthly curated boxes of treats, toys and chews. They offer training classes and Barkday Pawties at their store. And they sell around 24 brands of toys and accessories, about 14 brands of collars, leashes, and harnesses and over 50 brands of pet foods, treats, and supplements. Not all of these are USA made, but knowledgeable sales staff can certainly point someone to the best goodies for their pet.
Bone-a-Fide Pet Boutique, 118 Cherry Street, St A, Black Mountain, 828-669-0706, offers Montana, USA made West Paw, a durable line of items including toys, treat dispensers, and more. They encourage local artisan to bring in their handicrafts. One artist brings in wool sweaters repurposed as catnip toys. “Tug for Dogs’ are 100% cotton rope toys made from one piece of rope instead of multiple strands and made is Greenville SC. Zukes treats are made in Colorado. Farm Hound Treats have several US locations.
Pet Source, 1927 Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville, 828-698-6910 offers an array of super tough Kong brand toys, Jolly Balls, and dental bone chews all made in America. They carry a large variety of dog and cat foods, for every size and nutritional need, and each brand is from a US family-owned business. There are no mass-produced corporate brands. They also offer a self-serve doggie wash with walk-up steps, shampoo, towels, and blow dryers. Call for details if you see a clean and fresh-smelling pooch as a great gift.
WAG! A Pet Boutique, 231 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, 828-697-7799 also offers West Paw brands. The rare thing about West Paw is they offer a product warranty. If a product breaks or is damaged, they offer one free replacement. After that, they offer a replacement discount. Check with a WAG sales specialist for more details on this West Paw warranty. They also offer a line of dog toys made from Seaflex, which is ocean-bound plastic. This waste is recycled into pet toys. They have a large selection of interactive toys to keep pets occupied, and catnip toys. They have Ruff Wear, made in America by a former rock climber. Their products are well suited for adventure travelers. They also have FabCat and FabDog products, which include toys, coats, catnip sushi roll toys, matching pet and owner pajamas and more.
If your preferred pet supply resource isn’t listed, give them a call, and see what they recommend as the best holiday gifts. Don’t forget accessories for your favorite pet parent too. Mugs, shirts, magnets, and notepads. Pet parents love to show off their sweet fur-baby, so include them in your gift-giving plans, as well as all your favorite pets. No matter where you shop, or what you buy, doubtlessly the very best gift this year is the cool noses, loving kisses, loyal hearts, and purrs and wags from your best fur-buddy. Or maybe your best buddy has feathers or scales or hooves. Regardless how they look, the love you and your pet share is always the absolute best gift.