Pet Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate all the wonderful companion animals in our lives! Our pets give us so much—unconditional love, someone to greet us everyday, not to mention that pet owners typically have lower blood pressure and decreased stress! Pets certainly help to make our days brighter.
During the COVID-19 pandemic you may have found yourself spending more time with your pet than ever before. As we move into a new phase and return to work, be sure to carve out time to spend with your pets, as they too, must adjust to their “new normal”. While every day is an opportunity to show your pets lots of love and appreciation, try to make this week really special – after all, your pet kept you company and your spirits up during COVID-19 isolation!
Some ideas on how to spoil your pet this week are:
- Go for a leisurely walk, letting your dog choose the route and the pace. Give him lots of time to sniff and explore.
- Go somewhere new with your dog and have an adventure. Try out a new park or trail, but be sure to follow physical distancing protocols and recommendations in your area.
- Take your dog to his favorite place to swim, and if it’s warm enough, jump in and join him for even more fun! Be sure to follow physical distancing, posted beach closures, and recommendations in your area.
- Pamper your pet with a long grooming session – a good brushing to remove mats, followed by a bath, nail trim, and massage will freshen him up and help his coat maintain its glossy sheen!
- Have a long play session with your cat by engaging her with her favorite games, whether it’s chasing a laser pointer, a feather on a stick, or playing fetch—yes, even cats will play fetch!
- Design a new cat habitat with perching points for her to look out the window and watch the birds and squirrels.
- Make or bake your pet a batch of homemade treats. They can be anything you know your pet loves, from peanut “butter cookies”, to fresh catnip treats or favorite fruit and veggie mixes.
- When you’re grocery shopping this week or while picking up another bag of pet food, add a new toy to your order. Consider a puzzle toy that you can offer your pet when you go back to work.
If you missed any scheduled appointments with your pet during COVID-19, now is a good time to take stock of what you may have missed (e.g., rabies and other vaccinations, heartworm and Lyme disease testing, picking up flea, tick, and heartworm preventives). Schedule an appointment for your pet’s annual wellness checkup—one of the best things you can do for your pet is to make sure they’re healthy and any issues or concerns are detected /discussed early and addressed.
Pets often crave our attention and just want to be near us. Whatever you choose to do to celebrate Pet Appreciation Week, providing a loving home for your pet and caring for their wellbeing is the best way to show your appreciation for their unconditional, year-round love.