Booty

[December 18th, 2002] Instead of squeaky pet gifts, try sneaky ones! These presents have multiple uses for pooches as well as their two-legged best friends, offering a new form of amusement for those who have worn out the "let's take a walk in the park" routine.

Sugar and Spice Is Always Nice
All that aggressive pet play is bound to upset your furry friend's inner harmony. Should your buddy need to realign the chakras, consider Good Dogma aromatherapy for pets ($10 a bottle, Wiggles and Wags, 6141 SW Macadam Ave., #105, 977-1775) a good spiritual spritz. Available in spice and floral, these sprays are bound to uplift your pet. Now, if only we could teach the little guys to levitate.

Fleabag Hotel
For jet-setting pooches and their clueless owners, the Oregon and Northwest editions of Have Dog Will Travel ($14.95, $19.95, Made in Oregon, 921 SW Morrison St., 241-3630, and other locations) are must-haves. No dog (or dog owner) should leave home without this essential guide to lodging, rest stops, sites and attractions that cater to the modern extended family.

Cat Scat
For the sophisticated pussy that cannot be bothered with the vulgarity of litter boxes, the Toilet Train Your Cat Kit ($17.95, The Cat's Meow, 3538 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 231-1341) gives them a chance to play in the big leagues. The training gear comes complete with a fake toilet seat that fits underneath the real thing as well as a tray for kitty litter that you remove once your little stinker hits toilet-training graduation. Isn't that special?

Hawaii Four-O
Everyone has escape fantasies, and usually only those of us with charge accounts can fully realize our tropical potential. Spoil your kitty with a Hawaiian-print cat tent ($29.99, Urban Fauna, 338 NW 6th Ave., 223-4602) that'll at least give your little friend a living-room hideaway. The tent looks like a mini version of the real thing and will have your cat pretending she's on a summer holiday. Next thing you know, Snickers will be wearing a grass skirt and sipping a mai-tai. Well, maybe.

Buckle Up
Even though Oregon's seatbelt regulations aren't extended to the four-legged set (yet), there's no denying that dogs would be a lot safer in cars if they weren't given free rein to roam. Put safety first and attach the safety seat vest and harness ($26.49, Beauty for the Beast, 3832 NE Sandy Blvd., 288-5280) to your car's seatbelt. Once you strap your pup in, you'll feel comforted knowing Fido's secure should you experience any freaky holiday road rage.

Nutty Buddies
Our poor Northwest squirrels spend so much time and energy scrounging for nibbles and nuts, picking up communicable diseases likely to spread famine across the globe, so how about giving them a little break? Give your neighborhood squirrel a holiday surprise this year with a squirrel feeder ($8.95 and up, Backyard Bird Shop, 3574 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 230-9557 and other locations). As an added treat for those squirrel missionaries who also love homemade crafts, these handmade, wooden treasures come in too-cutesy designs such as an Adirondack chair or a lovely park bench.

Meow Mixer
You know you'll be drunk throughout the holidays, so why not let your kitty in on the fun? Meow Merlot ($10.99, Urban Fauna, 338 NW 6th Ave., 223-4602) is not just any old catnip--it will turn that sour puss inside out as she goes crazy. Don't forget to tell highbrow friends and neighbors this stuff's been imported--from California!

MORE GIFT IDEAS

Personalized Pet Blanket
Choose from burgundy, navy-blue, hunter-green, winter-white or gray fleece blankets, then get your pet's name embroidered on it to make a cuddly and unique gift for your furry friend. Grandma likes to snuggle under a warm blanket, so why wouldn't Rover?

$19.95 for blanket plus one name or initials. Things Remembered, Lloyd Center Mall, 2201 Lloyd Center, 282-5847.

Custom-Tailored Doggie Gift Baskets
Choose from an assortment of toys, biscuits, bones and bowls to tailor a distinctive gift basket for your pooch.

$25 and up, Great Dog Bakery, 7535 SW Barnes Road, 292-1111.

The Kitty Treats Cookbook
Learn to make delicious, vet-approved kitty treats for your pampered pet using The Kitty Treats Cookbook. Recipes include such delicacies as "Cheese Naps," "Bare Claws" and "Kit 'N Trim." They look so good, you just might want to eat them yourself.

$9.95, Borders Books, 16920 SW 72nd Ave, Tigard, 968-7576, and other locations.

Engraved Pet Tags
Offering heart-, star-, mouse-, bell-, dog bone- and hydrant-shaped tags, as well as the traditional circular variety. Not only are these engraved tags adorable, but they're really important to have in case your pet gets lost.

$4.95-$7.95, Yours Truly Personalized Gifts, 61 S State St., Lake Oswego, 675-7865.