Animals bring abundant joy and love to our lives each day – this is just one reason why we cherish, adore, and can’t imagine our lives without them. In addition to daily adoration, Valentine’s Day is a time to not only celebrate and honor our two-legged loved ones who enrich our lives, but also our special, four-legged friends for being our constant, beloved companions and a valued part of the family.

Here are some creative ways to show love to your animals this Valentine’s Day:

• Make some delicious, homemade treats! Fido-friendly cookies can satisfy a doggy sweet tooth, and tasty tuna is quite the kitty favorite, like these yummy catnip tuna morsels  or these delectable peanut butter pumpkin dog bones Visiting a local doggy eatery is another great option to “treat” your fur baby – our canines recommend The Dining Dog!
• An adventurous hike or surprise dog park visit can do a doggy good! Check out some dog-friendly activities that are something to woof about here.
• Make a tribute gift in honor or in memory of a special, four-legged friend and help homeless animals at the same time! Learn more here.
• Include your pet in a relaxing day/night in – put on an animal-themed movie and watch it while lounging on the couch together.
• Is your furry companion in need of a Spring accessory or maybe a new ID tag? Take this opportunity to present your cat or dog with a new bandana, ID charm, Kong or catnip toy. Playing together is another great way to share some quality time with your star-studded feline or canine.
• Clean animals (and their accessories) mean more snuggly moments for fur baby parents. The next time you do laundry, add your pet’s bed to the load. Such a (relatively) small thing that makes a cozy, clean difference! If your cuddly companion loves bath time as well, this is a great chance to humor him or her with some splash time in the tub!
• Spread the love you have for your best fur friend by sharing a photo on social media. Visit the Homeward Pet Facebook and Twitter pages – We love seeing the amazing relationships our furry alumni and their adoptive families have developed!
• Have a busy kitty on your hands? Get a (new) scratching post for him or her as an outlet to release tension and extra energy, as well as a daily manicure of sorts!
• Microchip miracle home-comings happen every day. Make sure your beloved companion will be returned to you in case he or she gets lost. Having your pet microchipped is easy, low-cost and the most effective form of identification! Details and more information here. L

Have fun on February 14 and congratulations on being lucky in love this Holiday!