Posh Paws is an idea put into motion by Cantoni furniture store and inspired by a small polyethylene dog originally created by designer Eero Aarnio as part of his children's collection. The Posh Paws version takes the original dog, adds in a few local and national celebrity designers, and comes up with an entire line of adorable and unique puppy toys (toys that are puppies, not toys for puppies) that are up for sale to benefit various charities in the name of animal rescue and helping stray pets find permanent homes. My favorite is this one by Zsofia Mezey Koppani.
Lifesavers Inc. is all about saving horses -- all kinds from unwanted or homeless domestic pets to retired working animals to wild mustangs. Created in 1997 it's a fairly young organization that serves as a source of news and contacts to other horse related campaigns (like this one geared towards saving America's wild mustang population) and events like this horse dancing competition and this women's empowerment workshop. They also provide links to horse rescue resources and homeless horses that are available for adoption -- I love horses and seeing these that need a home makes me wish I had room for a one!
Every year numerous chimpanzees are left homeless and unwanted after they've lived out their usefulness to humans as research animals, circus performers, and exotic pets. Chimp Haven is a non-profit organization that steps in to give these neglected animals a place to live out their lives in a natural and humane environment where all they have to do is be themselves.
Started in April of 2005 and located in Louisiana, Chimp Haven also serves as the The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary and is looking to branch out into additional smaller sanctuaries in the future.
Conservation International has been protecting our earth creatures for the last two decades. They operate on the simple principal that when human beings live harmoniously with nature instead of exploiting it, both will thrive. Their website lists a shocking statistic that I wasn't aware of, every twenty seconds one species becomes extinct!! That's a pace a thousand times faster than has ever been seen during Earth's history! How can this be happening? Climate change and habitat destruction are to blame. Conservation International is on the front line of the battle to save creatures that are in peril. They conducted the first ever Global Amphibian Assessment, a study which provided vital information on the state of every amphibian species on earth! They are currently doing similar groundbreaking research on sharks. This is one of the hardest working and most exceptional charities I've read about, visit their fabulous website (tons of amazing video and pictures) to sign petitions and see the many ways you can donate.
The Animal Rescue Foundation or ARF was started by one time MLB manager Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics. During a game between Oakland and the New York Yankees a stray cat ran onto the field and caused quite a stir. Once it was caught Tony took it upon himself to find a home for the animal that was now sort of a mini celebrity! To his shock and dismay he was unable to find a single shelter in his city that could guarantee him that the cat wouldn't be put down! He decided to start a no kill shelter in northern California where cats and dogs wouldn't face a death sentence if they weren't adopted.
The shelter opened it's doors in 1991 and Tony and his wife Elaine began their mission to find loving homes for animals as well as educate the public about pet over population and the simple ways to prevent it (spay & neutering...like Bob Barker says!). In addition ARF provides emergency veterinarian care for strays and offers obedience training for animals to make them more adoptable. The facilities 37,700-square-foot location houses dogs and cats in cozy, clean glass-enclosed "condos," where they are free to frolic with each other and meet potential adopters.
*ARF recently received the highest rating possible by Charity Navigator, Americas premier charity evaluator.
Hm...would you carry a bright sparkly peacock as a handbag? Designers like Judith Leiber definitely know their stuff and have pretty good taste but (in my opinion anyway) it's creations like this Peacock bag that remind me they're only human. I'm sure there are some people out there who think this bag (and all the other animal-shaped ones in the gallery below) are awesome and perfectly fashionable, but I'm not holding my breath to see Angelina Jolie or Reese Witherspoon carrying one on a red carpet anytime soon.
I will say that each bag in the collection is certainly beautiful to look at (especially the Polar Bear and the Owl) -- maybe they don't have to be actually worn but would make awesome collectors items instead? Peacock bag 6" x 5" x 2", $5295.
Decorating with animals is tricky (all too often it just comes off as tacky) but these crisp white porcelain creations from Rose and Radish may be the answer for those looking for a way to bring the beauty of nature indoors. This collection of porcelain wildlife figurines has all the usuals (i.e. lots of birds) plus a few unusuals like a goat and a hippopotamus. The hippo happens to be my favorite because he looks like he'd be really interesting, without being too bright or bold, sitting on a bookshelf. $1019
The World Wildlife Fund works around the world to protect endangered species, protect and restore endangered habitats, and deal with the ever-growing global challenges facing the environment. As with most charities you can always give the simple gift of a donation in your loved one's name, or with WWF it gets a little more fun and personalized when you adopt an endangered wild animal. For just $50 you get an adoption certificate, a photo of your chosen animal, and best of all an adorable coordinating plush toy. And with 80 species to choose from you can certainly personalize your gift, and even encourage the starting of an annual tradition and a collection of animals. Donate/order by December 17th for Christmas delivery.
Most people have heard of The Humane Society of the United States and know that it helps to protect dogs and cats but the Humane Society is also involved with wildlife and habitat protection and much, much more. They also have a Veterinarians Without Borders program that helps to provide animal care in other nations. The Humane Society also advocates for animals by endorsing sensible public policies, investigating cruelty and working to enforce existing laws. They also work with corporations on behalf of animal-friendly policies and are lead disaster relief agency for animals. The Humane Society makes a great donation gift for any animal lover. For the holiday season they have created a 2007 collectible ornament which can be given as a gift for $50. Donate $90 and they will send one to your recipient and one to you as well. All gift recipients of $25 also receive a subscription to The Humane Society's Magazine, All Animals, and a holiday greeting card.
I think a lot of people only consider getting an automatic pet feeder when planning a vacation, but they're actually pretty handy year round for keeping your pets on a regular eating schedule even if yours isn't. And the Perfect Pet Feeder was designed to do just that, or in their words it's meant to "feed your pet flawlessly, for a lifetime." How can you argue with that?
Made of stylishly shaped durable stainless steel, it's dishwasher safe and has battery back-up to keep things going smoothly in the event of a power outage. Programmable for up to 6 meals/snacks for 1 or 2 pets, this is just the thing to take some of the hectic stress out of your life (and your pets). I know my dog would love to know she doesn't have to wait for me to get up on Saturday morning before she gets breakfast! $699
This lamp would fit perfectly in a child's room, and brings to mind counting sheep as they go jumping through the clouds. Created by David Hupton and Yve Thelermont for Thelermont Hupton of Great Britain, this simple design was inspired by the balloon animals made by clowns at carnivals and parties -- now you can have one that not only lights up a room but also never deflates! It's frosted blown glass mounted on a silver finished steel stand and comes in just the one color and design. $385
Real pets can be a bit problematic if you have kids. Not only can it be challenging to have to clean up after more than one of them at a time, but it also takes a while for kids to learn how to handle themselves around animals. Sheep offer a way for kids to have a cuddly animal around without mess and without risking injury to either child or animal. Stocked at Thorsten Van Elten, these aren't live sheep, but wooden ones covered in real, soft sheepskin. They range in size from 45cm-80cm high, with prices from $340-$775 (£175 to £395).
You can't bring the zoo home without a permit and animal prints just aren't for everyone, but you can add something a little wild to your decor with Wallpaper Menagerie prints. Created by Dutch designer Inke Heiland, the animals have a "retro charm" to them because the animal shapes they feature have been cut from vintage wallpapers from the 1960s and 1970s, which can accent a room far more attractively than they can cover entire walls. The silhouettes are hand cut and, because they are not decals, must be applied with a brush and paste. The choice of patterns rotates, but some options include chimps, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes and lions. Prices range from $65-$100, depending on size.
As the weather gets colder, short-haired and smaller dogs often need an extra layer of protection if they're going to be outside for an extended period of time. Patch and Scott's Dog Coats are some of the most stylish we have seen. They are made out of water-repellent Italian canvas and trimmed with soft, washable leather at the neck and waistband. For warmth, the lining is lambswool. The coats are well-shaped and, unlike some of the boxy coats from other manufacturers, they have a sleek and flattering outline. The coats come in two sizes and with either chocolate or tan leather accents. Price: £149.
In the 1930's, Dr. Seuss Geisel, most often known simply as Dr. Seuss, set about to turn some of his sketched animals into 3D artworks and used parts from real animals to make his fantastic ones. The collection was known as the Unorthodox Collection of Taxidermy and acquired most of the parts it used from the Forest Park Zoo. The inventive animals include: a Kangaroo Bird, a Semi-Normal Green-Lidded Fawn, a Blue Green Abelard and an Andulovian Grackler, along with many others. Limited reproductions of these original works are now available. While they're not really recommended as a decoration for a child's room, they certainly make good conversation pieces elsewhere in the house.
Unfortunately, some of the pieces are already sold out, so if you want one to add to your collection, you should probably act quickly. A set of four creatures is $8,380, but others are sold individually.
