Best Gifts for Kids Who Love Pets

In a perfect world, in which all pets are wanted and everyone has the time and money to care for them, it's easy to know what to get a child as a birthday or holiday gift: a new pet, of course! If my animal-obsessed five-year-old had her way, she'd be getting a dozen new pets a year and I wouldn't be able to walk down the hall without stepping on a cat. Of course, I don't believe in giving pets as gifts, but here are some alternatives that have made my animal-loving kid very happy around the holidays.

Furever Home 
This was, by far, the biggest hit of Santa's 2013 visit. This board game, similar in play to Monopoly Junior, involves players operating make-believe shelters and helping to find homes for the animals of "Straytown." It's hours upon hours of fun and it's one of the few games it isn't absolute torture for parents. Best of all, it encourages kids to care about shelter animals!

FurReal Friends

These are the closest you can get to adopting that new puppy or kitty as a birthday gift! These very realistic toys provide lots of fun, imagination, and companionship to children, especially under the age of ten. You can choose from dozens of breeds, styles, ages, and sizes of pet, including lots of exotic animals that you'd never actual have in real life!

Wildlife Adoption

Symbolic adoptions of endangered animals are a fantastic way to make animal-loving kids feel great on a holiday or birthday. Most animal adoption kits include a stuffed animal, a photo, a certificate (and sometimes more!) to teach kids about the animals they're helping. You can click here for information about specific wildlife adoption programs.

Sponsor Shelter Pet

If your kid, like mine, is constantly concerned about the plight of shelter animals, you can help make your child and an animal both happy by sponsoring a shelter pet as a gift to the child. Visit PetFinder to find a shelter pet in your area that you think is a good match for your child. Then find out about the shelter's sponsorship program. You can visit the pet with your child and buy gifts for the animal to bring-and your child may be able to volunteer with his "own" shelter pet from time to time until the animal finds a home. It's good for everyone!

There are many healthy, responsible ways to give animal-loving kids the gifts they want for holidays and birthdays. Stay in touch with your local nonprofits to find out other beneficial ways to get your kids involved in caring for animals in your community, without necessarily adopting more of your own.