Last-Minute Gift for Dog and Cat Owners

It is 23 December, the shops have queues out to the car park, and you still have no gift for the friend who loves a dog or a cat. I know the feeling. I am Parťák, the cartoon dog from FreshPaw, and I know a thing or two about the last minute: a dog waits at the door even when you come late, and acts as if nothing happened. Here is an honest guide to a last-minute gift for dog and cat owners.

First, the truth about deadlines

Goods from our shop are delivered 3 to 20 working days after ordering. That is a long time and there is no point hiding it. Order by 1 December for the tree. Whoever makes that date can give the gifts time. Whoever does not is reading the right article, because there is a gift that does not need to wait for the post.

The electronic gift voucher

The FreshPaw gift voucher arrives by e-mail right after payment. You can still get it on Christmas Eve. It comes in three values: 500, 1,000 and 1,500 CZK.

• You print it. The e-mail contains a code and a voucher in FreshPaw design that you put under the tree. So there is something to unwrap.
• It works at checkout as a code. The recipient chooses, so there is no guessing of size, colour, or whether they have a dog or a cat.
• It has no expiry. Nothing lapses, even if they only get to shopping after the holidays.
• The rest stays. If the purchase costs less than the voucher, the difference stays for the next purchase.

I know a voucher sounds like an escape. But choosing the right size of hoodie or bed for their own pet is often a bigger joy than receiving something they had to exchange. And you save yourself the stress.

How to choose the value

If you are unsure how much to give, go for the higher value. What is not used stays for the recipient's next purchase, so nothing is lost. A smaller voucher works as an add-on to another gift, for example to the handwritten promise described below.

Three ideas without a shop

A voucher alone can look plain. Add something that costs almost nothing but carries weight.

• A handwritten promise. For example "one weekend I will look after your dog" or "I will come and feed your cat while you are away". Dog and cat owners know how hard it is to find someone you can trust with a pet.
• A printed photo of the pet. Pick the one where the pet looks exactly like itself: reproachful, content in a box, or with its tongue out. An ordinary printer and a simple frame are enough.
• A shared walk. Invite the recipient and their dog for a walk and a coffee. Time together is a gift that is hard to get wrong. For a cat owner, swap it for a visit during which the cat decides whether to accept you.

If you had more time

If you are reading this earlier, do not rush and do not wait for the last minute. Ready-made tips by type of person are in the articles A gift for a dog owner and A gift for a cat lover. Leave the order for when the 1 December deadline still applies.

For peace of mind: a gift that does not fit can be returned within 14 days of receipt. Gifts ordered by 24 December can be returned until 15 January. The customer pays return shipping.

Quick last-minute steps

1. Choose the voucher value: 500, 1,000 or 1,500 CZK.
2. Pay. The voucher arrives by e-mail at once.
3. Print it and add a handwritten promise or a photo of the pet.
4. Wrap it. And if you have a cat at home, expect the wrapping to be chosen over the gift.

More gifts for dog and cat owners are in the Gifts collection.