HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY Mary Joe and Mandy Sato's pup, Pookie, enjoys playing with a cotton rope toy.

Use toys to play with
your animals

Playing with toys is an entertaining and fun way to spend time your companion animals. Playtime establishes and reinforces bonds between humans and their pets, helps to build trust and is a great way to get exercise.

Pet toy drive Toys bring joy to shelter animals, and everyone has a chance to play Santa, ensuring that every December adoption includes a new toy from the Hawaiian Humane Society Santa. Not only will a toy ease an animal's transition into new environments, it will help new owners bond with their new family members. Drop off items in the big toy bin on the lanai at the humane society through Nov. 30. Toys are also being collected at Bark Avenue in Hawaii Kai. Here is a wish list: » For dogs: rugged balls, Kongs and rope toys » For cats: squeaky toys, feather chasers, sisal scratching posts or hangers » For rabbits and guinea pigs: igloo houses, unpainted wood blocks and pingpong balls » For birds: mirror toys and wooden mobiles

With so many toys out there, which ones should you choose? The best toys allow pets and their owners to engage in one-on-one interaction. For younger cats and dogs, stuffed, plush toys are great for snuggling and warmth. They might remind the youngsters of their mother and littermates.

Another option for youthful pups is hard, rubber chew toys. Once puppies begin teething, these toys will come in handy and can often save a shoe or two. Giving dogs bones or rawhide teaches them what objects are appropriate chew toys.

"Even after their teething stage, many dogs still enjoy chewing," said Marty Hutchins, animal behavior coordinator at the Hawaiian Humane Society. "Dogs chew throughout their lives because it feels good to them. It relieves stress and is good mental and physical exercise. Chew toys give them an alternative to your rug, furniture or slippers and stop bad habits before they start. Nyla-bones and Gumma-bones specifically made for chewing are what we recommend."

For juvenile and adolescent felines, toys that provide stalking and pouncing opportunities are good choices. They encourage coordination and stimulate both body and mind. The toys teach cats to socialize with people and discourage boredom.

When playing with cats and dogs, never use your hand as a toy, because it encourages them to put their mouths on people. Even though quick nips or light scratches are usually harmless, rough play teaches pets that it is acceptable to lunge at or bite people. Instead, use toys like a mouse dangling from a fishing pole or a flashlight or laser pointer for the same type of play, without the people-related connection.

Dogs and cats are not the only pets who know how to have a good time with people and toys. Rats and mice can have hours of fun, while keeping fit, on a simple exercise wheel that can be purchased at any pet store. They also take pleasure in objects found around the house like small boxes and flower pots, where they can hide. PVC tubes or large paper towel rolls can serve as tunnels to run through, and a tree branch is great for climbing.

Guinea pigs and rabbits also love to hide when they play, so cardboard tubes or empty coffee cans with smoothed edges can be placed in their enclosures.

It is important for them to have a piece of wood that they can gnaw on to wear down their teeth. Besides playing with these toys, guinea pigs and bunnies are very social creatures. Although these pets are much more fragile than cats and dogs, they crave gentle play with their owners. Pet owners can spend time with them outside of their cages in areas free of electrical wires or other hazards.

"Most people associate pet toys with dogs and cats because they're the most common pets," Hutchins said. "But the smaller animals love toys as well, and the time an owner spends playing and interacting with them really adds such a wonderful quality to their lives."

Other pets that revel in human interaction are birds. They love the companionship of their families and enjoy singing and talking to them. Research which species are more active than others, so you can devote the right amount of time to your pet bird. Mirrors, swings and other attachments can keep birds busy when they are inside their cages. When they are outside with their owners, birds might enjoy being perched on a finger, shoulder or a branch.

Toys play a large role in facilitating the bond between people and their pets, and socializing a pet fosters trust and positive feelings. It doesn't matter what kind of toy someone uses to play with his companion, as long as the playtime takes place on a regular basis.