Question: I'm wanting a gift for a friend who loves animals and has a dog and a cat. Any gift ideas?

  At the Hawaiian Humane Society we think that the ideal gifts for animal lovers are the ones that either strengthen a person's bond with his own pets or bring him closer to the welfare of all animals.

Some interesting gifts we've heard about have included a year's supply of flea and heartworm preventative, an animal behavior book, a consultation with an animal behaviorist, a gift certificate for an adoption or a donation in honor of a person or their pet.

For many friends and family members who have too much to do, the gift of time or an enriching experience for a pet can also mean a lot. A gift certificate for a day at doggie day care or pet sitting service, or simply offering to take your friend's cat to the vet for her spay surgery, can mean more than any toy or treat that you could give.

We've heard of a teen who once gave her auntie the gift of a daily dog walk for a week.

What are some ideal toys?

First and most important, select toys that are safe.

Steer clear of toys with strings for cats. Ensure balls are too big for a dog to swallow or get lodged in its throat. Browsing through the pet toy aisles can be overwhelming, but applying common sense about toy durability and ingestion dangers will best guide you to find what's safe.

The best toys are ones that keep a pet's mind active.

Chronic boredom can lead to depression in pets, and the latest and greatest toys are designed to appeal to their instincts and keep their minds busy.

Kong toys, in which you can insert peanut butter or a treat, are wonderful for food-motivated dogs.

Wild tails, which are motorized balls with a tail, are fascinating to both cats and dogs.