GADGETS & GEAR Cool Stuff For the Pets We Love Most

BY KELLI MATTHEWS

Spring is here, and, like us, our four-legged friends are longing for some warmer weather and sunshine. A new leash, a comfy bed or a yummy treat are perfect additions to longer days and more activity. We’ve got a round-up of some excellent pet gear this month.

Wags! Emporium • 136 Oakway Rd, Eugene Mini Pet Mart • 7 locations in Eugene/Springfield Hometown Pets • 65 Division Ave A, Eugene Nature’s Pet Market • 2864 Willamette St, #200, Eugene The Healthy Pet • 2777 Friendly St, Eugene

On-the-go should still be stylish! The Lucy & Co. dog gear is thoughtfully designed and high-quality. We love the super cute styles and one-of-a-kind prints you won’t find anywhere else. Lucy sent the Little Lamb print reversible harness, leash, collar and poop bag holder for our elderly chihuahua, and he looked quite dapper.

A typical pet ID tag doesn’t have much room for critical or helpful information. Tags for Hope are both statement accessories and practical tags with space for your phone number, dog or cat’s medical needs, allergies or even behavioral need-to-knows. The tags also come with a lifetime warranty, no questions asked. We chose an Oregonstyle license that even includes a photo of our dog. Every purchase supports TagForHope grants to shelters or adoption organizations to help get a dog ready for adoption.

If you’ve got a running, cycling, trail hiking buddy, the LifeHandle Hands-Free Comfort Leash is comfortable and safe for both of you. The leash fits cross-body and distributes the dog’s pull force across your core instead of your shoulder or hip while keeping both hands free. It works for dogs of any breed, size or age and works with any dog collar or harness. https://mylifehandle.com/

Ta Ib handmade collars are stunning. There’s no other way to say it. The collection is inspired by Mayan arts and crafts. Mayan craftswomen make every piece by hand, and each collar is one-of-akind. The collars come in various colors and sizes to complement every pup. Our tan brindle fella looks so handsome in this blue design. https://taib.pet/

Cats are so low-maintenance that we had difficulty finding creative ideas specifically for our feline friends. Needless to say, we were so excited to learn about the Cat Ball – as was our cat. This clever design isn’t just an ordinary cat bed. It’s a six-sided cat cave with 2 openings. Your cat can hide in it, sleep in it, or whatever other cat-ventures they get into during the day. Bonus: Cat Balls are designed in Washington. https://www.thecatball.com/

A great dog bed is a must-have, especially if, like our pup, your dogs are getting older. Astral Designs makes its dog beds with fabric leftover from making award-winning PVC alternate lifejackets. The fabric is rugged and easy to clean. The removable bed is made from scraps of closed-cell UL-approved foam. We love that the company has Pacific NW roots, too.

Bully sticks are a dog’s favorite chewing treat, but they can be bad news choking hazards when the stick gets to the end. Bully Buddy and premium bully sticks from Bow Wow Labs keep the bully sticks securely. The Bully Buddy is a durable, veterinarianvetted, dog-approved device with a clever screw twist mechanism that keeps the bully stick secure. https://www.bowwowlabs.com/

Our pups were over the moon for Yitto Paws. It’s the first and only brand of organic dog treats that are 100% humangrade, with more real fruit than other brands and no added sugar. Yitto Paws are vegan, high in fiber, low in calories and no more than 6 simple ingredients. We also love that Yitto Paws is a public benefit corporation, so when they say dogs come first, they mean it! https://www.yittopaws.com/