'Pawfect' Valentine's Day gifts for pets
Even fish can receive a love gift

Nothing says love quite like a rawhide-flavored greeting card- for a dog, that is. This year, pet parents are finding a wider selection of innovative gifts to warm the hearts of their furry valentines.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's National Pet Owners Survey, 6 percent of dog owners say they purchase a gift for their dog on Valentine's Day, while 3 percent of cat owners, 4 percent of bird owners and even 3 percent of smallanimal owners also admit to buying something special for their pets, too.

Here are a few of this year's most purr-fect gifts.

•Petmate's Hearts and Swirls Designer Bowl features pink hearts on a white background. The bowl's low profile won't interfere with whiskers while cats are feeding.

•Let your love for your pet shine with PolyBrite International's Lighted Hearts Collar Covers. The collar covers attach to an existing collar, leash, harness, horse's reins or bridles with Velcro to keep a pet safe at night.

•Send a Crunch Cards edible greeting card to show pets how much you love them. Crunchkins has eight cards, made of a flattened rawhide panel and printed with edible ink.

The new designs feature such sentiments as "Love and Licks," "A Valentine Treat for Someone Sweet," "I Ruff You," "Love is in the Air" and "They Call It Puppy Love." Each card comes packaged with a red envelope for mailing.

•The Pampered Pet Heart Bed by Petmate is a sweet retreat for small dogs and cats. The fashionable bed features a wraparound full bolster design that gives pets an ideal resting place.

•Fish can be pretty in pink this Valentine's Day, too. The Casco Group's Baby biOrb is a globe-shaped aquarium that holds four gallons of water and comes with a stylish top and bottom. It's handy for novice fish keepers or those with limited space.

•Doggles Comfort Heart is a pink, heart-shaped pillow that is digitally enhanced with a mother's heartbeat set on a 30minute timer. The pillow is 15 inches tall and perfect for comforting new puppies or providing extra emotional support to adult dogs that might suffer from separation anxiety.

Doggles also offers pink human and pet matching sunglasses, pink hats, clothing and accessories and heart-shaped collar charms.

•The Bed Bug Play Center from Marshall is a dual-purpose toy that can be used as a sleep sack or a play center. It can be used inside or outside a pet's cage.

•February is also Doggie Dental Month. Make a pooch kissable and huggable for Valentine's Day with KissAble Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste by Cain & Able Collection.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.