by Blake Herzog
Looking for gift ideas for your beloved furball(s)?
Most pet owners are in December and many others are no matter what the calendar says, which is why the pet subscription box industry has been surging in recent years. These boxes deliver food, treats, toys and other supplies that delight animals and their adoring “parents,” making them popular for the entire family!
Most of these services follow the same model to some extent; they offer some combination of treats and toys in each box, with many sending a super-sized first box to newbies. The boxes are tailored to small, medium or large dogs and customization options are common, especially for pets with allergies or other special needs. All donate to animal welfare causes.
If you or someone you know is looking to give back to their pets throughout the year, here are just a few of the options:
BarkBox
www.barkbox.com
The leader of the pack has a similar setup to most other subscription boxes on the market. Plans start at $23 per month with two toys, two treats and one chew every month, known for branded themes ranging from Stranger Things to the National Park Service.
PupJoy
www.pupjoy.com
This site sells individual toys and single box orders along with several subscription frequencies, which start at $29 per month. You can build your own box or choose a curated one, and treats have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Bullymake
www.bullymake.com
Many dog-oriented services offer some sort of “super chewer” toy line, but that’s all Bullymake does, along with treats. It offers multiple subscription tiers starting at $31 per month. Note: these “extreme” toys can be too heavy for canines who aren’t in the target demographic.
Meowbox
www.meowbox.com
No corporate relation to BarkBox but it’s one of the most popular and highly regarded feline equivalents. At $23.95 per box you can order one each month or every other month, with five to six items included in each including durable toys and healthy treats.
KitNipBox
www.kitnipbox.com
Subscription plans start at $22.99 and offer two sizes of boxes intended for single- and multi-cat homes. Shipments tend to focus more on toys than treats, perfect for keeping everyone active and healthy.
Pet Treater
www.pettreater.com
This is one of the few that serves two masters and also the budget-friendliest. The basic cat and dog boxes start at just $15 a month with three to four hand-chosen items each. Treat- or toy-only dog boxes, Deluxe Dog and Multi-Cat packs are also offered for $18 to $25.
RescueBox
store.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com
By far the most philanthropic option, RescueBox sells dog and cat boxes carrying five premium products each for $29.95, with each purchase feeding up to 142 shelter animals.
SaddleBox
www.saddlebox.net
Boxes include horse treats, tack, grooming supplies and more, plus a monthly golden ticket winner wins a free custom saddle. All sales benefit horse rescue groups nationwide, brought to you by the same company as DogSpaBox, PigBox and CoopCrate for chickens!
