1. An ultra-fluffy fleece blanket to keep your new friends warm and comfy in their carriers and crates.
2. A pet carrier with mesh sides, a top-entry design, and plenty of room for them to move around. If you frequently travel with your pet or need to shuttle them to and from vet appointments, this is a great option.
3. A devastatingly effective handheld vacuum for sucking up pet hair. It has a special rubber nozzle that picks up fur with ease, especially on hard-to-vacuum areas like stairs. There's no bag, so simply pop off the canister when you're done vacuuming and dump the contents in the trash.
4. A nail file board so you can keep your dog's claws from becoming overgrown. This is like an emery board for your dog and is great for pups who cannot handle clippers or grinders.
ScratchPad for Dogs is a small biz based in Atlanta.
Promising review: "Game-changer!! I am so grateful for the scratchpad. Trimming my senior rescue dog's nails was a nightmare, even at the vet. After just a few sessions, her nails on her front paws look way better. My dog not only tolerates the scratchpad, but she seems to really enjoy our training sessions. Today, when I pulled the board out of storage, she got so excited! Thank you so much for creating a product that takes the stress out of grooming. For anyone getting started, I bought the double-sided board and found it helpful to train my dog with the smoother side first, and then switch to the coarser side once she got used to it." —lisa templeton
Get it from ScratchPad for Dogs on Etsy for $46.95+ (available in four styles and three grit levels).
5. An immunity-boosting allergy supplement because your doggo deserves relief from their allergies and skin sensitivities. These soft chews deliver a dose of probiotics and other nutrients to help improve immune function, aid digestion, promote healthy skin, and add shine to a dog's coat.
6. An interactive cat toy to quickly replace the bin full of other playthings you've bought your kitty over the years...and that they now won't even look at.
7. A purring cat toy if your rescue kitty is suffering from anxiety. This purple guy has a built-in purring mechanism so your feline can enjoy the sensation of curling up to another purring "cat." It also plays calming, comforting sounds.
8. Or a plush Snuggle Puppy for your pups who need a friend who can stay close by awhile. Reviewers say both cats and dogs love the heartbeat sound it makes, but don't blame us if your cat grows up thinking they're a dog (I kid!).
9. An adorable and basically tear-resistant stuffed duck so your rescue puppy has someone to keep them company while they adjust to their new temporary home. This lil' yellow duck doesn't look like it, but it's built to last.
10. A mounted brush that'll satisfy your cat's ceaseless demands for scritches. Just mount it to a corner with the included adhesive strips and watch as your beloved babies leave you for the warm embrace of this gray-and-white piece of plastic.
11. An automatic water fountain to encourage your picky cats to stay hydrated. Some cats hate drinking still water (long story short, it's a defense mechanism), so a fountain with running water may be more enticing.
12. A doggie doorbell if you want to add "doorbell trained" to your rescue's résumé. Teach your dog to ring a doorbell when they have to go potty, and you will have never run around the house asking, "Who did this?" as your dog tries to avoid making eye contact.
13. A food storage container to keep your pets' kibble fresh and out of their greedy paws. The snap-lock latches will prevent moisture and pests from seeping in.
14. A bag of Pill Pockets so you can disguise icky medication that your dog immediately sniffs out and avoids when you try to hide it in their food.
15. A pooper scooper that'll scoop the dang poop so you don't have to kneel down to pick it up.
16. And on that note, a pack of pee pads because your puppy is still working on their potty training skills. They're also a great short-term option for pets who don't want to go outside to do their business when it's snowy or wet, or for senior dogs who might not know they need to go until...well...they're already going.
17. A broom for pet hair to loosen the fur trapped in your carpet. It works just as well on wood and linoleum, with the rubber head working as a magnet to attract stray hairs. There's also a built-in squeegee for wiping up liquids or for cleaning glass. Plus, the handle extends from 36 to 60 inches so it can reach practically any mess.
18. A heating pad if you're now the proud parent of a litter of kitties and need to keep them warm. You can also use it outside if you've basically adopted the neighborhood strays and want to make sure they're always warm.
19. A crate for creating a relaxing retreat for your pet. This is their safe space when they get anxious or stressed.
20. A slow feeder bowl so you can stop your dog from inhaling their meal in a minute flat. These ridged bowls can help improve digestion, reduce bloating, and encourage your dog's foraging skills to keep their mind active.
21. A joint support chew with glucosamine, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that'll lubricate your pup's joints so they engage in zoomies without pain. These are especially helpful for very active doggos as well as working breeds and senior pooches.
22. A Bissell Little Green machine because your living room looks like you're running a doggy daycare out of it. This portable upholstery and carpet cleaner cleans deeply, penetrating household fabrics and even car interiors to erase any sign of your pet's accidents.
Promising review: "So we rescued a new dog and she had a few accidents in the house and this has been a lifesaver to say the least. It has removed every stain and cleaned every spot where she had the accident or spilled anything. It worked amazingly. I highly recommend this to everyone! A must have for every house with pets and kids." —Jyllian Long
Get it from Amazon for $123.59.
23. A self-warming pet bed to keep your pet nice and toasty. (Reviewers with hairless cats say it's great for keeping their naked bbs cozy and warm.)
24. An automatic pet feeder if you want to regain your freedom from your furry overlords. No more being woken up at 6 a.m. by a hungry pet or having your Zoom meetings interrupted by yowling in the background because dinner is one minute late.
25. A pack of Burt's Bees cat wipes for reducing dander and keeping your cats fresh and their coats shiny. They're made with aloe vera and oatmeal to condition dry skin and reduce redness.
26. A Wobble Wag Giggle ball with an internal noisemaker and six pockets so your pet is occupied for hours, rolling, fetching, and shaking it until they're panting.
27. An ear treatment that'll clean your poor pet's ears of buildup and help prevent inflammation and irritation. These ear drops are designed to protect against a variety of fungal and bacterial infections, like yeast and staph infections.
28. A durable chew toy to withstand a play session with even the most vigorous chewer.
29. A pet-monitoring camera if you want to keep an eye on your pet even when you're not home. It comes with 1080p HD video, 30-foot night vision, built-in live chat so you can consult a vet 24/7, motion alerts, and two-way communication.
Promising review: "When we first got our rescue dog he had extreme separation anxiety. The one time we tried to leave him alone behind a doggy gate, he broke through the gate and chewed a hole through our front door. He's only 26 pounds Needless to say we never felt comfortable leaving him out of his crate setup whenever we had to leave home without him again. We would try for even a few minutes at a time and he would start scratching at the door. Two years later and I had been able to keep gradually increasing his alone time out of the crate bit by bit, but I never felt comfortable going past the lawn for more than 15 minutes. I felt like he had the potential to go longer, but I was too afraid to try it out. A friend recommended this device to me and I am so, so glad I finally decided to give it a try. I was able to leave my home with my dog out of crate FOR OVER AN HOUR. I actually went to the market a few blocks away and got a soda just for the heck of it. Whenever my dog started appearing to look nervous I could talk to him through the camera saying 'good boy, good waiting' and he would calm down. I don't even care about the subscription price, $6 a month is worth it for this. My door is intact. I have peace of mind. I know that now when it's just me and our dog alone, I can leave him at home out of crate to go run an errand or whatever. It might not seem like a big deal to most people but honestly this just amazing for my partner and I (and of course our dog!)" —Twin
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
30. A pet hair remover for anyone who's tired of getting fur all over their clothes. Roll it over your couch, bed, favorite blanket, you name it, and watch it lift the fur away. See, we can own nice things!!
31. A snout soother so your pup's snoot stays soft, moisturized, and oh-so boopable.
&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimg-mkr.buzzfeed.com%2Fbuzzfeed-static%2Fstatic%2F2023-03%2F9%2F17%2Fcampaign_images%2F019bbecbc61f%2F32-useful-things-for-anyone-whos-about-to-make-a--3-554-1678382705-20_dblbig.jpg%3Ftemplate%3Dpinterest-vertical-halftone-v1%26title%3DMzIgVXNlZnVsIFRoaW5ncyBGb3IgQW55b25lIFdobydzIEFib3V0IFRvIE1ha2UgQSBOZXcgQmVzdCBGcmllbmQgKEFLQSBSZXNjdWUgQSBQZXQp%26color1%3Dorange){kind=link}
Promising review: "Our pup's nose looked terrible when we rescued him; his nose was cracking and bleeding and it just looked awful. Within one use of this the peeling at the top of his nose started looking better. After about two weeks of daily use his nose looks 110% better! I highly recommend this product and I will be getting the paw salve for his paws as well!" —Shannon Alsayyed
Get it from Amazon for $5.95.