And any other day you want a date too!
Love it, or cringe at the very thought of it, but Valentine's Day is hard to escape. It's the IT day on the love calendar.
You only need to walk around your local shopping centre, watch TV or check out the emails from your favourite stores to see everyone being encouraged to 'celebrate' Valentine's Day. How quickly do we go from being swamped with Christmas decorations to an overkill of red hearts and flowers?
But it's not too bad, I suppose.
It's great to celebrate love. New love, old love, dating app love!
I reckon there's one love that's the best on Valentine's Day. It's pet love (or puppy love if you like!). Honestly, pets are 100% the best date you'll ever get on Valentine's Day.
And it's this kind of love that's worth celebrating.
Top 7 reasons why pets make the best Valentine's Day date
1. No judgement
Your pet adores you. They worship you. In their eyes, you're pawfection. They've seen you in your comfy PJs with scruffy hair as you stumble for your morning coffee and they stick around day after day without fail. And they won't care if you choose to watch trashy TV while eating ice cream on Valentine's Day.
2. No gifts
Pets don't realise it's Valentine's Day and they won't be waiting by the door expecting you to walk in with the perfect present. All they want from you is a big pat, a cuddle and maybe a big smooch if you're that way inclined. Pop them on a leash for 'walkies', and they'll be yours for life.
3. Drama-free
Pets don't talk (unless you've got a trained parrot) so they're not going to start arguments or bickering over the little things – where to go for dinner, why they forgot Valentine's Day etc. You'll find your pet wears their heart on their sleeve, letting you know what they want and genuinely being happy doing anything with you.
4. Cuddle buddies
No matter how your day has been, your pet will always want to sit on the couch and share a cuddle with you. They even make the best spoons at night, curling up next to you and happy to be right by your side.
5. Unconditional love
Pets make the perfect companion – every day. You are their human, and you are their world. You may go out during the day, but your pet patiently waits at home for you to return. And when you walk in the door, you're greeted by your pet who's super excited to see you. That's unconditional love.
6. Respected choices
The last thing you want to do on Valentine's Day is to argue about your date. Once you've settled on your couch with your wine, nibbles and pet, you're all set. You can happily choose the movie or show you want to watch. And most pets don't have the foggiest idea how to use a remote so you'll get no arguments (unless they sit on it!).
7. Always happy
It doesn't matter what kind of a day your pet had (sleeping on the bed, the couch, in a sunny spot, in a shady spot…) but they're so happy to see you when you walk in the door. They may not be waiting with a bunch of flowers (unless they've ripped up your garden bed), but they'll greet you with the waggiest of tails or the loudest of purrs.
5 Valentine's Day hazards for your pet
If you're lucky enough to be jazzing up to go out this Valentine's Day, here's a reminder to make sure your pet is kept safe. Many of the traditional gifts that we're given (or give) are dangerous to pets.
The last thing you want is to come home from a hot date to end up in the very unsexy vet emergency room!
So, watch out for these pressies (leave them up high, away from your pets):
Lilies
If you've got a cat, don't bring Lilies home. They are highly toxic and cause life-threatening illness or death. If they eat any part of the plant or drink the water they're sitting in; they can experience complete kidney failure very rapidly.
Roses
Everyone loves a bunch of roses! And these are relatively safe for your pets if you keep them trimmed and on a counter. You don't want playful pets grabbing at your roses and having a nasty thorn stick in their little paws. I don't know if a rose thorn has ever pricked you, but it really hurts!
Chocolate & Lollies
Everyone knows dogs shouldn't eat chocolate, but the same goes for cats too. Methylxanthines in chocolate are toxic and will cause serious complications or death. Xylitol in lollies is the same. Keep your chocolate high in a pantry (or the fridge) to avoid messy vet trips on Valentine's Day.
Alcohol
With Valentine's Day falling on a weekend, you'll probably want to enjoy a glass of wine, a cocktail or a beer or two or ten. And that's perfectly fine if that's what you enjoy. But be careful not to spill any or leave your drink lying around. Dogs and cats will lap up alcohol where they can. They'll end up causing severe harm to their tiny stomachs and internal systems.
Gift wrap
Like Christmas, your pet will be bouncing around you, watching in excitement as you tear the paper off your gift (or gifts if you're being spoilt!). Make sure you're picking up the wrapping such as bows or ribbon or balloons that are a choking hazard to your pet.
Will you spend Valentine's Day with the one who loves you unconditionally?
You'll never be alone if you've got a pet. And they'll love you with all their heart every single day of the year.
So, this Valentine's Day, make plans with your pet. Buy them a special treat, go on a walk, choose what you want to watch (from soppy romance films to classy TV shows like MAFS), cook a lovely dinner, and then cuddle up on the couch with the one who looks at you like you're pawfection.
I'd love for you to share some pet love pictures in the comments below.
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