Best Gift Ideas for Essential Workers and their Dogs

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us want to show our appreciation to essential workers who saved lives and kept the country running over this trying period. Essential workers who are also pet parents may also be struggling to spend time with their fur-babies due to long shifts and COVID restrictions. Whether it's a Christmas gift or a random act of kindness, consider these gift ideas for essential workers and their dogs.

A Wag! gift card is the ideal present for an essential worker and their dog. Many essential workers are struggling to spend enough time with their puppers, so purchasing a Wag! Gift Card helps take a little stress off their shoulders. 

All you need to do is head over to the gift card page and enter the email address of the recipient and the amount of the gift card. They'll receive an electronic gift card by email. You can even choose the date you send it and attach a message to show your thanks.

Wag! Gift Cards cover a range of services, including Overnight Care, Dog Walking, Dog Training, and even digital Veterinary Care. You can purchase gift cards for $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500. 

With these services, essential workers can rest easy knowing their woofer gets plenty of walks to stay happy and healthy during the pandemic. 

You'll find plenty of bespoke items on the market that'll show your appreciation of an essential worker. One of our favorites is a personalized dog plushie. Several companies in the U.S. will recreate your friend or family member's woofer in plushie form. All you need to do is send in a photo of the dog.

These plushies will give the essential worker in your life something to cuddle up with after a long day. It also makes a great comfort item for their canine compadre.

A digital photo frame is a "grrreat" way for your friend or family member to display their best memories of their fur-babies. Many of these frames allow you to use email or Wi-Fi to show dozens of photos at a time. After a long shift, an essential worker will love scrolling through cute and funny pictures of their pup.

Treat an essential worker and their doggo to a day out and a personalized picnic basket. It's tough to go out to eat during the pandemic, so a socially-distanced picnic in the park is the "pawfect" way to spend the day. 

Purchase a picnic basket and put together a selection of meats, cheeses, snacks, and even a bottle of wine for the essential worker in your life to enjoy. You could also include some homemade dog treats so Scoob doesn't feel left out. Many restaurants also offer take-out services and picnic-style meals, which is an excellent alternative to making the picnic yourself and also supports local businesses.

Every pet parent wants to ensure their pup is cozy while they're away at work. Essential workers are likely to work overtime and be out of the house more than most people. Consider gifting them a heated dog bed so their pup can snooze in style and await their return. If they're working late evenings during the winter, a thermally heated dog bed will keep the doggo warm. It's also ideal for senior dogs with arthritis since it'll help stop their joints from seizing up after a nap.

Some pet parents and their fur-babies are inseparable, so long shifts for essential workers can be challenging. You can help an essential worker show their adorable bond by purchasing a friendship bracelet and a collar set. By purchasing one of these matching sets for an essential worker, you can treat both the pet parent and fur-baby to a stylish new accessory that shows they're the best of buds!