It is all too easy to get caught up in a spiral of shopping and spending at this time of year, and for many people it can feel as though the true meaning of Christmas has been lost a little amongst the wrapping paper and endless queues.

Sometimes the best gifts are those that don’t have a financial cost – spending a couple of hours helping people less fortunate than ourselves is so rewarding, and there are many ways in which you can be a Christmas star. The TimeBank organisation has some great ideas on its website, detailing lots of ways you can make a real difference.

Pet lovers may want to help an animal charity, and once again there are many ways to volunteer your time, skills, or simply donate a meal to help an animal in need this Christmas:

• Keep an eye out in your local supermarket for pet charity stands or collecting bins for food and toys. It’s easy to pop a couple of extra tins in your trolley and donate them on your way out.
• Contact your local shelter and offer an hour or two to help walk the dogs or socialise with the cats. There are countless local organisations you can try, and they will all be grateful for any help you can give. Many of the larger charities have volunteer pages on their websites where you can find details of ways to help near you (try RSPCA, Blue Cross and PDSA).
• Offer to walk your elderly neighbour’s dog or drive them to the vets or the pet shop when needed
• Why not clear out some clutter and have a table-top sale or car boot with all the profits going to a local pet charity?
• If you are good at crafts or baking, perhaps you could make and sell Christmas cards or mince pies to raise money for a charity close to your heart
• You could even organise a sponsored event or hold a collection at a community carol service

However you choose to get involved, you’ll feel a real sense of pride in making a difference, especially this time of year when it can be easy to forget that there are people and animals in genuine need.

The old adage is certainly true – it’s better to give than receive, and giving doesn’t have to cost you a penny!

With very best wishes from Shailen and The Ralph Site team

Now that we’re into December, it’s hard to escape the fact that Christmas is fast approaching! Our Ralph Site family know all too well how precious their pets are, at any time of year, but many of us like to pamper our pets with something a little special at Christmas.

With this in mind, we’ve pulled together a huge range of gifts so that you can treat your pets, whatever your budget. Our favourites today include:

For dogs and dog lovers:

Dog bubbles! Just £3.99 for hours of fun!
Doggy advent calendar, at just £3.97.
Stylish and practical umbrella – a great gift for dog lovers at £29.99
Pet Dog Batman Superhero Outfit – one for your Facebook page that’s sure to raise a smile

For cats and cat fans:

The next chapter in the heart-warming tale of Bob the street cat, just £6.45
A cute new bowl for just £4.25
Cat hamper, packed with goodies, toys and accessories for £29.99
A delicate locket with a charity donation included, £23.00

We’ve also collected some novelty animal-themed items, so if you’re stuck for present ideas for a fellow pet-lover, why not visit our Gift section and have a browse? As a not-for profit organisation, all purchases made through The Ralph Site shop provide us with a small commission that we use to help further develop our pet bereavement services and resources. Thank you for your support!

With very best wishes from Shailen and The Ralph Site team

Losing a pet is always painful, no matter how long you’ve been together. Losing a pet at Christmas is especially hard – it feels like the rest of the world is full of joy, whilst your world simply feels lonely and grey.

At times like this it can help to channel these feelings into something positive, by creating a memorial for your pet. Not only does this provide a focus for your grief, it also brings a tangible physical comfort. Our sister site, The Ralph Site, features a range of practical suggestions to help you capture the very special memories you have shared with your pet. Of course you may wish to celebrate your pet’s life in your own unique way, but here are some of the ways that other pet carers have chosen to remember their faithful companions:

• Create a free online memorial on The Ralph Site by clicking here – you can include text, photos and videos of your pet.
• Plant a bush, small tree or flowerbed or create a rockery, perhaps in your pet’s favourite outdoor spot.
• Spread some ‘forget-me-not’ seeds or scatter the seeds of a favourite plant.
• Fix a plaque onto a garden seat where you can sit and remember them fondly.
• Create a scrapbook with photos, pictures drawn by children, sympathy cards or small mementos (e.g. a collar name tag). You can also include your personal memories of your pet, such as milestones and funny stories.
• Make a charitable donation in honour of your pet – funding research into a cure or improved treatment for a related disease, or perhaps to an animal welfare organisation.
• Have a cuddle cushion or fluffy blanket embroidered with your pet’s name
• Commission a personalised memory stone for example here
• Feature your pet’s name in your email address or online username

However you choose to remember your pet, remember that you’re not alone – you’ll find practical advice and comfort from your friends at The Ralph Site and its busy Facebook page.

With very best wishes, Shailen.

As the festive season fast approaches, many children will be adding a new pet to their Christmas list. We are all familiar with the slogan “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”, coined in 1978 by Clarissa Baldwin, OBE, Chief Executive of the Canine Defence League (now known as Dogs Trust). And whilst this catchy campaign message is now thirty six years old, it still holds true. Those of us who have formed unbreakable bonds with the pets in our lives know that bringing a new member into the family requires lots of planning, weighing up of all the options and plenty of careful consideration.

Sadly, the statistics show that others do not always approach this important decision in the same way:

• According to figures published by Dogs Trust 15,239 dogs were admitted to one of the charity’s twenty centres around the UK last year.
• Cats Protection estimate that they rehomed a staggering 45,000 cats and kittens in 2013.

Introducing a new pet into the family requires time, patience and careful preparation. Choosing to do this at a time when the normal routine is broken by visiting relatives, excitable children and travelling is far from ideal! Indeed, many responsible breeders, pet stores and rehoming centres will not allow pets to be adopted or bought during the festive season for these very reasons.

All pets are for life not just for Christmas!

Once Christmas has passed and you are ready to bring a new pet into your home, why not consider offering a loving home and a new start to one of the thousands of animals in rehoming centres across the UK. On The Ralph Site you will find links to some rescue centres as well as advice on getting a new friend if you have recently suffered pet bereavement. The Kennel Club also has a great resource called ‘Find a rescue dog’ to help you consider all the options.

Or if you are not ready to get a new pet perhaps you might think about fostering – many rescue centres are in desperate need for more foster carers for animals that do not cope well in those environments. Or indeed you could consider adopting an animal instead – there are thousands of charities and volunteer-run organisations across the UK who would benefit from regular monthly sponsorship. With regular visits to your adopted animal you can build a connection with an animal in need without the responsibilities that can sometimes be difficult to fit into our busy lives.

If you do decide to welcome a new pet into your life in the new year, and need to buy all the basics, don’t forget that you can find a wide range of items to choose from in The Ralph Site shop!

With very best wishes from Shailen and The Ralph Site team

Those of us who share our lives with animals know just how human they are at times, each with their own unique personality and characteristics. The love you feel for your pet is so special, and the love you get back in return is unconditional. Those of us who have lost much-loved pets carry their memories with us forever, and one famous Skye Terrier called Greyfriars Bobby certainly seems to have felt the same about his master.

Bobby accompanied Police Constable John Gray for five years on his Edinburgh beat. However, in February 1858 John, or Auld Jock as he was affectionately known, succumbed to tuberculosis. For the next fourteen years Bobby made the churchyard his home, refusing to be taken in by any of the well-wishers who heard his story, but accepting food and treats from the gardener, the owners of the Eating House and a certain Sergeant Scott of the Royal Engineers of Edinburgh Castle who gave him a weekly steak!

Memorial to Greyfriars Bobby

On Greyfriars Bobby’s own death in January 1872 he was buried beneath a tree in front of the old Greyfrairs Kirk, and a memorial was unveiled on 15th November 1873. The inscription reads: “A tribute to the affectionate fidelity of Greyfriars Bobby. In 1858 this faithful dog followed the remains of his master to Greyfriars Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872.”

The remarkable story of this loyal little dog has struck a chord with generations of pet lovers, who recognise the unbreakable bond between faithful companions. If you’re searching for a way to commemorate your own much-loved friend, you might like to know that we have collected a range of tasteful urns and memorials for you to choose from here

With very best wishes from Shailen and The Ralph Site team