The Animal Lover's Guide to Holiday Gift-Giving

I have spent my life surrounded by animals, from the exotic species I worked with at the San Diego Zoo, to the dogs I share my home with now. Thus, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on finding the perfect animal-themed gifts for my animal-loving friends and family.  Here are just a few of my favorites this year for the crazy animal lovers on your gift list:For the kids (or the young at heart), board games and jigsaw puzzles are always a good choice:Animal Trivia Animal PuzzleAnd these whimsical mice in decorative matchboxes, cigar boxes, and lunch boxes are too cute for words. I found this little circus mouse in a specialty boutique in my hometown, but the entire collection is available online:Decorative MiceBeanies are all the rage and this leopard print one is sure to delight the fashionistas on your holiday shopping list:BeanieFor anyone concerned about animal conservation, these tees which support the protection of elephants in the wild are a must:T-shirtsFor the animal-loving men on your gift list, why not pick up some fun and functional socks or a silk neck tie:SocksNeck TieFor the friend who has everything, how about a koala vase or hanging bat sculptures for the yard:VaseHanging Sculpture I love bird feeders and these are colorful works of art for any yard:Bird FeederFor the monkey lover who has everything, this lemur-themed dessert plate I found at Anthropologie is sure to make them smile. The collection also includes plates featuring parrots, tigers, and several dog breeds:Dessert PlateWhen is a mug featuring a cat wearing a hat not a good gift choice? And the box is a gift in itself:MugI have the wool version of this pillow (and my collie loves it!), but this year the pillow is available in an indoor/outdoor material as well. Perfect for any dog loverPillowIt's always been a tradition with one of my friend groups to exchange Christmas tree ornaments.  I'm thinking everyone is getting dinosaurs this yearOrnament