Pets need more than just food and water. All types of pets ranging from dogs, fish, cats, pigs, tarantulas, turtles, lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, mice, rats, farm animals and more...all need certain items to help with their care. Some of the more popular accessory lines follow, along with health and safety tips with their use.

Restraints

Many critters need collars, leashes, straps, leads, harnesses, stays, aquariums, liners and other types of restraints. These are needed for the pets' safety as well as for the safety of those around them, to avoid unnecessary unsafe contact - like with traffic from vehicles, other people or other animals / insects and other wildlife coming into contact.

When choosing restraints, check with pet stores, the Humane Society near you, and via other pet resources like library books, online pet articles, ebooks and reports for help choosing safe accessories. You'll want to watch for adjustable items that grow with your pet - especially during seasonal "hairy" times when their more of your pet to deal with - as tight accessories could harm your pets like choking collars and restraints that are too tight, harming pets and placing them into too tightly confined areas that could cause them harm, physically (as in the case of too tight harnesses) and mentally (like too small of areas for fish to live).

Also seek sturdy, save materials. For instance, you want to stretch your dollars are purchase accessories that last plus you don't want sharp edges on straps and other handling tools for your pet's sake and your own hands' sake.

Cleaning Supplies

All pets need cleaning supplies for themselves and for their environments. They will need grooming supplies and grooming tools of some type; you'll need any variety of shampoos, conditioners, brushes, combs, shears, nail clippers, ear cleaners, tank cleaners, litter box, stall and other pet area cleaning supplies, rakes, trash bags, liners, environmentally safe cleaning solutions like water and vinegar for floor cleaning and window cleaning.

Some basic cleaning solutions you probably have around your home already are:

- Baking Soda - search sites online for dozens of uses for baking soda. Here are some links to start you off:

Sixty Uses Of Baking Soda

http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/60soda.htm

25 Amazing Uses for Baking Soda You've Never Thought Of

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/14781/25_amazing_uses_for_baking_soda_youve.html

- Cornstarch - same thing for cornstarch. Save money and time running around town for solutions from stores. Start with these tips:

Unusual uses for corn starch

http://www.essortment.com/home/unusualusescor_sxri.htm

Reader's Digest Extraordinary Uses for Cornstarch

http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/extraordinary-uses-for-cornstarch/article23823.html

Windows and Glass

Make your own solutions to clean glass and windows. First clear away any dirt and grime with 1/4 cup ammonia diluted in 2 qts warm water. Get rid of hard water deposits and more dirt with 1/4 cup vinegar diluted in 2 qts warm water. And scrub away the tough stuff, build-up, with 1/2 cup ammonia mixed with 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 gal water.

Tags / License

You'll want to make sure you comply with the law and have any license you need to have your pet - plus have this updated regularly. And you'll need to have shots and other medical treatments like rabies vaccines also taken care of regularly.

Plus you don't want your pet to turn up missing. Protect it with identity tags, often available cheap at online auction sites like eBay. Check with your local vet for identity chips that can be injected into animals in a safe, pain-free manner, too.