Lost Sock Memorial Day

Unless you are a perfect Type A personality, who always washes socks in a zipped lingerie bag, so that none are ever lost, you probably have a few mateless socks in your drawer. They sit there sadly for weeks, months, or even years as you hope that someday, the mate will magically reappear. After all, it just seems wasteful to throw out a perfectly good sock.

Most of us blame the washer and dryer. They were usually the last to see them, and they have absolutely no alibi. But if you have a dog or cat, they may also be culprits. Have you checked your pet's little hideaways? Some dogs and cats steal socks, dirty or clean. Now, before you get upset, your dog or cat has a perfectly good explanation for it.

Your socks have been on your feet. Your feet are one of the more "fragrant" parts of your body, to put it delicately. Your dog or cat knows you best by your scent, so a sock, especially a dirty one, is just full of wonderful you. To your pet, having your sock stashed away in his hiding place may just equate to you having a photo of your pet on your desk at work!

Also, a sock is pretty easy and convenient to steal. And subtle. You'd be more likely to notice if your dog or cat were scampering off with a pair of your pajama pants.

Whether or not your pet is a sock stealer, or hoarder, you may still have the problem of widowed socks in your drawer. Lost Sock Memorial Day, which always falls on May 9, is your day to stop mourning the missing sock, stop hoping it will appear to reunite with its mate, and focus on the only healthy choices before you: Throw out the mateless socks or have fun with them.

Since you have a pet, we suggest celebrating Lost Sock Memorial Day by making the widowed socks into fun things for your pets. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Sock Full o' Socks: Even if you've never made a craft in your life, you can do this one in less than a minute. Take your biggest sock and stuff it with the other socks. Ta-dah! It's a ball! It's a plush toy! Throw it for your dog to chase and chew. It's even more fun if he figures out he can pull the other socks out. Re-stuff and repeat.
2. Sock Tail: If you have a little kid's sock and a shoestring, stuff another small sock into the sock, and tie it off with the string. Dangle that in front of your cat, or drag it across the floor. You can also tie it to a doorknob so it swings when the door opens.
3. Bouncy Sock: Put a bouncy ball into the toe of a sock. Use a tennis ball for a medium or large dog or smaller ball for a cat or little dog. Toss it and let it bounce. The leg of the sock will flop along behind, making it more enticing to chase.
4. Sock Mitts: If your cat or dog doesn't care for baths but needs to freshen up, put an old cotton sock on each hand and wet them with warm water. Squeeze out excess water. Stroke your pet's fur gently with your sock mitts. To your pet, it's kind of like being licked with a giant tongue, like his own mom would do. Almost. No promises.

Remember, playing pets should be supervised at all times.