Cats, dogs and birds all need distinctive toys, but recent recalls of dangerous Chinese-made toys raise questions. What should we look for — and avoid — when we select pet toys? “Look for solid construction,” advises Mary Jansky, co-owner of Noah’s Natural Pet Market in Pacific Beach. Jansky favors “green,” eco-friendly toys made of renewable materials such as jute, bamboo, untreated wool and rubber. She urges people to read labels on toys just as on pet food and know their origin and contents. “I have to know where (toys) come from and what they’re made of. If it’s something made of PVC we won’t carry it. It’s the same problem with toxic chemicals as with lead-painted toys,” she explains. For both dogs and cats she recommends interactive toys, such as a fishing pole to entertain cats, and for dogs a leather, wool or jute-covered chewable toy. Among their most popular toys are “egg babies,” which challenge dogs to pull squeaker-filled “eggs” from a stuffed animal. Dogs, Jansky says, can be trained not to shred toys. She advises interacting with dogs and putting toys away the minute they start to shred them, a trick taught her by her trainer. “They learn pretty quickly that the toy is to play with and not to shred. I try to educate people about playing with toys — and buying durable toys,” she adds. Colorful, interactive dog toys, designed to appeal to both dog and human, are popular sellers at Muttropolis, located in La Jolla, Solana Beach and online. “The choice of a toy depends upon what a dog likes, chews and eats. Some dogs want an unstuffed animal to carry around and some dogs want the squeaker. The size of the dog doesn’t determine the size of the toy — a small dog may drag a large toy,” explains Muttropolis associate Lisa Russell. She recommends toys that challenge the dog, keeping him occupied and entertained, such as their popular puzzle-type toys. Her favorites include pull-apart stuffed animals, squirrels popping from a tree trunk, a fabric-covered “bone” layered with squeaky pull-off rings and a carpenter’s pocket apron with pull-out tools. For balls, Russell suggests a fully digestible boiled wool ball or a textured ball that can be filled with treats. “The more you keep dogs entertained, the mellower they are,” she adds. Muttropolis also offers interactive cat toys, including a fling-a-string battery-operated toy, motorized rolling Bubble Mouse, long-legged spider wand and numerous catnip-filled toys. For cats, Maria Brinson, owner of The Purring Parrot, an avian and feline retail resort in Point Loma where they hand-make cat and bird toys, recommends catnip-filled or feather toys on strings or wands to bring out cats’ stalking instincts. “You don’t want small parts like buttons or beads that they could easily ingest and nothing they can snag themselves on,” she explains. At her boarding facility she uses a laser pointer at playtime. She advises keeping it away from their eyes and limiting use for cats addicted to the laser’s red dot. “Use the laser in short bursts because some cats want to chase it too long and get overheated,” she says. For parrots, they’re experimenting with a durable gelatin that congeals like plastic and is safe for chewing. “Birds need to be able to tear apart and shred their toys,” explains Len LaRiccia, owner of Bird Crazy in Kearny Mesa. They also need complex, puzzle-like toys that challenge them and stimulate their intelligence. He recommends brightly colored wood toys that birds can chew and destroy as they do naturally in the wild. Younger birds require softer woods than mature birds. LaRiccia emphasizes avoiding exposing birds to any insecticide or plant materials treated with systemic poisons, which are fatal to birds. As with cats and dogs, small, detachable objects — beads, buttons, bells, squeakers, fasteners or latches — are dangerous for birds, which can catch their beaks in small openings. In choosing safe, durable pet toys, the key is to know your supplier, especially your local pet shop. Expect to pay more for better quality, but that may save you money ultimately. Responsible shops tend to select well-made toys from known vendors that stand behind their merchandise.   Contact information: Noah’s Natural Pet Market, 4431 Cass St., Pacific Beach, (858) 270-8161, www.noahsnaturalpetmarket.com. Muttropolis, 7755 Girard Ave., La Jolla, (858) 459-9663 or 227 S. Cedros, Solana Beach, (858) 755-3647, www.muttropolis.com. The Purring Parrot, 3015 St. Charles St., Point Loma, (619) 223-2326, www.thepurringparrot.com. Bird Crazy, 8868 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, (858) 576-9858, www.birdcrazy.com.