By Valerie Burton
February 20, 2019

No pet should lose a loving home due to a family’s unexpected financial strain. Unfortunately, it’s an all too common story. A family is hit with an unexpected job loss, medical bill, car repair, or other situation. The once financially-secure family now has barely enough money to buy food and pay the rent, let alone afford food and medical care for the family pet. Too often, sudden financial struggles lead to pets being surrendered to rescues and shelters.

In 2013, the Humane Society of Loudoun County, Loudoun County Animal Services, and Loudoun Hunger Relief formed a partnership—the Loudoun Pet Pantry—in an effort to prevent tragic circumstances from causing families to have to make the heart-wrenching decision to give up a pet. The goal of the Pet Pantry is to help keep pets in loving homes by providing food supplies. Donations collected at boxes throughout the county are distributed to families in need in order to enable them to hold onto their furry family members.

Shawn’s Story

One grateful recipient of assistance from the Loudoun Pet Pantry is Shawn, a lifelong resident of Leesburg who found herself struggling for every penny needed to take care of her beloved best friend, Brownie.

Shawn grew up as an only child in a family where animals were cherished. She never had children of her own. One day, her next-door neighbor brought home a Pomeranian named Brownie. This breed is often described as combining a tiny body with a big-dog personality—alert, intelligent, vivacious, and ideal for companionship. Brownie met this description, but unfortunately, shortly after getting her, Shawn’s neighbor had a stroke and could no longer care for a dog.

Shawn stepped in and adopted Brownie, who became the love of her life and the child she’d always wanted. After working for twenty one years as an accountant, Shawn became disabled. Unable to work, it became difficult for her to make ends meet, and when she found out about the Pet Pantry, it was a lifesaver. “Having free food for Brownie truly helped with an already tight budget,” she says.

Fortunately, Shawn’s situation was temporary, and she now finds herself in the position of being able to give back. “I donate when possible,” she says, and she encourages others to do so as well. “I understand the importance of not only the small differences to a household budget, but the gift in spirit of returning a favor. Thank God for Pet Pantry. A person’s pet IS a family member!”

Shawn’s story demonstrates the crucial role played by the Pet Pantry in helping families care for companion animals while going through difficult times. Collaboration from all in the community who care about the well-being of animals is critical to maintaining the ability to provide this essential support.

How You Can Help

Individuals can be involved with the Pet Pantry in a variety of ways. There are donation boxes located throughout the county—in Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling, Waterford, South Riding, and Purcellville. Please see our website for a complete listing: https://humaneloudoun.org/

HSLC is pleased to announce two new locations in Leesburg for collecting donations. Catoctin Veterinary Clinic (112 Dry Mill Road SW) has been an HSLC partner for several years. Providing a wide array of comprehensive services, their friendly staff makes every pet’s experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Happy Tails Animal Hospital is new to the area and offering a free office visit and exam for new patients. Happy Tails is located at 700 Fieldstone Drive in Leesburg.

The Loudoun Pet Pantry accepts cat and dog food (canned, any size; dry, 4-8 pound bags). Dry food must be unopened, unexpired, non-prescription adult food. We cannot use kitten, puppy, or senior food. For large pet food donations, HSLC can make arrangements for pick-up.

Other ways to help include donating funds or gift cards to help purchase supplies and hosting pet food drives. HSLC is glad to assist in organizing and arranging food drives. Please contact us for more information at petpantry@humaneloudoun.org or 703-777-2912.

Robert, a 15 year old home schooled student in Leesburg, noticed that the family of feral cats living near his home seemed to be multiplying at an alarming rate. None of the cats were spayed or neutered, so they kept breeding, but kittens were starting to die more often than live. There were over 20 cats in the colony when Robert decided to do something about it.

As a project for school, he started researching organizations that might be able to help the cats, and he found HSLC. Our Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) volunteers were able to get involved, and the cats are now all fixed. Thankfully more of them will now survive, and the cycle of overpopulation has been interrupted, all thanks to Robert’s concern and decision to get involved and the dedication of our TNR volunteers.

Some of the cats are friendly and will eventually be placed in foster care and then adopted. Cream, for example, was found with his sister, Sugar, when they were about two days old. At first it appeared he was not going to make it, but with a little TLC he bounced back, surprising everyone by surviving and becoming an adorable playmate. His foster family could not resist adopting him. We look forward to many more happy endings for this group of cats for whom Robert is a true hero!

Cream is now called Noodle and loves his new home

Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas hard in mid-September, impacting homes, people, and pets. Our caring volunteer, Jennifer, wanted to help the hurricane victims so the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) stepped in to make it happen.  Between Sept 16th and 23rd (just one week!)  HSLC worked with Jennifer to organize, collect, and send her off to deliver relief to the area.  We reached out to our network of community businesses, fellow rescues, and volunteers to make it happen.

Some other area animal rescues stepped up to work with us. Fancy Cats collected pet food donations and HART volunteer Kerry Kieger and crew helped at our trucks.

We put out a plea for donations and the response was overwhelming. Avalon Consulting provided pet food donations as well as monetary donations for us to buy supplies to take down to the hurricane relief area.  Clarus Merchant Services was very generous to provide donations allowing us to rent two trucks for all the supplies we collected and cover expenses there and back.  HSLC donors also stepped up to provide funds for us to buy supplies for the hurricane victims.

We contacted Spanky’s Shenanigans in Leesburg for some advice because they helped with Hurricane Harvey last year.  They immediately offered to help us “stuff a truck” at their weekly Wednesday Yappy Hour.  Thank you to owner Azmi, servers Katie & Joanie, and all their wonderful friends and patrons (both two and four legged) who helped.  Just a few doors down, our friend Darla at the Leesburg Petsmart worked to collect a large pallet of pet food donations, personally delivering them to Spanky’s.

Our “stuff a truck” efforts didn’t end at Spanky’s. We obtained permission from the Dulles Landing Petsmart in Chantilly to park our truck at their store to continue collecting donations from Friday to Sunday.  Thank you to managers Corey, Andrew, and Lauren.  Coal Fire Pizza manager Alexandra ran into us in the parking lot and set up a fundraiser at their restaurant to help with the cause.

HSLC was already scheduled to attend the “Caturday” event at Gum Springs Library on Saturday Sept 22^nd so we arranged to have the donation truck in their parking lot that day. Thank you to Jessica Moore and team!

On the evening of Sunday September 23^rd Jennifer, Katie, and Kyle set out to deliver our relief supplies to NC.  After navigating though the hurricane devastated areas, their first stop was at A Dogs Dream in New Bern. This was one of the harder hit areas. A Dogs Dream is a boarding and grooming facility which opened up their doorsto receive donations and continued to be a distribution point during the coming weeks.

Watch this video of Jennifer and team at A Dogs Dream.

The next stop for our intrepid wanderers was to Loaves and Fishes in Beaufort,  a ministry pantry that acted as a distribution center for the pets and people of Beaufort in need of supplies. It’s ran alongside local churches there.  Craven Pamlico Animal Services Center received donations as well. Both of these facilities continued to get the call to help for weeks to come.

Then it was on to Cause for Paws in Raleigh,  our point of contact for finding out where the supplies were needed. They were one of the rescues who helped the over 200 animals at the Raleigh fairgrounds and continued to help flood victims in the continued weeks.

Thank you to all the HSLC volunteers who helped to make this happen: Melissa, Anne, Molly, Christina, Kerry, Theresa, Juanita, Sharon, Julia, Melanie, Katie, and Kyle. And, of course, a big thank-you to Jennifer.

 

 

HSLC volunteers do what we do because we believe all of our furry friends deserve to live happy, comfortable, safe lives. Sadly, many of the animals we encounter have been through difficult times that leave them traumatized, just as humans would be if we were in their situations. Abandoned by their families; lost or surviving as strays; on their own in a scary world. We are grateful for every one we are able to rescue from circumstances where the odds are stacked against their survival.

Once given the opportunity to live comfortably and have their needs met, it is remarkable how quickly animals respond to love and care from humans. Most of the fantastic felines available for adoption through HSLC settle in quickly when they arrive at their foster homes. Recovering trust, however, is a different process for every cat. For some, life at home may be just grand, but they still may find the environment at adoption events stressful, causing them to not be able to put their best paw forward.

For example, Peekaboo was found living in a feral colony but quickly
demonstrated he was far too friendly and social to not live with a forever
family. He is one cat who is sweet and playful as can be—and happy to let
you know he is loving life. He excels at catching toys as they fly through
the air, and he gets along incredibly well with both people and other cats.

 

Employees at an area data center found Lily living in a dumpster with
her kittens. Originally thought to be feral, it was quickly determined that
Lily was just very scared and protective of her kittens. Once in a foster home,
Lily was finally able to relax and learn to trust people again. She loves
attention, iPad games and especially toys on strings! She is still shy around
strangers but it doesn’t take her long to warm up to new people.

 

Ella was adopted out as a kitten but has been returned to HSLC.
Although able to be on display, she is now about 2 years old and
still looking for that one special family. She’s super friendly
and will greet guests with a warm hello.Kids are great, she loves
the attention. Chin rubs are the best and she loves to play with toys,
stretch, watch the world from a perch in the window, and lay in the
sun. Need a buddy for binge watching? She’ll hang out with you
on the couch and watch your favorite shows anytime.

All of the wonderful cats showcased here are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped. They are ready to move forward into new and happy lives with families who will cherish them and treat them with the love they deserve—which will surely be reciprocated many times over. They’d love to celebrate the holidays with their new families! In order to avoid the stress of adoption events, interested adopters can arrange a meet and greet. Please contact us at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County has an immediate and urgent need for the public’s help in finding homes for a group of endangered local community cats.  Because they are outdoor “working” cats and not suited for life indoors, ideal situations for these cats include breweries, wineries, nurseries, warehouses and larger residential properties with large garages, barns, or stables—where rodents can be plentiful and mousers are welcome.  All our barn cats are fixed, vaccinated and ready to lend a helping paw.  Humane Loudoun provides all the equipment, set-up, and advice for a successful transition.  All you need to provide is food, water and a big heart.  No adoption fee will be assessed but, as always, donations are appreciated.

Humane Loudoun’s “Critter Control” program is a form of organic pest control that can help keep rodents away from grain, food storage, etc.  They are a cleaner, more effective alternative than dangerous pesticides and they are on duty 24/7.  The adopting local businesses will enjoy their company from afar as well as having the satisfaction of giving them a much-needed home. If you currently have unspayed barn cats, you can also receive assistance in having them sterilized.

Humane Society of Loudoun County is an all-volunteer, no-kill, registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. If you own or manage property like those previously mentioned, and have permission for long-term placement of animals on the property, please contact the Humane Society of Loudoun County at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org.  For more information visit our website.

Looking for that purrfect holiday project for your family, church group, school or office? If so, consider conducting a pet food drive for the Loudoun Pet Pantry (LLP).

All it takes for a pet to go hungry or be surrendered to a shelter is for their family to have an unexpected medical bill or a job loss. Therefore, in 2013, The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), Loudoun County Animal Services, and Loudoun Hunger Relief created the Loudoun Pet Pantry to help keep pets in their furever homes by providing food supplies to people in need.

And, the need is growing. Recently, HSLC doubled its food deliveries to better meet the increasing demand. So, we are in constant need of pet food donations.

As a result, we are hoping that compassionate folks across the community will help out by conducting their own pet food drives. You’ll find helpful ideas for getting started on our website.

No time for a food drive? Please consider dropping off a bag or two of dog or cat food at the many donation box locations across the county. Dry food must be unopened, unexpired, non-prescription adult food; we cannot use kitten, puppy, or senior food for the pet pantry. Because space is limited, we can only use bags of dry food between 4 and 8 pounds. However, we can use all sizes of canned food.

We also appreciate monetary donations as they allow us to fulfill any specific needs. And, if you donate through our website, please specify “Pet Pantry” in the dedication field.

Lastly, HSLC is looking for a new, donated or discounted, climate-controlled space for the growing Pet Pantry. Please contact helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org with any suggestions.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County is teaming up with Pet Connect and Hart to collect donations to help the animal and human victims of Hurricane Florence.

Stop by one of these locations:

 

 

Spanky’s Shenanigans  – Wed (9/19) – Fri (9/21)  4 pm – 1 am

(538 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176)

Dulles Landing Petsmart  –

Fri (9/21) 10 am – Noon & 4 – 8 pm   AND   Sun (9/23) Noon – 6 pm

(24570 Dulles Landing Dr #140, Dulles, VA 20166)

Gum Springs Library  –  Sat (9/22) 12 – 6 pm

(24600 Millstream Drive, Stone Ridge, VA 20105)

 

Animal Items to Donate

Bins for food storage
Crates – small/med
Leashes
Martingale collars
Cat litter
Litter pans – small/med
Full-sized brooms
Cat & dog Beds
Liquid laundry soap
Dog & cat treats
Chew toys
Dog & cat food – dry & canned
Water
Metal food bowls
Trash bags
Bleach
Paper towels
General Purpose Cleaner
Latex gloves
Dish soap
Sponges
Blankets
Towels 

People Items to Donate

Canned food
Diapers
Baby wipes
Clorox wipes
Feminine Hygiene products
Water
Toiletries
Bandages and gauze
Shampoo
Toilet paper
Sponges
Hand sanitizer
Paper plates/bowls

 

Imagine being dumped on a country road to fend for yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.

Now, imagine you’re a 3-month old kitten who is totally blind.  What are your odds of survival?

And so begins the story of Daredevil, an incredibly sweet and trusting kitten abandoned and left to die – just because he couldn’t see.  Fortunately, a friend of a Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) volunteer found Daredevil and he is now safe and sound with us.

His nonstop purring and fondness for snuggling tells us that he is grateful to be alive and in such caring hands—perhaps for the first time in his young life.

Daredevil isn’t going to see again and his ruptured eyes have already been surgically removed. Currently, he is being fostered by a caring vet assistant who works at Towne Animal Clinic.

It takes a village to save a kitten’s life.  From the volunteers who rescue them from unthinkable situations to the foster parents who give them a loving home to the donors who help cover their various medical expenses. But, it’s all worth it when we can give a beautiful animal like Daredevil the happy ending he deserves.

Daredevil is looking for his forever home.  Check out his video below and see if you can resist this adorable love-muffin!

 

 

 

Delta is a community cat who catches mice like a boss.  After two litters, it was time for her to be caught and spade to keep the size of her colony in check.

Community or feral cats live outside and are not socialized. This makes them wary of people and not adoptable. To improve the lives of cats like Delta, the Humane Society of Loudoun County has a Community Cats program. At its core is the concept of Trap-Neuter-Return.

 

 

How Does Trap-Neuter-Return Work?

1. Trap: Humanely trap all cats living together in an outdoor colony.
2. Neuter: Take the cats, in humane traps, to a veterinarian or clinic to be neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and ear-tipped (universal symbol indicating cats have been neutered).
3. Return: Return the cats to their original outdoor home or colony.

After recovering from her spaying at the vet, Delta was ready to return to her home. In the video below, watch TNR volunteer, Sharon, set Delta free!

201 community cats/kittens have been helped by the Humane Society of Loudoun County TNR program so far this year.  This includes 14 injured community cats from managed colonies that needed vet care and 28 community cats in colonies that needed to be relocated for safety reasons. The Foster Program has taken in 69 kittens and 7 friendly adults from the TNR program to find them forever homes. On a happy note, we found a lost cat in a community cat colony and were able to help him be reunited with his owner.

If you need help with community cats, please complete our TNR Request Form. One of our volunteers will then contact you, asking a series of questions before scheduling a visit to assess the site and develop a plan for trapping.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) learned about 4-year-old Sophie through one of our contacts in Wise County, Virginia.  They needed immediate transfer of dogs due to overcrowding at the Wise County Animal Shelter. Sophie had been surrendered simply because her former owners were moving. Our Animal Coordinator, Donna, and volunteer, Christina, were sitting at an adoption event when Donna mentioned the situation. Once Christina saw Sophie’s picture, she couldn’t say no.

Christina and her husband picked Sophie up on a sunny day in June from Towne Animal Clinic in Leesburg. She was super excited to see them and couldn’t stop wagging her tail. Sophie crashed out on their couch for the first couple of days then started to play with their dog, Max, and chew bones. She was super happy to sleep in the bed, cuddle, and give kisses. 

A couple of days after Christina began fostering Sophie, we found out Sophie tested positive for Lyme, roundworms, and hookworms. She was immediately put on medications to help with these issues. But Sophie started to have a tough time getting around after about a week on the medications. One morning, she couldn’t even get out of her dog bed to go potty outside. They immediately took her to Towne Animal Clinic where her medications were changed and they decided to keep her for a couple days. Sophie improved slowly but was very tired. After a couple weeks, she bounced back and was back to her normal, loving self. She again enjoyed going on long walks, binge watching Netflix, helping with dinner prep (i.e., eating extra food), and exploring in the woods.

When Sophie met her first potential adoption family, she knew it was meant to be. The family had two dogs – Buddha and George. Buddha and Sophie got along swimmingly on their first walk and she was okay with George, too. Sophie immediately took to their backyard, sniffing everywhere and trying to mow the grass with her teeth. After the second and third visits, both Sophie and her new parents knew it was a match. Sophie absolutely loves her new home and her two new adopted brothers. As foster parents, Christina and her husband miss her dearly, but are so happy she has found her forever home! 

 

 

 

 

 

You too can help dogs like Sophie by becoming a HSLC foster or adopting. For fostering information and/or to apply, visit FOSTERS NEEDED or email helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org. To view our adoptable animals visit our ADOPT page.