Anyone who has ever shared their home with kittens knows how unpredictable life can be. One or two kittens can turn your world upside down; so imagine juggling EIGHT of the little darlings
One of our intrepid fosters, Andi Apple-Robey, did just that. Eight little black kittens were rescued from a postal facility in Sterling in April. There were two litters, one about 7 weeks old and another 5 or 6 weeks old.
The “Clue” kittens are named after the characters from the board game, Clue. Andi used colored collars to tell the kittens apart and she started calling them by those colors. Clue is a murder mystery board game with suspects that have names like Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, etc., so it just seemed appropriate. Boddy is the name of the victim and Wadsworth is the butler.
Recently Andi had to handle some medical emergencies with kittens Mr. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Wadsworth.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) is dedicated to caring for all our animals as if they were our personal pets. This means providing the funds for whatever medical procedures are needed, sometimes causing budget overruns. But the safety and well-being of our animals are always our priority.
Here is how Andi explains what happened…
“About an hour after I brought the first of the kittens to be neutered (Messrs Peacock, Green and Boddy) home from Towne Animal Clinic, I was relaxing with some water and a snack of trail mix. Mr. Peacock stressed his incision, and was bleeding heavily (all over my kitchen!), so I immediately took him back to Towne. They fixed him right up, and when I got him home, I found Wadsworth and Plum with their faces in the now empty bowl that had held my trail mix! Since the trail mix had both raisins and chocolate in it, I had to immediately gather them up and go back to the vet with them! They tried to purge them, but the boys were stubborn and refused to vomit, and so they were transferred to The Life Center (TLC) ER for three days of IV fluids to try to flush their systems and prevent kidney damage (from the raisins, they weren’t as worried about the chocolate).
Since their blood work stayed stable during their time at TLC, Wadsworth and Plum were transferred BACK to Towne after just two days for Towne to perform their scheduled neuters and the third day of their IV fluid therapy. Once they were transferred and TLC was cleaning their cages, it was discovered Wadsworth likely had eaten part of his IV catheter. So not only did Towne have to finish his fluid therapy and perform his neuter, they had to X-ray him to see if he HAD eaten some of the hard plastic parts. Fortunately they didn’t find anything.”
We’re happy to report that the kittens are now healthy and happy. Only Mr Green is left waiting for his forever home.
Mr. Green is our adorable crossed eyed kitten. This challenges his eyesight but not his personality. He is a committed lap-cat and bed-time snuggler, with a little bit of a food thief thrown into the mix. He’ll sneak a piece of broccoli off your plate given half a chance! It’s a good thing he’s cute about it. Learn more on our adoption page.
With our coffers full of foster animals, the last few HSLC adoption events have been well attended by dozens of cats and kittens, all eagerly looking for their forever homes. But, our August 4th adoption event at Pet Valu in Ashburn was especially exciting.
Usually the adult cats get overlooked at adoption events when they are competing with so many kittens . 
But two adult cats, Rigley and Quill, were adopted together that day! They now live in a big house with kids to play with and two small dogs to “boss around”.
At the same event, three of our kittens found a home together (Turbo, Chopper, and Milo). We encourage adopters to consider adopting kittens in pairs so the animals have companionship and can play together instead of getting into mischief. Three together is even better!
“All three are doing well and playing nicely. They are all so loving and social, beyond our expectation”, reported adopter Margo. “To say these boys are being spoiled with love and attention is an understatement. After a long evening of play and exploration, the three climbed in human beds.”
Watch Turbo, Chopper, and Milo play at their new home:
Interested in adopting or know someone who is? Please visit our calendar for our next adoption event.
Thank you to everyone who completed our Pet Owner Survey earlier this summer. The results were doggone interesting!
Here are some fun findings:
• 69% of you have two or more pets and 71% of you have been pet owners for 16 years or more! Companionship is—by far—the number one reason you brought a pet into your home.
• Dog people (65%) outnumber cat people (63%) but only by a nose! And, let’s not forget about the folks with birds (2%), fish (4%), rabbits (4%) and other pets (10%).
• Only 29% of you leave the TV or other entertainment on for your pets, but a whopping 100% of you talk to them. Over two-thirds of you take photos or videos of your pets.
• Most pets sleep in or on a bed – either their own or a human bed. Only 8% of pets sleep outside.
• Two-thirds of you met your pet through an adoption event or at a rescue center. You considered a variety of factors when choosing a pet:
If you are thinking about adopting an animal, please visit our website to learn more about the many animals looking for their forever homes.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Neal Donahue as Treasurer and Anne Senft to our Board of Directors. The two newest members of the board will support HSLC in its mission to partner with the Loudoun community to save as many animals as possible.
Neal Donahue, newly appointed Treasurer, obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He previously was a member of the non-profit team of a large regional accounting firm and also spent 14 years as the CFO of a non-profit. He is currently the Partner in Charge of Business Clients for Crowe Donahue PLLC, a public accounting firm in Ashburn, Virginia.
“It resonated with my wife and I that the two dogs we adopted during our 33 years of marriage have been the most loving and thankful animals we’ve encountered,” Mr. Donahue says. “That alone made it important for me to be a part of the Humane Society of Loudoun County.” He and his wife Lynn have resided in Ashburn since 1995 where they raised their two sons and currently reside with their two Australian Cattle dogs, Riley and Gauge.
New Officer Anne Senft began volunteering with HSLC in 2017, helping with online and direct mail fundraising campaigns. She has worked for Avalon Consulting since 2015 and has 24 years of direct response industry experience. Prior to Avalon, she spent 12 years with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in several capacities, including Vice President of Philanthropy.
Regarding her volunteer work with HSLC, Ms. Senft says, “The significant impact this all-volunteer organization has made in the Loudoun community reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ I want to be a part of this change.” Anne lives in Sterling, Virginia with her husband, Tom, who also volunteers for HSLC. They have two cats, Sweet Pea and Mr. Fat Cat.
“HSLC is thrilled to add two such impressive and dedicated people to our Board,” states HSLC President Juanita Easton. “We look forward to their contributions to our mission.” Terms of service for the new Board members will run for two years.
HSLC is currently seeking volunteers to fill other positions on the Board, including one for a veterinarian and one for an attorney. HSLC also welcomes volunteers seeking to make a difference for animals through the variety of programs offered. More information about opportunities to volunteer is available on the HSLC website.
Thursday the HSLC Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) Team was contacted by a business in Chantilly that we did TNR for late last year. We trapped all the cats there, all of whom were beautiful Russian blues. All turned out to be friendly so we put them in the foster program and got them all adopted.
Considering the site closed, imagine our surprise when a few days old kitten was found on the grounds yesterday, with no sign of mama or any other cats anywhere.
So our contact there reached out to us for help. Our TNR Coordinator, Donna, immediately started networking to find a place to put the kitten in order to save its life. Normally we try to keep kittens with mom til they are old enough but we couldn’t in this case since we couldn’t find her.
Donna reached out to Marnie Russ, who runs the kitten nursery at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. She is also one of founders of National Kitten Coalition. Fortunately one of our volunteers and fosters, Molly Boyne, also fosters for them too and currently has a nursing mom. So Marnie and Donna felt placing the kitten with Molly would be our best option. 
The nursing mom foster, Snowflake, accepted the kitten and she was able to nurse for a while and fill her belly, which probably saved her life. But Snowflake is an inconsistent feeder and needs a human to remind her to feed the kitten. So we decided it would be best to move the kitten to another AWLA foster that lives nearby and is already bottle feeding a couple of young kittens. The next best option if a nursing mom isn’t available is to place a solitary kitten with other similar kittens to increase the chance of survival.
Last we heard the kitten is doing okay. Thank you to all involved for helping to save this little life.
Our TNR program is only possible because of caring friends like you. Please make more rescues like this possible by making a tax-deductible donation today. Thank you!
Dr. Krista Wiechmann, owner of Loudoun Cat Care (LCC), is a veterinarian and member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Since 2007, she and her health care team have been providing feline-exclusive veterinary care and boarding in Leesburg. As a full-service facility with medical, dental and surgical care, her practice prioritizes the bond that forms between clients and their cats and is dedicated to ensuring they have long and healthy lives together. LCC also offers an on-site boarding facility featuring luxury cages with separate “living” and “potty” rooms for feline clients whose families are out of town.
Focusing on one species allows the practice to stay on top of the most current therapeutic techniques, according to Alison Trent, one of LCC’s Veterinary Technicians. “Feline practice allows us to provide a much more friendly, positive environment for our feline patients, many of whom are very upset by dogs, and trips away from home in general,” she says. “Our practice is much quieter than the average mixed practice, and we tailor our exams to cat preferences.” Special features such as exam tables with soft covers, cat-specific pheromones, and fear-free distraction techniques are designed specifically to help alleviate the anxiety felines often feel at the vet.
LCC has been partnering with HSLC for the last 4 or 5 years, providing affordable healthcare for cats who may never have received veterinary care before. Juanita Easton, President of HSLC, is grateful for the partnership with LCC, stating, “Dr. Wiechmann is great at working with us on our difficult cat cases.” Services provided include examinations, treatment for parasites and medical conditions, testing for communicable diseases, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, and counseling on behavioral considerations. Ms. Trent shares that for the staff of LCC, “Using our education, resources, and talents to help animals live happier and healthier lives is our life’s work, and our passion. Also, the ability to give back to a volunteer-run organization that strives to rescue at-risk cats is a wonderful feeling.”
HSLC and LCC share the goal of making a difference in the plight of homeless animals, with education being one of the most important ways we can collaborate to try to address common issues. For example, according to Ms. Trent, “Most people don’t know that left unchecked, one female cat can turn into 100 cats in just over a year. Spaying and neutering is vital to controlling the homeless pet population.” By offering services at a reduced cost, LCC provides crucial support to HSLC’s Trap/Neuter/Return program and its efforts to improve the lives of stray and feral cats in Loudoun County.
HSLC relies on our community partners to help us help as many animals as possible. Specialists such as LCC teach us that, as in human medicine, innovations in veterinary care occur constantly. By specializing in feline veterinary care, LCC is able to stay on top of innovations in the field, and their willingness to share their knowledge and passion with HSLC demonstrates their commitment to caring for cats and their understanding of those who love them. For LCC, the most important thing anyone who lives with feline family members can do is “understand, respect, and celebrate their cat-ness!”—something LCC does each and every day.
By Valerie Burton
June 24, 2018
Annie came to HSLC from a shelter in Russell County about a year ago. As a young dog we felt that she had a lot of potential even though she was surrendered because she “was chasing the chickens”. We came to learn that Annie has a very, very strong prey drive. Some dogs do. Annie does. If it runs, she will chase it. She does not like cats and some dogs, usually dogs bigger than her. But she LOVES people.
Her foster came to know her as a goofy, loving dog. Just look at some of these pictures! We worked with Annie to help her with some of her issues but we can’t change her nature. It came down to finding a family that understands her personality and loves her because of it. After months and months of meet and greets, inquires going nowhere, and working with her to help her be more social with dogs, the perfect family finally came along.
Annie now has a great life in Leesburg with a family that loves her and understands her limitations. Isn’t that what we all need?
Juli Bowman is the Youth Volunteer Coordinator for the Humane Society of Loudoun County. Recently, she has been particularly busy working with students on their senior service projects in numerous Loudoun County high schools. Learn more about these projects and Juli’s contribution to HSLC.
How long have you been a volunteer with the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) and how did you first get involved?
I started volunteering along with my kids several years ago. We encountered an HSLC adoption drive outside of Rust Library and spent some time looking at the cats and speaking with the volunteers. We were already fostering kittens with the Loudoun County Animal Shelter, but I saw this as another way to get involved – getting more out into the community, helping animals. HSLC really welcomed my kids (and put them to work!). My children loved working with me at adoption drives and events such as the Flower and Garden Festival.
What are the rewards and challenges of being an HSLC volunteer?
It thrills me to hear when an HSLC animal gets adopted. We have many goals as a part of our mission, but to me the knowledge that there is one less homeless animal and one more happy family member is rewarding news. I like to feel that I am, even if indirectly, a part of that.
It’s challenging to know that we cannot do it all. Keeping that fact from becoming a demotivator takes mental and emotional energy. I say this knowing that there are many HSLC volunteers who put in a lot more time and effort than I do, but I think we all feel this from time to time. However, I remind myself that every little bit helps. We can take a moment to celebrate a rescue or an adoption or an injured or sick animal pulling through, and that’s enough to gather new energy to do more.
Please share a recent initiative you supported.
I am both proud and thankful to have participated in senior service project programs in multiple Loudoun County high schools these past few weeks. HSLC sponsored seniors from the Freedom High School Capstone Program, the Loudoun County High School Raider Outreach Program, the Loudoun Valley High School Capstone Program, and the Tuscarora High School Capstone Program. In these programs, seniors gain foundational skills through short-term externships during the final weeks of the school year. Because HSLC is all-volunteer organization and does not have a shelter or central location, the independent project model is a perfect fit.
What role did you play in this initiative?
I provided initial and ongoing as-needed mentorship and guidance, while the students took on everything from planning, scheduling, time management, interaction with businesses and citizens of the community, all without direct supervision.
Please tell me about the specific service projects.
This year, six student groups opted to complete independent service projects of their own choosing with HSLC. Projects included the following:
- At Freedom High School, Brennan George, Mia McKinley, Sophia McKinley, and Tim McKinley sponsored a school-wide pet food drive for the Loudoun Pet Pantry.
- A group from Loudoun County High School consisting of Daniel Butler, Jack Hartmann, Collin Hughes, Matthew Martwinski, George Taliaferro, Ryan Vinci, Ryan Wigglesworth, and Jared Williams created a public service announcement video to convey the message “Adopt, Don’t Shop”.
- Loudoun County High School’s Katrina Cokain, Alexandra Saravia, and Sarah Van Hook ran a pet food drive for the Loudoun Pet Pantry in front of a local pet supply store.
- From Loudoun Valley High School, Riley Herr and Meagan Kennedy created a kit for HSLC’s humane education outreach program, making it easier for our volunteers to deliver talks to local youth groups.
- Tuscarora High School’s Quinn Herbine, Sarah Howorth, Olivia Shaw, and Lindsey Sestak conducted an adoption campaign to get the word out about a few animals that have been with HSLC for quite a while.
- Also from Tuscarora, Adriana Apintiloaiei, Sydney Bowman, Rosie Hackman, and Alex Nichols designed and constructed a cat tree for HSLC to use in fundraising. They also raised extra cash for HSLC through a bake sale.
What are the benefits of these projects?
All of these projects benefitted the animals in our community in many different ways, including funding, food, finding homes, and getting the word out to the community about HSLC and helping animals. In addition, these students got an opportunity to practice organizational, professional, and life skills through independent volunteer work.
What recommendations do you have for younger students?
It can be difficult for youth under 18 years old to find opportunities to volunteer with animals. HSLC offers kids the chance to help animals in the community through independent, group, or family projects. They can make a big difference through pet food drives, fundraising, awareness, and more. This type of work cultivates planning, communication, and time management skills, while at the same time provides for flexible hours and adaptability to any age.
Is there any advice you could share with someone, adult or youth, who is considering becoming a volunteer with HSLC?
HSLC can be quite a flexible organization to work with – there are so many varied ways to help. Volunteers of any age and capacity can and do make an impact through this organization. We are always looking for fresh ideas and enthusiasm. From very young children conducting fundraisers and awareness campaigns, to the full-time employee/parent/student who can lend technical skills, to the full-time volunteer who fosters and runs events, HSLC truly appreciates everything you do for animals.
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department at Blue Ridge Middle School in Purcellville held a pet food drive for us as part of their One to the World Project. They called it Bulldog’s BFF because their mascot is the Bulldog. All three CTE grades, 6-8, participated.
6th Grade Keyboarding students conducted background research, made promotional posters, and wrote to local merchants asking for gift cards to promote the food drive. The 7th and 8th grade Family and Consumer Sciences classes produced cat toys. The 7th grade TechEd classes created a logo for branding purposes and the 8th Grade Manufacturing students are made food and water bowl holders.
They collected 3 large bins of food plus toys and the pet food and water bowl holders.
Great job Bulldogs!
Penelope’s wonderful adoption story demonstrates how life for a homeless animal can turn from gloomy to bright when people care. This sweet and slightly shy bobtail kitty came to HSLC from an animal shelter around the beginning of 2014. Fosters were scarce at the time so she was placed in a kitty condo at one of our partner pet stores. Our volunteer caring for her at the store started calling her Doodle Bug because of her cute roly-poly shape and it stuck. But we had no idea what a gem we had taken in.
Doodle Bug never really seemed comfortable in the condo. Soon she began “acting out” at our adoption events, growling/hissing at the other cats and not letting people pet her. We were concerned that there was something wrong. When she developed a condition that required medication twice a day, the kitty condo volunteer decided to take her home to foster her until she was well.
Once in a home situation Doodle Bug seemed a little lost. We have no idea how long she was living in a cage before 
coming to us but it was obvious that she had forgotten how to be a cat. She had to be shown how to play with toys. Sitting on the floor, her foster had to pick her up and set her in her lap the first time to show her it was okay to ask for love. And then the drooling started. Doodle Bug was so happy being out of a cage and getting attention and love that she would start drooling when she purred. Drooling a lot – to the point a towel was needed.
After a couple of weeks in her foster home, Doodle Bug became the friendliest kitty ever at adoption events. She would reach out her paw at people passing by for them to show her some attention. The transformation was amazing. Then one day she caught the eye of Audrey Weinstein. We were using the pet store break room to let prospective adopters spend some time with the cats so Audrey, her friend, and our volunteer sat down at their table and Doodle Bug was set on the table for everyone to see and pet. Doodle Bug immediately walked over the Audrey and climbed into her lap. That sealed the deal.
Audrey and John Weinstein, residents of South Riding, have always named their cats after Greek mythological figures. After the untimely passing of Medusa, Audrey found Doodle Bug. What first drew them to this bobtail cat were her beautiful big eyes and her gentle disposition. She was promptly renamed Penelope, in honor of the beautiful and virtuous wife of Odysseus of Odyssey fame.
Penelope’s first night at home was eventful and set a pattern that continues to this day. As soon as the lights were turned off, Audrey and John heard commotion downstairs: running and loud meowing. Moments later, Penelope had come upstairs and started meowing at the door to the bedroom. Penelope had “killed” a toy mouse from her toy bin and brought this trophy upstairs. Every night, for the last four years, shortly after the lights are turned off, Penelope noisily kills the same toy mouse and carries it upstairs to Audrey and John. She has also “killed” toy birds and even a pair of earmuffs, but the little green and red mouse is her favorite victim. No sooner than she brings her trophy upstairs, she jumps on the bed to be rewarded with admiring words and petting. She loves to settle in to join Audrey and John when reading and sleeping.
Perhaps Penelope’s most endearing quality is her gentleness and love for children. She is often with Audrey and John’s 7 grandchildren, who range from ages 2-11. Penelope loves the additional attention and is always in the middle of the chaos.
Penelope is incredibly photogenic. John, a police lieutenant at Northern Virginia Community College’s police department, started to feature pictures of Penelope with monthly safety tips in the department’s monthly Public Safety Newsletter. Readership has increased by a factor of three. Her title on campus is “Penelope, the NOVA Police Cat” and she has become famous. People are constantly asking police dispatch which campus she’s at because they want to meet and pet her. The standard response, that she’s on patrol, is more engaging than she’s home, sound asleep and waiting for nightfall when she will kill again.
Penelope, the NOVA Police Cat, also has her own Instagram account, #penelopenovapolicecat, where she provides daily safety tips. Check her out.
Of course, Audrey and John consider Penelope to be unique, but in fact, she is just like so many other loving animals at the Humane Society of Loudoun County, just waiting to love and be loved.
