April 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for the first Yappy Hour of the year at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Sell fun HSLC merchandise
✔️ Raise funds and awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
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For many animal lovers, the question isn’t if they want to help—it’s how. For Laurie Lewis, a new Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) foster, the answer was clear: fostering offered a way to help not just one dog, but many.
Having fostered—and adopted—dogs in the past, Laurie knew firsthand the joy of opening her home. This time, she made a thoughtful decision. Instead of adopting again right away, she chose fostering so she could continue making a difference for multiple dogs over time. “Fostering was something I wanted to get into again and hopefully help more than one dog,” she shared.
Her journey back to fostering came after the loss of her own dog—a difficult goodbye, made even more complex by the fact that he didn’t get along with other dogs. When the time felt right, fostering became a meaningful next step. “After I lost him a year ago, it seemed like a good time to start fostering.”
For those who feel a pull toward fostering but hesitate, her advice is refreshingly honest: yes, it can be an adjustment—but it’s worth it. “It’s always a challenge to bring a new pet into your household. You just have to have patience. Animals just want love.”
And then there’s Goose
Goose isn’t just any foster dog—“He’s the friendliest dog I’ve ever met. Everyone is a friend,” she says. Goose is a cuddle enthusiast, a kiss-giver, and a self-proclaimed lapdog despite his strength—especially when it comes to his favorite game of tug-of-war. He loves chasing balls (though returning them is still a work in progress), enjoys leisurely sniff-filled walks, and bursts into joyful zoomies across the yard.
More than anything, Goose wants to be near his people. A home full of love and companionship would be perfect for this affectionate, social pup.
In return, Goose has given just as much as he’s received. “He’s my shadow and a great companion,” she shares. “I know more people in my neighborhood now because he always wants to say hello.” Thanks to Goose’s outgoing personality, daily walks have turned into moments of connection—with neighbors, new friends, and plenty of admirers who can’t help but comment on how handsome he is.
Behind the scenes, fostering isn’t something you do alone—and that’s where HSLC steps in. From providing medications like monthly flea and tick prevention to offering vacation fosters, help is always just a call or email away. “HSLC has been very supportive and responsive,” she says. “It makes the whole experience easier.”
And while fostering usually means saying goodbye, it’s also about something bigger: giving a dog a second chance at life.
“I’m so glad he’s not in a shelter anymore and I love having him,” she says. “Goose is a very special dog. He’ll be a great companion for someone. He has so much love to give. I’m glad to be able to care for him until he finds his forever home.”
Could you be that bridge for a dog like Goose?
Fostering doesn’t require perfection—just patience, compassion, and a willingness to open your heart home, even temporarily. And in return, you’ll gain something truly special: the chance to change a life… and maybe your own, too. Learn more and apply today!
June 14 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the PetSmart in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Sunday, June 14. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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May 17 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their fur-ever families. Come meet them at the Pet Supplies Plus in Sterling on Sunday, noon-2pm. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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March 14 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the PetSmart in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Saturday, March 14. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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February 14 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Find your PURR-fect match at our special Valentine’s Day adoption event! HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the Petco in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Saturday, February 14. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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January 24 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the PetSmart in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Saturday, January 24. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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December 21, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the Petco in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Sunday, December 21. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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December 6, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many cats and kitties hoping to find their furr-ever families. Come meet them at the PetSmart in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Saturday, December 6. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
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IF YOUR PET COULD SPEAK, PART 7
By Uchenna C. Okeke
Time moves differently for our furry friends. One day they’re full of energy, running around the yard, and before you know it, they start moving slower, their fur turns a little gray, and they nap more often. If your pet could speak, at this stage of their life, their voice would sound softer, not weaker, just wiser. They would tell you that their body feels different, that jumping and running aren’t as easy as before. And if you listen closely, their heart would whisper:
“I’m aging, please be patient.”
What Aging Looks Like in Pets
As pets grow older, their bodies and habits start to change. You might notice that your dog or cat sleeps longer, plays less, or takes more time to climb stairs. Their eyes might look cloudy, their hearing might fade, and their joints may ache.
Some older pets become more attached and follow you around, while others prefer quiet spaces. These changes don’t mean they love you less, they just need your love in a gentler way.
How to Care for an Aging Pet
Caring for an older pet takes understanding and small adjustments that make them feel safe and comfortable:
- Offer softer bedding: Soft bedding and warm spots help sore joints.
- Switch to senior pet food: Age-appropriate diets can aid digestion and joint health.
- Exercise gently: Shorter, more frequent walks or low-impact play keeps them active.
- Provide regular vet checkups: Regular checkups help detect health problems early.
- Be patient with accidents or forgetfulness: Let them move, eat, and explore at their own pace
- Keep routines steady: Older pets like knowing what to expect; sudden changes can confuse them.
- Show love daily: Extra cuddles, gentle words, and quiet time together mean the world.
Aging isn’t an illness; it is a natural stage of life, one that calls for understanding, adaptation, and love in gentler forms. So whether you are watching your long-time friend grow older or thinking about opening your heart to a senior pet, remember this: older pets deserve the same warmth, comfort, and second chances as any other.
Giving Older Pets a Chance
While many people are drawn to puppies and kittens, older pets are often overlooked during adoption or fostering. But adopting a senior pet isn’t just compassionate, it comes with real, heart-warming benefits:
- They’re calm and gentle: Senior pets are usually well-behaved and love quiet company.
- Their personality is clear: You’ll know exactly what kind of pet you’re bringing home.
- They’re easy to live with: Many are already house-trained and used to people.
- They’re deeply grateful: Older pets seem to know when they’ve been given a second chance and they show gratitude for it every day.
- You make a real difference: Adopting or fostering a senior pet gives them comfort and love in their golden years.
If your pet could speak, they would remind you that love doesn’t age, it simply grows deeper. Each quiet walk, each gentle touch, each look of trust tells a story of shared years and unspoken gratitude. So hold them close, move a little slower, and treasure the time you have together, because love doesn’t grow old, it grows gold.