November 16, 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, November 16. 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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October 25, 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, October 25. 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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“Please Help My Friends”
By Uchenna C. Okeke
What if your pet’s voice could go further? What if, after showering you with love and gratitude for all you do, they look up with gentle eyes and whisper, “Can you help my friends too?”
For every pet curled up on a warm couch, many others are still waiting – not just to be seen or admired, but to be chosen, taken in, supported and loved.
Why Other Pets Need Our Help
At the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), every animal taken in carries a story. Some have known fear, hunger, or loneliness. Some were abandoned. Some simply lost their way. Others were born into circumstances that gave them little chance at a good life.
But here’s the truth: these at-risk cats and dogs are not less deserving. They are simply waiting for their chance.
And that chance only comes through people like you. Behind every rescue are everyday people who chose to help. Whether by fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating, each life saved begins with one act of kindness.
You don’t need to adopt a dozen animals to make a difference. Kindness takes many forms and everyone has something to offer. Ways you can help:
ADOPT
If your heart and home have room, adopting a pet is one of the most meaningful ways to change a life. When you adopt, you’re not just giving an animal a home, you’re opening the door to hope. If you’re considering adoption, HSLC is here to walk with you through the process and help you find the perfect match.
FOSTER
If you’re not ready for a long-term commitment, fostering allows you to be the bridge between homelessness and a forever home for an animal in need. Even a few weeks of your time can give an animal a chance to decompress and prepare for their happily ever after. HSLC offers flexible fostering opportunities, from vacation to emergency placements, so you can make a difference in a way that fits your life.
DONATE
Even if your home is already full, your heart can still give. Donations fuel HSLC’s work, covering everything from medical care to food for families in need. Whether it’s $25 for a microchip or a larger gift to cover veterinary costs, your generosity saves lives. You can also donate items from our wish lists, which directly lower operating costs and stretch resources to reach more animals.
VOLUNTEER
HSLC runs entirely on the passion and dedication of volunteers. That means every adoption, every rescue, every success story has people behind it who gave their time and skills. Animal care is one piece, but HSLC also needs help with events, fundraising, technology, and administration. Whether you’re an animal whisperer or a spreadsheet wizard, your contribution matters.
Every adoption, every act of kindness, every moment spent helping sets change in motion. There are animals waiting – waiting for a warm hand, a safe place to rest, a second chance. And the difference between waiting and belonging could be you.
And if your pet could step in here, this is what they’d probably say:
“I remember when I was waiting too, wondering if someone would ever come for me. There are still my friends out there, scared, hungry, or lonely. Please… help my friends.”
October 22, 2025 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for the last 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 work
✔️ Sell fun HSLC merchandise
✔️ Offer chances to win big in our 50/50 raffle—all proceeds help animals in need!
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
🐶 Don’t forget to bring your pup (in costume!) for Spanky’s dog costume contest. Just make sure your furry friend is safe and comfortable while showing off their festive look.
🎟️ We’ll be drawing the 50/50 raffle winner during the event, so grab your tickets now for a chance to win while supporting a great cause.
Let’s make this final Yappy Hour of the year one to remember—for us and for the animals! ❤️
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September 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 (NEW LOCATION!) from noon to 2pm on Sunday, September 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.
NOTE that Petco recently moved to the Battlefield Shopping Center at 1015 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. (It’s across the street from Costco, Target and Kohl’s.)
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PART 4: The Love Letter They’d Write to You
By Uchenna C. Okeke
Picture your pet settling down to write a heartfelt letter to you. It likely wouldn’t be grand or clever. It would be simple, warm, and sincere. Every line would drip with gratitude, not just for the food and shelter, but for your presence, your patience, your love.
If your pet could speak, they could sit you down, and read you a letter–a letter made entirely of memories. Memories of love given, love received, and love that has never once wavered; memories you’ve built together, day after day, line after line.
Before the Letter Begins
The truth is you’ve already lived every line of any letter your pet would write. Companion animals don’t need a pen or paper. Their love language is usually on full display – crafted in tail wags, slow blinks, eager barks, and gentle nudges. It’s written in the way they follow you from room to room, or in the sigh they let out when they finally settle at your feet.
Writing the Letter
Imagine their letter taking shape.
- The Salutation: Your pet’s letter would likely begin with “Dear You” or something more tender, like “To the One Who Changed My Life,” or perhaps, “To My Favorite Human.”
- The Introduction: In their opening lines, they would recall the warmth of belonging. For a cat, it might be the day she chose you as “hers.” For a dog, it could be the thrill of bounding into your arms after adoption. The introduction would set the stage with gratitude and might sound like: “I don’t have the words you use, but I feel everything. This is my attempt to tell you what’s in my heart.”
- The Body: They would continue the letter noting meaningful actions and gestures:
- Morning greetings: When they leap onto your bed or tap your hand with a paw, that’s their way of saying, “I’m glad you’re here.”
- During walks and playtime. The excitement in a game of fetch, the joy of sniffing every tree, would be them telling you, “Life is so much richer with you by my side.”
- Quiet evenings: When they rest their head on your lap or settle nearby in silence, would be them whispering: “I feel safe with you. You are my comfort. My world.”
- The Deeper Verses: The letter continues in subtle, powerful verses.” In the cat who curls up beside you when you’re unwell, whispering, “You’re not alone.” In the dog who waits patiently by the door, no matter how long you’re gone saying, “I’ll be here when your return.” In the eyes that search your face, not asking for food or toys, just checking in, asking, “Are you okay? I’m here.”
- The Conclusion: The letter would not end with a big proclamation. Just a steady, quiet expression: “Thank you for everything. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
The beauty of your pet’s letter is that it’s never finished, never sealed in an envelope. It is rewritten daily, in fresh ink made of glances, paws, wags, and stretches beside you. It is in the wag of a tail when you say their name, in the forgiveness they offer without hesitation, and in the joy that bursts forth when you return.
And if, for a moment, we were to put their heart into human words, their love letter might read like this:
To My Favorite Human
I don’t have the words you use,
but I feel everything.
This is my attempt
to tell you what’s in my heart.
I’m glad you’re here.
Life has so much meaning with you.
I feel safe with you
you are my comfort, my world.
You’re never alone.
I’ll always be here.
I’ll be here even when you are not okay.
Thank you for everything.
I love you more than you’ll ever know.
With love from,
Did you miss Part 1 -3 of this series? No worries! They’re still available here: If Your Pet Could Speak – Part 1: I want to fit in, but please don’t rush me; here: If Your Pet Could Speak – Part 2: I’m FeLV+ but please don’t count me out, and here: If Your Pet Could Speak – Part 3: Keep me safe, but please don’t make it boring.
September 7, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Come watch some silly cat videos for a good cause!
The world’s #1 cat video festival is back with screenings in theaters across the USA and around the world! Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CATVIDEOFEST 2025, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.
Each year across the country, local theaters partner with nearby cat-focused charities, animal welfare associations, and shelters alike. A portion of ticket proceeds from every show goes directly to the Humane Society of Loudoun County to help local cats in need. HSLC will also be bringing adoptable cats to Alamo’s lobby on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7 (note slightly different times).
Buy tickets: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Related Events
August 1, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
The Humane Society of Loudoun County will be bringing adoptable cats to Leesburg First Friday on August 1. Be sure to come inside and see the kitties up close and in purr-son at Coldwell Banker Realty!
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Part 2 – I am FeLV+. But, please don’t count me out!
By Uchenna C. Okeke
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a condition that often sparks fear or confusion. Too often, the diagnosis alone is enough to send potential adopters walking away. They picture a sickly cat with little time left. But beneath the label is a fur-baby that yearns to live, love, and be accepted.
If Sonny could speak, this orange creamsicle of a cat might tell you: “Yes, I am FeLV+, and I plan to live a long, healthy, love-filled life. Please don’t count me out.”
What is FeLV?
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a viral infection that compromises a cat’s immune system, making them more vulnerable to illness. Fortunately, FeLV is preventable through vaccination (85% effective), and regular testing can help detect infection early and prevent its spread. FeLV spreads mainly through close contact with infected cats via saliva, urine, or milk, often during activities like grooming, sharing food or water bowls, or bites. It can also be passed from mother to kitten during pregnancy or nursing. It is more common in outdoor or unneutered cats, and it cannot spread to humans or other animals like dogs.
Signs of infection may include weight loss, poor appetite, lethargy, pale gums, recurrent infections, or skin problems, although many show no symptoms for a long time.
What Hurts More Than the Diagnosis? – REJECTION!
Let’s be honest. Viruses scare people and such fear leads to rejection. But for FeLV+ cats, the hardest part of their diagnosis isn’t the virus itself, but the rejection that follows. Potential adopters often overlook them in favor of healthier cats. They see the “FeLV+” label and move on, without giving these loving cats a chance. Yet the truth is, with proper care, many FeLV+ cats live comfortably and happily for years.
How to Care for FeLV+ Cats
Caring for a FeLV+ cat isn’t hard, it just takes compassion, awareness, and a little routine. Here’s how to help your feline friend stay happy and healthy:
- Keep Them Indoors: This keeps them safe from infections, stress, and danger. A cozy indoor space filled with toys, soft beds, and window views gives plenty of fun and comfort they need.
- Feed a High-Quality Diet: Feed a high-protein, low-filler diet. Some vets may recommend immune-boosting supplements or special formulations. Always consult your vet before switching foods.
- Schedule Regular Vet Visits: Regular check-ups can detect issues early, even if your cat appears healthy.
- Create a Calm Environment: Stress weakens the immune system, so keep the home calm. Minimize loud noises, sudden changes, and overcrowding. Provide hiding spots and safe zones where your cat can relax.
- Keep Solo or Provide Safe Companions: FeLV spreads through close contact, so it’s safest to keep FeLV+ cats either alone or with another FeLV+ cat. With vet advice and proper vaccination, living with a FeLV-negative cat may be possible, but needs very close supervision.
- Give lots of Love: FeLV+ cats form deep bonds with their humans. They know what it means to be passed over, and when you choose them, they don’t take it lightly. So cuddle often, play daily, and remind them, through every moment, that they belong.
Sonny is Waiting for You
Every day, cats like Sonny watch as others around them are adopted. Their profiles get fewer clicks. Their foster homes get fewer visits. Not because they’re unkind or unfriendly, but because of a virus they didn’t choose. Sonny doesn’t know what FeLV means. He doesn’t understand why he doesn’t get a second look. He just curls up on his blanket and waits. But he’s not waiting for miracles. He’s waiting for you.
FeLV+ cats are not broken or fragile. They are simply special. And they need someone willing to look beyond a diagnosis and see the sweet soul looking for a caring human. If that might be you, learn more about Sonny and his dream of finding a home of his very own.
And, be sure to stay tuned for next month’s article because your pet has more to tell you….
Did you miss Part 1 of this series? No worries! It’s still available here: If Your Pet Could Speak – I want to fit in, but please don’t rush me.
September 6, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Come watch some silly cat videos for a good cause!
The world’s #1 cat video festival is back with screenings in theaters across the USA and around the world! Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CATVIDEOFEST 2025, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.
Each year across the country, local theaters partner with nearby cat-focused charities, animal welfare associations, and shelters alike. A portion of ticket proceeds from every show goes directly to the Humane Society of Loudoun County to help local cats in need. HSLC will also be bringing adoptable cats to Alamo’s lobby on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7 (note slightly different times).
Buy tickets: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema