At the end of 2017, we received a kind note and donation from Mr. Howard Luck in honor of his cats Daisy and Violet:
“In March 1997, I was fortunate to adopt 2 kittens (age 4 months) from your society — Daisy and Violet. Violet passed away at age 14 years; Miss Daisy is still with me, at age 20+ years! Having Daisy and Violet in my life has been one of my best experiences. I’m so blessed to have connected with these wonderful beings. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for rescuing these kittens, and giving us the opportunity to be in each others’ lives. My gratitude is endless.“
We contacted Howard to learn more about his reasons for adoption, his experiences with Daisy and Violet, and his advice for those considering providing an animal with their “forever home.”
Why did you decide to adopt your two cats?
I had recently separated from my partner of five years; we’d had two cats together, and I made the very hard choice to leave them behind with my former partner so the cats wouldn’t be separated from each other and from the home they knew. After living in my new home in Springfield, Virginia for several months, I’d started seriously considering adopting a cat. The home just didn’t feel complete without feline companionship.
A good friend took me on a day trip to Loudoun County, and wanted to show me Old Town Leesburg. We happened upon a delightful boutique that specialized in cat-themed gift items. In the far back of the shop was a room where large, interconnected cages had been set up. And inside were two adorable tabby kittens, obviously a bit frightened of their surroundings. My friend and I immediately were drawn to these two! She encouraged me to adopt them right then and there; however, I was hesitant to make such a life-changing decision on the spot. This was not part of the day’s plan! Then the shop owner informed us that one of the Humane Society of Loudoun County volunteers had rescued them — someone had left them to drown in a stream or creek! I hesitated no more; I filled out the adoption papers immediately. And I’ve never had a single regret.
Was there a reason you decided to adopt from the Humane Society of Loudoun County?
As mentioned, it was completely by accident! However, I remember that the volunteers who assisted with the adoption were all dedicated, compassionate, and helpful. Also, there were checks in place to help ensure the kitties would be going to a good home where they would be well cared for.
Tell me a little about Daisy and Violet.
First, some background about their names: When we initially saw the kitties in the shop, we couldn’t tell them apart. They looked like twins. During the next week while I was waiting for the final adoption approval, I churned over what to name them. I wanted two names that would reflect the kitties’ seemingly twin characteristics. I recalled that a new Broadway show had opened, “Sideshow”, about conjoined twin sisters in the 1930s. I researched the twins’ names: Daisy and Violet Hilton. So, the kittens were christened Daisy and Violet.
Once Daisy and Violet moved into their new home, it became obvious that — despite their near-identical appearance — they had very distinct personalities. Daisy was the talker, and the more adventurous of the two. Violet was always more wary of strangers, or of new experiences. Also, Violet was initially ill with conjunctivitis and an upper respiratory infection. Daisy was very protective of her sister, and always stayed close to her. Over the years, this bond never diminished.
Both kitties were always affectionate (definitely lap-cats!), curious, extraordinarily well-behaved, and playful. Also, both seemed to have a sixth sense in regard to my mood: when I’d be sad or upset, each would come find me and offer extra affection and consoling. To this day, Daisy continues to be the best therapist!
What’s the best part about having cats in your life?
The companionship. The unconditional love. The opportunity to care for such beautiful and soulful creatures. The joy of knowing that I was able to save the lives of two amazing kitties, who have given me many years of happiness.
If Daisy could speak human, what would you want to know from her?
I believe that I was led to Daisy and Violet not only so I could save them, but so they could save me. Deep down I’ve always felt that these two kitties are my guardian angels, in my life to comfort and watch over me. If Daisy had the power of human speech, I’d ask her if that is indeed true. (However, as one of my guardian angels she’d probably have to be very coy with her answer!)
Do you have any advice for someone who is thinking about adopting a cat or dog?
I sense that rescue animals have a deep appreciation for the humans who save them. If you are able to give one (or more!) of these creatures a safe and nurturing home, committed to their care, and willing to always treat them with kindness, love, and dignity, the rewards will be immeasurable.
Thank you, Howard, for taking the time to chat with us!
The number of animals helped by HSLC has continued to grow over the years with the help of our many volunteers. In 2017 we were able to find homes for a record number of 184 animals! This amounts to countless trips to our partner veterinarians to provide vaccinations, wellness care, spay/neuter, and microchips. Our foster families provided many hours of socializing, training, and lots of love. Dozens of adoption events helped to showcase the animals. And our administrative volunteers handled mounds of paperwork including medical records, foster tracking, and adoption applications/agreements. Click Here to see our animals currently available for adoption.
Our Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program provides discounts for Loudoun County residents through our Loudoun County veterinary partners. A record 1,056 discount certificates were downloaded in 2017! Any Loudoun County pet family can download a certificate from our website to receive a discount for the anesthesia and surgery portion of the spay/neuter process. There will be other costs involved because each participating veterinary practice has their own pre and post surgery requirements. Users of this program are encouraged to “shop around” to determine which participating veterinary practice best meets their needs. We have 11 Loudoun participating veterinary practices scattered around the county: Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Purcellville, Lovettsville, and South Riding.
The Loudoun Pet Pantry has become a valuable resource for the Leesburg food pantry, Loudoun Hunger Relief, allowing them to include the family pets while feeding needy Loudoun families. This program helps keep pets in their loving homes when families fall on hard times instead of being forced to surrender them to a rescue simply because they cannot afford to feed them. The Loudoun Pet Pantry is a partnership between the Humane Society of Loudoun County, Loudoun County Animal Services, and Loudoun Hunger Relief. Donated dog and cat food is delivered to Loudoun Hunger Relief weekly.
Pet food donation bins are located around the county. We need small bags of dog and cat food (3 to 8 lbs) and cans of any size. Monetary donations help purchase food for the program when needed. Donate Online Here – be sure to dedicate your donation to the Pet Pantry.
At least 40% of families visiting Loudoun Hunger Relief for food assistance also request pet food. Currently we are only able to provide enough food for about half of these requests but we are working on ways to improve. Space is a major problem with all three organizations.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County is partnering with Becky’s Pet Care, Inc., a leading professional pet sitting company serving the Northern Virginia areas. 2018 marks Becky’s Pet Care’s 20 years in business. In honor of adopting a pet through the Humane Society of Loudoun County, Becky’s Pet Care is offering a $20 off promotional discount for any pet sitting service they offer. Adopters will receive a coupon in their Adoption Packets. Becky’s Pet Care current serves the following areas in Loudoun County: Sterling, South Riding, Stone Ridge, Ashburn, and Oak Grove. We will be expanding soon in more Loudoun area cities and divisions.
Becky’s Pet Care – Company History:
“Responding to Northern Virginia’s growing need for professional pet care services, Becky O’Neil founded Becky’s Pet Care, Inc. in her townhouse basement in 1998. Becky was a one-woman show, running the operation as sole proprietor and sole employee. Thanks to her strict professional standards and knack for hiring devoted animal lovers, Becky’s Pet Care rapidly expanded and now occupies three commercial office space locations serving over 3,500 clients. Caring for these clients and their beloved pets are nearly 150 Pet Care Professionals and a fully-staffed administrative office.
Along the road to this stunning success, Becky cultivated a formidable expertise in small business ownership, including personnel management, systemization, marketing, business planning and development, and human resources, all in a concerted effort to render her business interactions efficient and effective for employees and clients alike.
Whether you’re heading out on that quiet island getaway or just need some extra help, Becky’s Pet Care is your Partner-In-Care, helping at home by looking after your dog, cat, or small animal. Just let us know when you need us, and we’ll keep your pets happy while you are away. Our trained Pet Care Professionals have been serving Northern Virginia for 18 years. We guarantee the highest-quality service at an all-inclusive price, which means you don’t have to worry about extra fees for medications or additional pets. We’re professionals, so we only charge you for the time it takes to care for your animal. No matter where in the world you travel to, Becky’s Pet Care will be there every time to keep your pet safe and content at home, with the peace of mind that your pets are in great care.”
Each Humane Society is an independent organization; “Humane Society” is just a descriptive word — like the word ‘bank’ is in US Bank and Bank of America. They are not connected to each other. It can be confusing!
Many people even mistakenly think that the Humane Society of the United States runs all humane societies. They do not! They do help animals through legislation and in disasters, but do not have a shelter themselves.
Some Humane Societies, like the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), are “limited admission”. Limited admission organizations sometimes have their animals for many months, and use foster homes. That means they do not have to euthanize animals to make room for new pets they take on. And many, like HSLC, have other programs that help the local animal population, like a pet pantry (Loudoun Pet Pantry) so families in need don’t have to surrender their pets simply because they can’t afford to feed them, partial help when medical emergencies arise, and resources for behavioral issues. The Community cat program is major part of HSLC, helping to reduce the numbers of feral cats while improving their health and quality of life.
And some Humane Societies are “open door” with animal control contracts, just like a city shelter, so they do euthanize to make room. Many “open door” humane societies run programs that have helped reduce pet overpopulation in the cities they serve. They may have the pets for many weeks, and know more about their behavior and health than a city shelter.
So it’s important to understand the nature of your local animal rescues and support them for the benefit of your community. We all work together to help animals but we are separate, independent organizations.