By Stephanie Oporto
Tonight Mochi – now known as Hubble, went to his furever home. As always, it was a bittersweet “goodbye”. This time was a new experience for me as a foster mom as I am also a stepmom in training.
I admit, I do shed tears for each cat who has been adopted in my care–but this time was different.
We didn’t have Mochi long but our Ella (8 years old) bonded quickly to him. He was super friendly and was her little buddy. She’s been a great helper, seems to truly love cats and takes a real interest in animals.
Tonight as the forever family met with Mochi, Ella had a hard time. Normally I’m the one who has the hard time. But as the family started to leave, Ella broke down and cried in my arms. It was heartbreaking to say the least. Yet somewhere in between our tears, I felt there was something positive that could come from this moment.
I have been teaching the kids what it means to foster and why I choose to do what we do. Most importantly, I stress that I am not “giving a cat away” as it may seem to young eyes. I want them to understand that we are saving them–that this is for the greater good. I hope she understands (I think she does) and I hope this teaches the kids what it means to love and care for animals on a deeper level. It is important to fully respect and protect them and see them as a life worth living and not ever as an accessory.
We talked about it and I think she feels the same way I do. There is sadness, of course, of missing them and wondering “Will he be okay?…will he be loved?…can they love him like I do?” In the end, I think it was actually good for Ella to know she can care for something and really love another.
So tonight we all cried a little, both sad and happy tears as it turns out. We love you Mochi and all the joy you will bring to your new family, their son and those who are lucky enough to meet you!
By Alycia Kent
On April 28, a team of volunteers from the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) mobilized to help save a desperate family of five kittens and their mother from underneath a residential deck. Because of the cold weather, it was imperative that the kittens were rescued as quickly as possible. It took no more than a post in the volunteer Facebook group to rally the team needed for the mission.
In a heartwarming act of heroism, the volunteers were able to rescue the family in 24 hours. An experienced foster family took in the kittens and is in the process of helping them recover. The quintet of kittens were aptly named after the Golden Girls and Dorothy’s ex-husband, Stan. No doubt, they will bring just as much joy to the world as the original characters did on the small screen. The feral mother cat was spayed and vaccinated before safely being returned to her outdoor home.
The volunteers weren’t done yet, though. Another friendly cat was also found on the property, badly injured. She was rescued and taken to the vet to treat her wounds. Once recovered, she will be put up for adoption.
Amidst all the uncertainty in the world right now, one thing is clear. These volunteers quickly, selflessly, and heroically helped seven cats, and now six of them have the opportunity to find their forever homes. According to Donna Drake, HSLC Vice President, “We cannot save these animals without our amazing group of volunteers and rescue partners. They are the reason we can save and help so many animals and give them a better life.”
Thank you to the HSLC volunteers Pam Harvey, Heidi Wallner, Molly Boyne, Aseel Alsabawi, Amy Richards, Dora Lea Spring, and Jennifer Reed. Thank you also to Tina Creller of Mountain Cats TNR and Felicia McDonald of The Cats Voice.
By Madeleine Devost
Hops and Malt are two special needs cats with a rough past. Before they were rescued by the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), they experienced a horror story—living in a windowless cement office building for three years with up to thirteen other cats. When they came to us, Hops and Malt were terrified of people and it became very clear that they would need a loving home with a patient owner.
Hops (Malt on the left)
Lucky for them, Hops and Malt found Jennifer, a wonderful HSLC volunteer and foster.
Although they began to slowly come out of their shell for Jennifer, Hops and Malt were uncomfortable around other people. This made adoption events very difficult for them. Like many cats, they did not show well at these events which reduced their chances of being adopted. Their severe dust allergies posed another challenge. Jennifer had to take extra special care of the pair as they endured ongoing allergy shots.
Despite their issues, Jennifer fell in love with Hops and Malt and all of their unique quirks. Throughout the foster experience, she realized that Hops and Malt would have a hard time finding a home that they would feel comfortable in as much as they did in hers. So after roughly 18 months, she decided to adopt them. When a foster parent decides to keep their foster, it is called a “foster fail.” Jennifer has foster failed three times, all with black cats for which she has a very soft spot.
Jennifer’s foster fails looking forward to their new lives.
Cynthia O’Connell decided to sponsor Hops and Malt’s adoption fees through our Guardian Angel program after finding them on our website. Hops and Malt are the second and third cats that Cynthia has helped out through this program. Her living arrangement won’t allow for more pets so she finds the program to be an incredibly rewarding way to make sure that HSLC’s amazing animals find great homes. She’s looking forward to doing it again soon.
The HSLC is overjoyed that Hops and Malt have found such a loving home and two new ‘siblings,’ Janxi and Charlie. Special thanks to Jennifer and Cynthia for giving these special cats their happy ending.
THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED. WE WILL UPDATE OUR WEBSITE WHEN WE KNOW ARE NOTIFIED OF THE NEW DATE.
FREE EVENT!
Saturday, April 25 Sign-up for Volunteers and Fosters:
Join Claude Moore Park and other local organizations for a celebration of our favorite wild and domestic animals. Discover different animals that are in need of good homes while learning about the wild animals that have one outside!
Since wild animals can’t be pets, staff will help you craft your own “wild” animal to take home.
This event is a place for adoption and wildlife conservation. Currently we are expecting A Forever Home, the Human Society of Loudoun County, BREW (beagle rescue), Pet Connect & Rescue, and the Nirvana Ridge Ferret Rescue will be here. There will be animals here to view and adopt. NO VENDORS will be present.
Recently, the beautiful Midnight had a bit of a scare. She was rushed to the vet because she was lethargic and not eating. It was thought that she might have developed diabetes.
Fortunately, Midnight was cleared of diabetes and is doing much better now. But, to ensure she stays stable, we are hoping to find Midnight her own foster or forever home. Currently, she shares a shed with other cats. The shed is climate-controlled and specially adapted to ensure it’s a welcoming space for some of our foster cats. But, Midnight just isn’t a fan of other cats. However, she LOVES humans. And, she offers the best of both worlds: she’s a snuggly lap cat one moment and an independent, playful cat the next.
To foster Midnight, please complete an application here.
To adopt her, please complete an application here.
Ten-year old Midnight came to HSLC in August 2018 after her owners surrendered her for going outside the litter box. The leaky bladder was caused by a stone that has since been removed thus solving the problem.
“I used to go outside my litter box. Turns out, my previous owners didn’t know I had a lima bean sized bladder stone which has been removed. Now I’m all better and have perfect litter box manners.”
If fostering or adopting isn’t an option for you right now, please consider making a donation to help with Midnight’s ongoing care. She takes medication—like a boss—for a thyroid condition twice daily and is on a special diet to prevent any more urinary issues. Also, sponsoring or co-sponsoring her $150 adoption fee will increase the odds that she will finally get her happily ever after.
If you have any questions about helping Midnight, please contact us at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org
Thank you for making a difference!
Do you want to get back out in the community after hunkering down at home for so long? Are you looking for a school, church or scout service project? Would you like to spend time with animals but can’t commit to a new pet right now? Volunteer at the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC)! Here are the top ten reasons to volunteer with us.
Save Animal Lives: Each one of our volunteers contributes to saving animal lives.
Boost Your Health: Volunteering has both physical and mental benefits.
Meet New People: Spend time with people who have similar interests as you.
Learn New Skills: Ready for a new challenge? We have plenty of opportunities to learn new skills from animal care to project management to grant writing.
Relieve Stress: Spending time with animals relieves stress and curbs loneliness.
Have Fun: Whether you find fun in volunteering with other people or enjoy the company of animals, you can find your fun with HSLC.
Find Your Purpose: Volunteer with HSLC to see if saving animals is your purpose.
Strengthen Your Resume: Get hands-on experience to boost your resume.
Connect with the Community: Help improve the lives of animals and people in our community.
Truly Make a Difference: We need you!
Learn more at our website including available positions or send an email to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@humaneloudoun.org.
Come meet adoptable cats and kittens! Visit our website for a sneak peek of cats and kittens that are available!
To volunteer and/or bring your foster animals, please click on the following link or copy the link into a new browser window:
The volunteer sign up for events is for current volunteers who have attended our Volunteer Orientation and signed a Volunteer Agreement. Contact HELPANIMALS@HUMANELOUDOUN.ORG for more information.
Come meet adoptable cats and kittens! Visit our website for a sneak peek of cats and kittens that are available!
To volunteer and/or bring your foster animals, please click on the following link or copy the link into a new browser window:
The volunteer sign up for events is for current volunteers who have attended our Volunteer Orientation and signed a Volunteer Agreement. Contact HELPANIMALS@HUMANELOUDOUN.ORG for more information.
Come meet adoptable cats and kittens! Visit our website for a sneak peek of cats and kittens that are available!
To volunteer and/or bring your foster animals, please click on the following link or copy the link into a new browser window:
The volunteer sign up for events is for current volunteers who have attended our Volunteer Orientation and signed a Volunteer Agreement. Contact HELPANIMALS@HUMANELOUDOUN.ORG for more information.