No need to be bored this summer – help animals!

Kids can make a big difference in the lives of animals in our communities. All it takes is deciding what you want to do, making a plan and then carrying it out. Talk to some friends and ask them to help. You’ll get more done and have a lot of fun at the same time!
Not sure what to do? Here are some suggestions.

Organize a pet food drive

The Loudoun Pet Pantry is always accepting dog and cat food to help families in need to keep their beloved pets. The summer is a very slow time for donations so this would be a really big help. We specifically need small bags of dog and cat food (3 to 8 lbs) and any size cans. CLICK HERE to visit our website for more information. Contact HSLC at petpantry@humaneloudoun.org and we can pick up the food you collect.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Get friends and family to help with the collection and in spreading the word about your food drive. Set a goal and let everyone know about it. Use social media to generate buzz around your effort.
Decide on a theme and a time frame. Be creative in naming your event –
- Hunger Walk, Run, Bike; Dance-a-thon or Hoop-a-thon: Have sponsors pledge food donations for each mile completed, how many baskets made, etc.
- Celebration Presents Drive: Guests bring a food donation instead of bringing gifts to a birthday party, pool party, etc.
- Wash Away Hunger: Organize a car wash or dog wash and the payment is a food item donation.
- Fill it Up! Fill an inflatable pool, or other things with food.

Contact HSLC at petpantry@humaneloudoun.org and we can pick up the food you collect.

Raise money for animals

Animal rescue groups always need money. The money you raise could be used for food, medical care, and more for the animals we help. Be sure to let people know the money goes to help the animals.

Contact us at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org to make your donation.

Hold a garage or yard sale. To get items to sell, ask neighbors and friends to clean out their closets. Advertise your event, letting people know the time, place and date.
Look for jobs you can do to raise money, such as raking leaves, washing windows, collecting cans or bottles for recycling, washing and/or walking dogs, or taking care of a neighbor’s pet.
Sell something that you’ve made. You could create homemade cards from recycled paper, have a lemonade stand, or prepare goodies for a bake sale.
Ask local businesses to donate prizes and then sell raffle tickets.
Put on a special event – like an art show, a play or a dog walk – and sell tickets to people attending the event.

Help animals in your neighborhood

To help wild animals, build bird or bat houses, or put out water and feeders for the birds.
Organize a neighborhood cleanup to pick up trash, fishing line and other things that can hurt animals.
Start a Neighborhood Animal Watch for animal emergencies. Make a list of numbers to call, including
— A Veterinarian (your family vet, if you have pets)
— An Emergency vet in your area: CLICK HERE for a list
— A Wildlife Rehabilitator: CLICK HERE for a list
— Loudoun County Animal Control

If you know an elderly person or someone who’s sick who has a pet, volunteer to help feed, walk or bathe the person’s dog, or change the kitty litter.
Take good care of your own pet. Walk your dog or clean the kitty litter.

Whatever you decide to do, remember to be polite and thank people for helping. Be sure to feel good about all you’ve done to help the animals. You can make a difference!

Let us know what you plan to do or what you have done and we can include your efforts in a future newsletter! Contact us at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.

Article tags: cats, dogs, HSLC, humane society of loudoun county, Loudoun Pet Pantry

Since 1986, Old Mill Boarding Kennel has provided a safe, clean, and nurturing environment for guests to feel comfortable and welcome. Offering boarding for dogs and cats as well as day care and play time, there is also a pet spa and grooming facility on site, in addition to a full service veterinary hospital that opened in 1999. Old Mill has partnered with Humane Society of Loudoun County for over 20 years, giving our rescued cats a temporary place to stay while we locate foster homes and often providing the critical care that enables those with medical and behavioral issues to find homes.

The professionally trained staff at the kennel truly understand the anxiety people can feel when leaving their four-legged members in the care of someone else, and they make the extra effort to provide guests with a true home away from home. Although it is one of the largest pet boarding establishments in the Washington D.C. area, Old Mill has incorporated special features such as soft, residential-grade lighting, spacious sun-filled dog kennels, and sound-dampening acoustic wall panels to ensure maximum comfort.

Another unique factor that sets Old Mill apart from other boarding kennels is the presence of an on-site resident, long-time general manager Timmie Wiley, whose living space is attached to the kennel so he is close at hand when needed. He checks on guests when summer thunderstorms roll through or an alarm goes off, and he is on the scene to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Old Mill Cat Loft manager Shannon Judd has been with Old Mill for over 20 years. “We usually board the HSLC cats until they have fosters, feeding and caring for them, taking them to the vet if needed, and making sure they get as much human contact as possible.” She said they will take as many cats as HSLC brings, usually about 50 per year, and provide a reduced rate boarding fee.

The Cat Loft is a unique, state of the art facility featuring two level condos, with or without windows, in addition to skylights, large play rooms, and relaxing music. The Loft can house up to 85 cats at one time. “HSLC gets cats from a range of places—kill shelters, given up by people, feral, it’s a wide variety,” Shannon says. “We put them right in with our other cats (once they have the required vaccinations), and they are usually here a week or two.” In the past, the cats were with Old Mill for many months, and she attributes the shorter stays to more fosters and adoptions. “It was nice to see the same faces when we kept them longer, but this is not a place for them to live, and the quicker turnaround has been great.”

In addition to providing support with socialization, evaluation, space and care at reduced costs, Old Mill goes above and beyond to assist HSLC with cats who may have issues finding homes. One of the cats who benefited from Old Mill’s dedication is Tori, a kitten from the first mass spay/neuter clinic sponsored by HSLC who ended up with a chronic eye problem. For almost a year, they medicated her two to three times per day and saved her good eye. Once the condition was under control, a foster took her in and ended up adopting her—a happy ending for all.

Millie is another success story. After being diagnosed with cancer, she bonded with another HSLC cat at Old Mill and ended up living far beyond her prognosis. According to Shannon, “We do it because we have the space and it helps the community. We will always find a way to support the cats from HSLC, even if we’re booked.”

In 2017, HSLC found homes for a record number of cats and dogs. It is thanks to collaboration from partner agencies such as Old Mill that we are able to continue in this important mission, all for the love of animals.

Article tags: Blog, cats, community, HSLC, humane society of loudoun county