All it takes for a pet to go hungry or be surrendered to a shelter is for their family to have an unexpected medical bill or a job loss. Therefore, in 2013, The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), Loudoun County Animal Services, and Loudoun Hunger Relief created the Loudoun Pet Pantry to help keep pets in their furever homes by providing food supplies to people in need.
And, the need is growing. Recently, HSLC doubled its food deliveries to better meet the increasing demand. So, we are in constant need of pet food donations.
As a result, we are hoping that compassionate folks across the community will help out by conducting their own pet food drives. You’ll find helpful ideas for getting started on our website.
No time for a food drive? Please consider dropping off a bag or two of dog or cat food at the many donation box locations across the county. Dry food must be unopened, unexpired, non-prescription adult food; we cannot use kitten, puppy, or senior food for the pet pantry. Because space is limited, we can only use bags of dry food between 4 and 8 pounds. However, we can use all sizes of canned food.
We also appreciate monetary donations as they allow us to fulfill any specific needs. And, if you donate through our website, please specify “Pet Pantry” in the dedication field.
Lastly, HSLC is looking for a new, donated or discounted, climate-controlled space for the growing Pet Pantry. Please contact helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org with any suggestions.
Christina and her husband picked Sophie up on a sunny day in June from Towne Animal Clinic in Leesburg. She was super excited to see them and couldn’t stop wagging her tail. Sophie crashed out on their couch for the first couple of days then started to play with their dog, Max, and chew bones. She was super happy to sleep in the bed, cuddle, and give kisses. 
A couple of days after Christina began fostering Sophie, we found out Sophie tested positive for Lyme, roundworms, and hookworms. She was immediately put on medications to help with these issues. But Sophie started to have a tough time getting around after about a week on the medications. One morning, she couldn’t even get out of her dog bed to go potty outside. They immediately took her to Towne Animal Clinic where her medications were changed and they decided to keep her for a couple days. Sophie improved slowly but was very tired. After a couple weeks, she bounced back and was back to her normal, loving self. She again enjoyed going on long walks, binge watching Netflix, helping with dinner prep (i.e., eating extra food), and exploring in the woods.
When Sophie met her first potential adoption family, she knew it was meant to be. The family had two dogs – Buddha and George. Buddha and Sophie got along swimmingly on their first walk and she was okay with George, too. Sophie immediately took to their backyard, sniffing everywhere and trying to mow the grass with her teeth. After the second and third visits, both Sophie and her new parents knew it was a match. Sophie absolutely loves her new home and her two new adopted brothers. As foster parents, Christina and her husband miss her dearly, but are so happy she has found her forever home! 
You too can help dogs like Sophie by becoming a HSLC foster or adopting. For fostering information and/or to apply, visit FOSTERS NEEDED or email helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org. To view our adoptable animals visit our ADOPT page.
One of our intrepid fosters, Andi Apple-Robey, did just that. Eight little black kittens were rescued from a postal facility in Sterling in April. There were two litters, one about 7 weeks old and another 5 or 6 weeks old.
The “Clue” kittens are named after the characters from the board game, Clue. Andi used colored collars to tell the kittens apart and she started calling them by those colors. Clue is a murder mystery board game with suspects that have names like Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, etc., so it just seemed appropriate. Boddy is the name of the victim and Wadsworth is the butler.
Recently Andi had to handle some medical emergencies with kittens Mr. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Wadsworth.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) is dedicated to caring for all our animals as if they were our personal pets. This means providing the funds for whatever medical procedures are needed, sometimes causing budget overruns. But the safety and well-being of our animals are always our priority.
Here is how Andi explains what happened…
“About an hour after I brought the first of the kittens to be neutered (Messrs Peacock, Green and Boddy) home from Towne Animal Clinic, I was relaxing with some water and a snack of trail mix. Mr. Peacock stressed his incision, and was bleeding heavily (all over my kitchen!), so I immediately took him back to Towne. They fixed him right up, and when I got him home, I found Wadsworth and Plum with their faces in the now empty bowl that had held my trail mix! Since the trail mix had both raisins and chocolate in it, I had to immediately gather them up and go back to the vet with them! They tried to purge them, but the boys were stubborn and refused to vomit, and so they were transferred to The Life Center (TLC) ER for three days of IV fluids to try to flush their systems and prevent kidney damage (from the raisins, they weren’t as worried about the chocolate).
Since their blood work stayed stable during their time at TLC, Wadsworth and Plum were transferred BACK to Towne after just two days for Towne to perform their scheduled neuters and the third day of their IV fluid therapy. Once they were transferred and TLC was cleaning their cages, it was discovered Wadsworth likely had eaten part of his IV catheter. So not only did Towne have to finish his fluid therapy and perform his neuter, they had to X-ray him to see if he HAD eaten some of the hard plastic parts. Fortunately they didn’t find anything.”
We’re happy to report that the kittens are now healthy and happy. Only Mr Green is left waiting for his forever home.
Mr. Green is our adorable crossed eyed kitten. This challenges his eyesight but not his personality. He is a committed lap-cat and bed-time snuggler, with a little bit of a food thief thrown into the mix. He’ll sneak a piece of broccoli off your plate given half a chance! It’s a good thing he’s cute about it. Learn more on our adoption page.
Usually the adult cats get overlooked at adoption events when they are competing with so many kittens . 
But two adult cats, Rigley and Quill, were adopted together that day! They now live in a big house with kids to play with and two small dogs to “boss around”.
At the same event, three of our kittens found a home together (Turbo, Chopper, and Milo). We encourage adopters to consider adopting kittens in pairs so the animals have companionship and can play together instead of getting into mischief. Three together is even better!
“All three are doing well and playing nicely. They are all so loving and social, beyond our expectation”, reported adopter Margo. “To say these boys are being spoiled with love and attention is an understatement. After a long evening of play and exploration, the three climbed in human beds.”
Watch Turbo, Chopper, and Milo play at their new home:
Interested in adopting or know someone who is? Please visit our calendar for our next adoption event.
The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Neal Donahue as Treasurer and Anne Senft to our Board of Directors. The two newest members of the board will support HSLC in its mission to partner with the Loudoun community to save as many animals as possible.
Neal Donahue, newly appointed Treasurer, obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He previously was a member of the non-profit team of a large regional accounting firm and also spent 14 years as the CFO of a non-profit. He is currently the Partner in Charge of Business Clients for Crowe Donahue PLLC, a public accounting firm in Ashburn, Virginia.
“It resonated with my wife and I that the two dogs we adopted during our 33 years of marriage have been the most loving and thankful animals we’ve encountered,” Mr. Donahue says. “That alone made it important for me to be a part of the Humane Society of Loudoun County.” He and his wife Lynn have resided in Ashburn since 1995 where they raised their two sons and currently reside with their two Australian Cattle dogs, Riley and Gauge.
New Officer Anne Senft began volunteering with HSLC in 2017, helping with online and direct mail fundraising campaigns. She has worked for Avalon Consulting since 2015 and has 24 years of direct response industry experience. Prior to Avalon, she spent 12 years with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in several capacities, including Vice President of Philanthropy.
Regarding her volunteer work with HSLC, Ms. Senft says, “The significant impact this all-volunteer organization has made in the Loudoun community reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ I want to be a part of this change.” Anne lives in Sterling, Virginia with her husband, Tom, who also volunteers for HSLC. They have two cats, Sweet Pea and Mr. Fat Cat.
“HSLC is thrilled to add two such impressive and dedicated people to our Board,” states HSLC President Juanita Easton. “We look forward to their contributions to our mission.” Terms of service for the new Board members will run for two years.
HSLC is currently seeking volunteers to fill other positions on the Board, including one for a veterinarian and one for an attorney. HSLC also welcomes volunteers seeking to make a difference for animals through the variety of programs offered. More information about opportunities to volunteer is available on the HSLC website.
Her foster came to know her as a goofy, loving dog. Just look at some of these pictures! We worked with Annie to help her with some of her issues but we can’t change her nature. It came down to finding a family that understands her personality and loves her because of it. After months and months of meet and greets, inquires going nowhere, and working with her to help her be more social with dogs, the perfect family finally came along.
Annie now has a great life in Leesburg with a family that loves her and understands her limitations. Isn’t that what we all need?
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.
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.
Lily wasn’t always easy – she hated my 3 cats, suffere
d all the side effects of kidney disease, and preferred staying in only 2 rooms in the house. And I loved her in all her grumpiness and crazy ways. Knowing that I would experience the sadness of sending her over the rainbow bridge rather than sending her to a loving family and a forever home was hard. However it was also such a rewarding experience, because I got to provide a loving home while she was healthy enough to enjoy it.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Be at peace Lily. You were loved and will be missed.
Spanky’s Pub in Leesburg hosted a pet supplies drive on Aug 30th to collect items for A Forever Home Rescue Foundation who delivered them down to Houston to benefit the animals affected by Hurricane Harvey. The Humane Society of Loudoun County dropped off an SUV load of food and pet supplies to the event. Among the items dropped off were pet beds, food/water bowls, towels, collars and leashes, animal cages, and excess food supplies.
HSLC accepts donations of anything animal related (new, used, open, and expired). Through our partnership with Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) and Loudoun Hunger Relief (LHR), unexpired, unopened dog and cat food that meet proper criteria goes to the Loudoun Pet Pantry. Other things that cannot be used by HSLC are shared with other rescues to benefit homeless animals in Loudoun County and surrounding areas, including VA German Shepherd Rescue and Wildlife Veterinary Care.
Donation bins are located in businesses around the county. For more information and donation bin locations visit https://humaneloudoun.org/what-we-do/the-loudoun-pet-pantry-lpp/