By Uchenna C. Okeke

During seasons of gifting, our thoughts turn to the ones we love – including our furry friends. We want to give gifts that speak to their deepest needs and desires. A gift that will make their heart sing and their spirit soar. While fancy toys and treats can certainly be delightful, we want to give something far more precious. Read on to discover the most coveted gifts for your furry friend – quality time, good health and nourishment, comfort, and safety.

The Gift of Quality Time

In today’s busy world, it is easy to get caught up in our daily routines and forget to spend quality time with our pets. But pets need attention and interaction to stay happy and healthy. By spending quality time with your pet, you’re showing them that they’re important to you and that you care about their well-being.

Some ways you can spend quality time with your pet:

• Play with your pet: you can play fetch with your dog or use a laser pointer with your cat, or try a new activity such as agility training or swimming.
• Go for a walk: Taking your pet for a walk is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air while spending quality time with your pet.
• Cuddle on the couch: Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. Cuddling with your pet on the couch can be a great way to relax and bond with your pet.
• Simply be present: Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your pet is simply to be present. Sit with them, pet them, and enjoy their company.

The Gift of Good Health and Nourishment

A healthy pet is a happy pet. Consider gifting your pet a veterinary check-up to ensure they are in good health. Regular health checks can help detect any potential issues early on, preventing more serious problems from developing.

A nutritious diet is essential for your pet’s overall health and well-being. Consider upgrading your pet’s food to a high-quality, balanced diet that meets their specific nutritional needs. Limit treats to ensure pets can keep a healthy weight.

The Gift of Comfort

Just like humans, pets need a comfortable and cozy place to rest and relax. Providing a warm and inviting space for your pet to snuggle up in can be a wonderful gift. Whether it’s a plush bed or a soft blanket, a comfortable place to sleep can help your pet feel relaxed and content.

Consider the following ideas to create a comfortable haven for your pet:

• Provide a warm and cozy bed or mattress
• Offer a soft blanket or a cozy throw for snuggling up
• Create a quiet and peaceful space for rest and relaxation
• Ensure good ventilation and a comfortable temperature
• Provide cozy and quiet hiding places.

The Gift of Safety

Providing a safe environment for your pet can help reduce stress and anxiety, and prevent injuries and illnesses. By taking steps to ensure your pet’s safety, you can give them the gift of peace of mind and a long, healthy life.

Consider the following ideas to create a safe environment for your pet:

• Pet-proof your home by securing toxic substances out of reach.
• Remove hazardous items like sharp objects.
• Provide a safe outdoor space with adequate fencing and shelter.
• Be prepared for emergencies with a pet first aid kit and a plan.

As you consider what gifts to give your pet, prioritize what truly matters to them. Give them the gifts that will bring them joy, comfort, and happiness.

It’s hard to believe but 2025 is just around the corner. Are you thinking about adopting one or two new animal-friendly habits in the new year? If so, we’re here to help. Below are just a few resolutions to choose from:

1) Keep your pets healthy by giving them regular checkups—at least once a year and keep current with vaccinations.

2) Make dental care a priority through daily brushing and regular professional dental exams and cleanings. As many as 85% of American dogs and cats show signs of dental disease by the age of three.

3) If you haven’t already, spay and neuter your pets. Doing so helps cut down on the number of homeless animals and keeps your pets healthier.

4) Give your pets plenty of attention. Animals left at home alone become bored and lonely. They can become destructive. Provide regular play sessions, walks for dogs, and petting and/or other appropriate interaction for all animals.

5) Go easy on the treats. More than 50% of our nation’s pets are overweight or obese and face a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and cancer.

6) Prepare for disasters—fires, floods, storms, and the like. Have an evacuation plan that includes your animal companions, and prepare a traveling kit to have on hand always.

7) Be a voice for the voiceless and use social media to encourage friends, family and co-workers to save a life by adopting, not shopping.

8) Fostering also saves lives. HSLC provides regular trainings for those who are interested in fostering. Contact us at foster@humaneloudoun.org if you’re interested in fostering or complete a no-obligation application on our website.

By Kathleen Silver

(Updated 2024)

So far this year, the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) has adopted out nearly 150 dogs and cats and trapped over 115 community cats to have them fixed, vaccinated and chipped. This life-saving work is only made possible thanks to the support of caring individuals like you!

HSLC is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization committed to rescuing and caring for as many homeless and at-risk animals as possible. But, since each foster animal in our care costs an average of $1,000*, we are limited to the number of animals we can take in. Most of our donations are applied to veterinary costs to prepare an animal for their forever home. 

Your Donations in Action

Did you know that with a donation of only $25, we can treat an animal for fleas and deworm her? A $50 gift will provide needed vaccinations or pet food kits for five struggling families.

Perhaps you’ve been following a particular companion animal we are helping but cannot adopt yourself. HSLC also has a Guardian Angel program that allows you to sponsor that animal’s adoption fee ($150 for a cat and $300 for a dog), increasing their chances of being adopted. Adoption sponsorships help to defray the cost of care while an animal is in our foster network. And, if you don’t have your heart set on a particular animal, HSLC can easily choose a pet for you that needs the most help.

HSLC is a foster-based animal rescue that does not operate a shelter and therefore does not incur the expenses associated with running a facility.

Animals are Counting on You

With economic conditions being difficult this year, we know that money might be tighter than normal. But the calls to help our furry friends never stop. You can assist us in getting the push we need to help more animals in the new year. 

There are many ways you can donate to HSLC. You can make a one-time donation or start a monthly donation online. Note that you can make your gift in honor or memory of a loved one. Or you can donate from your donor-advised fund — an increasingly popular way to express your support for the causes that mean most to you. Thank you for making a life-saving difference! 

You may also like 4 Tax-Savvy Ways to Support HSLC Before Year-End.

_{*2022 figure; reflects discounts from our wonderful vet partners}

The Humane Society of Loudoun County will be bringing adoptable felines to Leesburg First Friday on November 1. Be sure to stop by and meet the kitties up close and in purr-son at Coldwell Banker Realty!

The Humane Society of Loudoun County will be bringing adoptable cats and kittens to Leesburg First Friday on October 4. Be sure to come inside and see the kitties up close and in purr-son and enjoy some free popcorn, compliments of Coldwell Banker Realty!

Every year, the Clear the Shelters campaign lights up the nation, creating a powerful wave of compassion and action for our furry friends. Running from August 10 to September 10, this year’s campaign was no different, bringing a surge of support and a renewed focus on pet adoption and donations. Since its inception in 2015, Clear the Shelters has been a beacon of hope, helping more than 1 million pets find their forever homes.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) proudly joined the nationwide effort, participating in multiple adoption events throughout the campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to offer special incentives to encourage adoptions. Adult cats and dogs had their adoption fees waived, while a special “BOGO” deal was available to help bonded kitten pairs find homes together.

Among the many uplifting adoption stories, one stands out as a shining example of the campaign’s success. At the CatVideoFest event hosted at the Alamo Drafthouse in Ashburn, a potential adopter came to meet three remaining kittens from the Kittenpalooza litter. He was so moved by the trio’s bond that he decided not to separate them. In a rare and heartwarming decision, he adopted all three kittens together. It’s moments like these that make the hard work and dedication surrounding adoption efforts so rewarding.

In total, HSLC successfully placed 22 animals into loving homes during the campaign. Each adoption story is a testament to the power of community support and the difference it can make in the lives of the littlest among us.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the campaign, whether through donations, volunteering, or adopting. Your contributions are making a lasting impact on the lives of so many pets and their new families. Here’s to many more happy endings and the continued success of Clear the Shelters!

Get ready for the 6th year of One Loudoun’s signature pet event event! The Halloween Bark Bash at One Loudoun is an outdoor, Halloween-themed festival, bringing together local pet-focused businesses, animal rescue groups, and pet owners for an exciting day of trick or treating, adoptable dogs, music, costumes, and animals galore. We will be collecting donations to help the families of pets and animals in need. Please bring your unexpired adult dog and cat food donations to our tent at the Bark Bash event. Thank you!

• Dog Costume Contest
• Trick-or-Treat Trail
• Vendors
• Rescues
• Dog Caricatures
• Photo Booth
• Kids Activities and More!

The Humane Society of Loudoun County is honored to be selected again as this year’s Kite Cares partner!

By Kailyn Carr

When it comes to things we like or love, we tend to live by the philosophy that if one is good, two is even better. Why stop at one piece of chocolate when you could have two? Same goes for cats. What could possibly be better than two best friends instead of one?  Though adopting in pairs may not be for everyone, the pros—including twice the love—often outweigh the cons.

Benefits of Adopting in Pairs

Starting with kittens (we’ll get to adults in a moment), here are seven ways fur-babies benefit from a twosome according to the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw.

1. Learn by Observation – Kittens learn by observation and will more quickly pick up skills like using the litter box or grooming if they have another kitten or cat to teach them. 
2. Focus Play Aggression – Having a friend means they can take out their play aggression on one another (instead of on you.) They’ll also teach each other good boundaries about biting and scratching.
3. Entertain & Enrich – When your kitten has a buddy, they’ll always be entertained, active, and enriched. And a happy cat makes a happy home! 
4. Keep Out of Trouble – One mischievous kitten can be destructive if left alone, but two kittens tend to keep each other occupied and out of trouble. 
5. Easier Intro to Adult Cat – If you have an adult cat at home, two new kittens may be easier to introduce into your family than one. While one kitten may nag an older cat, two kittens will keep each other company while the older cat watches from a distance. 
6. Comfort in Friendship – Having a pal will help your kitten settle into a new home. Just like humans, kittens have an easier time feeling comfortable trying something new if they’ve got a friend to do it with them.
7. Bonded Pair Adoption – It’s easier to adopt a bonded pair than it is to introduce a new cat later. Adopting a dynamic duo ensures that you’ll have a harmonious home for years to come!

Adopting in pairs also has a positive impact on animal rescue groups like the Humane Society of Loudoun County. By adopting two animals, you free up two slots in a foster home or shelter which allows the rescue to save two more lives.

Bonded Pairs

A bonded pair contains two cats that have a special relationship. While kittens often are bonded early in life with siblings, close relationships between cats can occur at any age. This is due to their natural instinct as social animals to form a pack. These bonds often develop between mother and offspring and even individuals with no familial relationship (true best friends!)

Once a bonded pair is observed, caretakers preserve the relationship by housing the cats together and encouraging an adoption into the same home. Maintaining the bond between two cats is essential. When apart, one or both cats can become stressed, anxious, or even depressed without the other around.

Spotlight on a Purr-fect Pair: Ripley and Winston

One of our pawsome fosters, Kelly, fondly recalls her experiences fostering (and eventually adopting) mama Ripley and her son Winston. Here is what she had to say:

“Winston was always very attached to his mom and we’re so glad we didn’t separate them. They are so funny together–they roughhouse all the time and run around the house chasing each other. It keeps Ripley active as she ages. Plus, if Winston was an only cat, he would constantly be making mischief for us. Having another cat gives him an outlet for his energy. Of course, it’s also comforting to know they have each other when we’re not home. I truly think they’re happier because they always have a buddy.”

If you are interested in adopting one or more cats, visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County’s current clowder of adoptable cats here. Once you find your next family member(s), be sure to complete an application to start the adoption process.

By Madeleine Devost

Each year, over 10 million pets are lost in the United States. However, many are found when the owners take swift and necessary action. Summer can be a particularly scary time for pets who don’t respond well to fireworks and other loud noises or find themselves in strange places due to family travel. For these reasons, July is Lost Pet Prevention Month. I caught up with one of the Humane Society of Loudoun County’s most active volunteers, Jennifer Reed, who shared some useful tips she has picked up from her years of experience getting pets home safe and sound.

In preventing lost pets, owners should make sure to keep their pet safely quartered in the home when there are loud noises nearby such as fireworks, construction, or thunder. These disturbances can send pets into ‘flight mode’ and activate survival tactics that cause them to run for their lives. When this happens, the pet will likely be in a frenzy and not respond to people calling their name.

If you lose a beloved pet, Jennifer suggests placing 100+ flyers within a 2-4 mile radius of the missing area as quickly as possible.  Flyers should include only the most important and clearest information, especially a line of direct contact (such as a cell phone number). The flyers should lead with “LOST DOG/CAT” in bold and large letters, a recent photo of the pet and employ a simple, uncluttered design. If space allows, add “Do not chase or call out” and “Please report sightings right away”.

Another tool to use are Community Facebook groups where you can relay information about your lost pet and allow members of the community to share it and directly comment with any useful information. Jennifer also recommends reaching out to local shelters and informing them of the missing animal. You can make a report with the Loudon County Animal Services at 703-777-0406 or reach out to local animal tracking groups such as Dogs Finding Dogs or Full Tilt Tracking once the first steps to relocate the pet are taken.

As you wait for information to come in, create an action plan to implement once your pet is sighted.  This plan should include establishing a feeding station and feeding routine to keep the pet in the area spotted so that trapping or catching the animal is possible. Be ready to monitor the feeding station with a surveillance camera like game cameras used by hunters. That way, you will know when and if the pet is still in the area and coming to eat.

Although all of these methods are effective and essential, the absolute best way to find a missing pet is to be ahead of the curve and get it microchipped when you adopt. Microchipping allows your veterinarian’s office to look up your pet’s unique ID number. Jennifer adds that you should also ensure that your personal information in the microchipping database remains up-to-date.

Lastly, if you find a missing pet, please bring it to a vet’s office to see if he/she is microchipped.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) will be at the Alamo Drafthouse at One Loudoun for CatVideoFest – the world’s #1 cat video festival! Be sure to stop by the HSLC tables for free giveaways and HSLC merch! Adoptable cats will make an ap-purr-eance from 1:30 to 3:30.  Alamo will be donating a % of gross ticket sales to the Humane Society of Loudoun County!

For showtimes, visit the Alamo website.

More about CatVideoStFest: CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.