September 6, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Come watch some silly cat videos for a good cause!
The world’s #1 cat video festival is back with screenings in theaters across the USA and around the world! Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CATVIDEOFEST 2025, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.
Each year across the country, local theaters partner with nearby cat-focused charities, animal welfare associations, and shelters alike. A portion of ticket proceeds from every show goes directly to the Humane Society of Loudoun County to help local cats in need. HSLC will also be bringing adoptable cats to Alamo’s lobby on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7 (note slightly different times).
Buy tickets: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Related Events
July 13, 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Looking for your next furry family member? We have many cats and kitties hoping to find their fur-ever homes! Come meet them at the PetSmart in Dulles Landing from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on July 13. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular fur-baby (or two) catches your eye, complete an application today to expedite the application process.
Related Events
By Heather Nokes
Did you know that dogs and cats do not sweat like humans? Their main sweat glands are located on their paw pads and are not very effective at cooling them off. With summer now upon us, it is important to understand how hot weather affects our pets and how we can help them stay cool.
First, keep your pets out of the heat. This may be difficult for dogs. Most love the outdoors so much, they may not ask to come inside, even when in distress. If unable to keep them in an air conditioned environment, be sure to provide cool shade or shelter for your pets. Clean, cool water should always be accessible to pets that spend time outdoors during summer months. Note that, effective July 1, 2020, a new Virginia law went into effect preventing tethering outside during extreme weather.
Take your dog on walks at dusk or dawn, when it is light enough to be seen by others, but still cool enough for a walk. Check the pavement you are walking on with the back of your hand. If your hand burns after a few seconds of contact, so will your dog’s foot. If it is too hot for you, it is much too hot for your pet.
To cool down, dogs will often pant to rid themselves of excess body heat. Panting is normal for most dogs but be aware of the signs of abnormal panting. Cats tolerate hot weather a little better than dogs but can suffer from heat stroke. They often choose lying in cooler areas, drinking cool water, and adjusting their body positions.
If you notice your pet is overheating, gradually reduce their body temperature. Use ice packs, cold towels, or apply cool (not cold) water to the head, neck and chest, let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes and move the pet into shade or air-conditioning. NEVER try to quickly cool a pet by dunking them in cold water. This can drop their body temperature too quickly and send them into shock.
Contact your vet immediately if your pet shows any of the following signs:
- Heavy panting
- Glazed eyes
- Rapid pulse
- Vomiting
- Fever (the normal range in dogs is 101-102 degrees, cats is 99.5-102.5 degrees)
- Unsteadiness or a staggering gait
- A deep red or purple tongue
Lastly, never leave pets in a parked car. Even on cool days, such as 70 degrees, a car’s internal temperature will jump to 90 degrees in 10 minutes and over 110 degrees within an hour. At 85 degrees, the car will reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes, continuing higher with more time. On 90 degree days, the car will quickly escalate to over 110 degrees. Cracking windows does not prevent a car from getting dangerously hot, even in cool temperatures.
For additional information on keeping your pets safe and comfortable during warm weather, please click on the following link: AMVA Warm weather pet safety
September 6, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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 1:00-3:00. 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.
Related Events
At the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), every animal we help is a life changed—sometimes even saved. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re inviting you to take one simple step that can make a world of difference: become a Pet Partner through monthly giving.
More Care for Them—All Year Long
As a Pet Partner, your monthly gift provides lifesaving funds to dogs and cats in need—every single day, all year long. Whether it’s covering emergency vet care, food, or spay/neuter surgeries, your consistent support means we can always be ready to help.
- Small gifts add up. Even $10 a month can provide vaccinations for a pet entering foster care. Imagine what $25 or $50 can do!
- Reliable support. Monthly donations help HSLC plan ahead, knowing how many animals we can take in and care for, thanks to your dependable generosity.
More Convenience for You
We’ve made giving easier than ever—so you can focus on the love you’re giving without the hassle.
- Your gift is automatically deducted each month.
- No checks to write, no stamps to find.
- Manageable contributions that fit your budget.
- Tax deductible and easy to track at the end of the year.
- You’ll be recognized as one of the animals’ most loving and reliable friends!
Get Started Today
Monthly giving is one of the most effective ways you can support HSLC. It’s convenient for you—and absolutely life-changing for the animals we serve. Your ongoing support ensures we never have to say no when an animal needs us.
Become a Pet Partner today. Once you click through, simply select your recurring donation amount and set the donation frequency to “monthly”. Your donation will be automatically charged to the credit card of your choice each month until you cancel, and you’ll be part of a compassionate community committed to helping more animals. Thank you for your kind and lifesaving support!
By Uchenna C. Ukeke
Volunteering is not just a simple act of kindness that benefits the community. It can also benefit you personally and professionally. And the best part? It doesn’t require wealth, fame, or perfection—just willingness. Discover how volunteering can unlock purpose and fuel growth in your life, while also enhancing the lives you touch.
Personal Growth
- Developing Emotional Intelligence: Volunteering exposes you to different perspectives and challenges, helping you develop empathy and resiliency. This increased emotional awareness improves your relationships and boosts your ability to connect and communicate with others in your life.
- Boosting Confidence: Volunteering is a powerful confidence booster. By dedicating your time and efforts to helping others, you gain a deep sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Seeing the direct impact of your work reinforces the value of your contributions, and this recognition enhances your belief in your abilities. Volunteering also helps you build new skills which can also boost your self-esteem.
- Finding Purpose and Fulfilment: By supporting causes that matter to you, like animal rescue, you become part of something greater than yourself. Volunteering provides meaning and fulfilment knowing that your efforts are making a real difference in the lives of others.
- Making Friends: Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends. As a volunteer, you’ll interact with people from diverse backgrounds and yet share a common interest. Some volunteers remain friends for life.
Professional Benefits
- Enhancing Your Resume/CV: Volunteering offers valuable hands-on experience that boosts your career. Whether you are managing a project or running an event, volunteering provides opportunities to refine existing skills and develop new ones, including leadership, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. This practical experience can help fill gaps in your resume, especially if you’re changing careers, entering the workforce, or looking to climb the corporate ladder.
- Expanding Your Network: Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet people from various professional backgrounds, whether it’s with fellow volunteers, community leaders, or like-minded professionals. These connections help expand your network and are valuable for both personal and career growth.
- Building Career Credibility: Volunteering demonstrates your commitment, passion, and reliability. It shows that you’re proactive, socially responsible, and willing to contribute beyond your job. These qualities not only benefit the causes you care about but also help your professional growth.
Volunteering with HSLC
Volunteering with the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) offers you the chance to make a real difference—for animals, for the community, and for yourself. HSLC provides opportunities for meaningful engagement that supports both personal development and community impact.
Ready to find your purpose and grow through giving back? Click here for HSLC’s most pressing needs. If you don’t see something of interest, please complete an application and we will work to find a role that’s right for you!
By Uchenna C. Okeke
Many people hesitate to foster because they fear becoming attached. If you’ve ever thought about fostering a rescued animal, this concern may have crossed your mind. But, is this fear of attachment really a reason to hold you back from fostering? What you discover may change your mind forever.
Attachment is Strength
Attachment isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength! It means you’re making an impact. It shows you have the love and compassion to change an animal’s life. Fostering isn’t just about providing food and shelter; it’s about offering love, stability, and care to an animal in need. The bond you form isn’t something to fear, it’s part of the journey.
As dog and cat foster caregiver, Blaire, puts it: “You get attached because you have a big heart. But part of loving them is wanting to see them find THEIR people, and understanding that if you keep them, you can’t help more. Always go into it knowing this is only temporary, ‘goodbye is the goal.’ The peace of knowing they found their forever home really does quell the sadness of letting go.”
Every Goodbye Means Another Life Saved
Letting go is never easy, but it can be deeply rewarding. Each time you foster, you not only help one cat or dog, but you also make space for another animal in need. The beauty of fostering lies in this ongoing cycle of love and rescue.
While goodbyes can be tough, remember that your role as a foster parent is key to saving lives. And if you find the perfect match for your family, adoption with HSLC is also an option! Many fosters choose to adopt, and that’s part of the journey, too.
Why Foster?
Fostering is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of animals. It offers pets love, care, and a secure environment – often something they have never experienced before. By opening your home, you help them build confidence and develop social skills, preparing them for their future forever family.
Diane, who has been fostering for 20 years, says: “Fostering allows me to save a homeless dog. Every time I bring one in, I’m not just helping them – I’m also creating space for another dog at the shelter (or rescue). Without fosters, rescues wouldn’t have the ability to take in more animals. That’s the core of why fostering is so vital.”
Diane’s experience highlights how the impacts of fostering far surpass the difficulty of saying goodbye.
Flexible Fostering Options
Fostering can fit into various lifestyles. Whether you can commit long-term or just for a short time, every effort matters. Consider these options:
- Short-term fosters: If you can only foster for a few weeks, you can still make a huge difference.
- Vacation fosters: Providing a temporary home for a dog or cat while another foster is out of town is a great way to test-drive fostering.
- Fospice foster: Giving a senior or terminally ill dog or cat love and comfort in their final months is often seen as a privilege.
Will You Foster?
The Humane Society of Loudoun County is only able to save a handful of dogs in any given year because of a shortage of fosters. And yet, there are so many dogs that are waiting for their second chances. The only thing standing in their way is available foster homes. Will you be their hero?
Contact us at foster@humaneloudoun.org for more information about fostering or visit the HSLC website to learn more and complete a no-obligation application.
May 2, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Humane Society of Loudoun County will be bringing adoptable felines to Leesburg First Friday on May 2. Be sure to stop by and meet the kitties up close and in purr-son at Coldwell Banker Realty!
Related Events
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