By Liz Bresnahan
Many thanks to our community!
Wicket Door Pub
Kristi and Mark Hanlon are co-owners of Wicket Door Pub, a family friendly establishment located in Ashburn. Due to their incredible generosity, the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) was featured in a full-page Giving Tuesday ad in the Loudoun Times which brought awareness about HSLC’s mission to the community. Kristi has fond memories of her family’s first dog when she was a child and attributes this special bond in helping shape the person she is today. In fact, Kristi has lived with rescued animals her entire life. Similarly, Mark grew up with Shelties and has been able to experience first-hand the love that animals can bring to a family.
Kristi and Mark currently enjoy the company of their two dogs, Millie and Shay. The husband and wife team supports the efforts of HSLC, sharing that they “appreciate the hard work and time it takes to help lost and abandoned animals.” Next time you are in the area, check out this dog-friendly pub and ask about their menu just for dogs! HSLC is grateful for Wicket Door Pub’s gift certificate donation to this year’s auction.
Monica and Brian Spangler
Another couple who is devoted to helping animals, Monica and Brian Spangler have supported HSLC in a significant way. Monica, who works at Loudoun Cat Care and her husband Brian, a USA Today bestselling author, dedicated their time to supporting rescue organizations, including HSLC, by having a book-signing to help raise money during Robeks grand opening in Leesburg. Described as being a “huge fan” of HSLC’s mission, Monica and Brian have four cats, with Brian affectionately referring to them as his “co writers.”
The Spangler’s family of cats consists of two calicos, who often sit with Brian as he is writing, and two senior Bengals that are both 18 years old, and despite their senior status, are extremely playful. Take the time to visit Brian’s website, B.R. Spangler. HSLC thanks him for donating four personally signed books to the auction which are paired with an Amazon gift card.
October One Vineyard
Loree Rupy is a dedicated cat colony caretaker for HSLC and she and her husband, Bob, are owners of October One Vineyard, known as O1V. Their wine tasting shop is located in Downtown Leesburg and they graciously host Yappy Hours in collaboration with HSLC on the last Friday of each month. Their love for animals is evident when you hear the care and detail in which Loree describes their rescued animals: two cats named Pepsi and Rosalita, and their dog, Becca. If you have visited O1V’s website, you likely have seen pictures of Becca as the vineyard’s mascot. While all three of their pets passed away this year within 90 days of one another, Loree and Bob feel comforted in the fact that they were able to live life to the fullest in their care, with each of their pets living to advanced ages. HSLC appreciates O1V’s wine tasting for two in-kind donation to the auction. O1V has been highlighted as a dog friendly business by Leesburg so stop by to say hello and bring your dog with you!
HSLC sincerely thanks all of the individuals and businesses who have donated in-kind products and services to the auction which will help raise much needed funding for the homeless and at-risk animals in our community.
This is just a sampling of the many businesses and individuals who have donated items in support of HSLC’s Christmas in July online auction. The auction will take place July 15-24 and all proceeds will directly benefit homeless and at-risk animals in our community.
By Anne Senft
Blaire Ring has been a foster mom with the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) since 2014. When I reached out to her to request an in-kind donation for our upcoming online auction, she didn’t hesitate. Blaire immediately offered what is sure to be a popular item: a photo session and gift through her business, Second Ave Photography.
“I donated because fostering has been such a rewarding experience for my young daughters. They see us take in often dirty, sometimes sick, tiny kittens and bring them back to health. HSLC is near and dear to my heart and I’m so glad to be part of this group.”
Likewise, Richard Busch didn’t miss a chance to help the animals. His Glenfiddich Farm Pottery is located in a converted 175-year-old former dairy barn “where the chickens and roosters have names, so they are not destined for the soup pot.” Glenfiddich (pronounced glen-FIDD-ick) is the Celtic word for “valley of the deer,” which is appropriate since deer and other wildlife are frequently seen here. Pots are stamped with a deer symbol, including the five items Richard graciously donated to the HSLC auction.
Dr. Christy Cowell of Loudoun Dental Smiles adopted Dempsey, their now 10-year old Boxer-hound mix when he was just a pup. “He’s my very first dog and the first love my husband and I shared together. He is such a sweet boy but needed the love from our family to live his best life.”
Dr. Cowell is thankful to HSLC for helping the special animals in our community who need extra love and support. She has generously donated a gift basket with a teeth whitening kit and professional in-office whitening session.
Bobby Quarantillo is the Owner of Q Athletics, a training company that works with athletes and adults in Leesburg and Ashburn. As a lifelong dog lover, his face lights up when talking about his senior dog, Sloan. Bobby donated a handsome gift basket with tech t-shirts and FitVine wine to help animals in need.
HSLC is sincerely grateful for all the individuals and businesses who have donated in-kind products and services to the auction which will help raise much needed funding for the homeless and at-risk animals in our community.
8 games will be called. A packet for all games can be purchased for $15 or individual regular games are $2 and the final game is $3.
Melissa starts calling Bingo at 6:30 pm. Prizes will be given each game and are donated from House 6 Brewing, HSLC and other local businesses.
HSLC THANKS House 6 Brewing Co. for their support.
Humane Loudoun’s “Critter Control” program is a form of organic pest control that can help keep rodents away from grain, food storage, etc. They are a cleaner, more effective alternative than dangerous pesticides and they are on duty 24/7. The adopting local businesses will enjoy their company from afar as well as having the satisfaction of giving them a much-needed home. If you currently have unspayed barn cats, you can also receive assistance in having them sterilized.
Humane Society of Loudoun County is an all-volunteer, no-kill, registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. If you own or manage property like those previously mentioned, and have permission for long-term placement of animals on the property, please contact the Humane Society of Loudoun County at helpanimals@humaneloudoun.org. For more information visit our website.
Each Humane Society is an independent organization; “Humane Society” is just a descriptive word — like the word ‘bank’ is in US Bank and Bank of America. They are not connected to each other. It can be confusing!
Many people even mistakenly think that the Humane Society of the United States runs all humane societies. They do not! They do help animals through legislation and in disasters, but do not have a shelter themselves.
Some Humane Societies, like the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), are “limited admission”. Limited admission organizations sometimes have their animals for many months, and use foster homes. That means they do not have to euthanize animals to make room for new pets they take on. And many, like HSLC, have other programs that help the local animal population, like a pet pantry (Loudoun Pet Pantry) so families in need don’t have to surrender their pets simply because they can’t afford to feed them, partial help when medical emergencies arise, and resources for behavioral issues. The Community cat program is major part of HSLC, helping to reduce the numbers of feral cats while improving their health and quality of life.
And some Humane Societies are “open door” with animal control contracts, just like a city shelter, so they do euthanize to make room. Many “open door” humane societies run programs that have helped reduce pet overpopulation in the cities they serve. They may have the pets for many weeks, and know more about their behavior and health than a city shelter.
So it’s important to understand the nature of your local animal rescues and support them for the benefit of your community. We all work together to help animals but we are separate, independent organizations.