Loudoun Living February 2012

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

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Loudoun

Living February 2012

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FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Leesburg Resident Wins At Westminster Kara Clark Staff Writer

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It was a big week for a Leesburg man, and an even bigger one for his four-legged friend.

Douglas Rapport scored a victory last week when his Parson Russell Terrier Heidi took Best in Breed at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City.

Heidi beat out all other Parsons to represent the breed in the Terrier category of the famed dog show. Heidi—or Grand Champion Foxbend Colour Me More as is her official name—is now ranked the 18th best Terrier in the country, following a busy 2011 that saw her compete in more than four dog shows per month. Even last week, following her Westminster win, she was off to New England for two more competitions, where she again won Best in Breed both days and took second place in the Terrier group one day.

Last year was a banner year for Heidi. She was ranked the No. 1 Parsons in the country in 2011. Wins included two Best in Shows, the first Parsons in three years to accomplish the feat; and four group wins in the Terrier

group. In addition to Westminster she’s off to a hot start in 2012, with three group wins already this year.

“She’s my anomaly,” Rapport says. The reason why is quite simple—the Leesburg area resident is a proud owner and breeder of Irish Terriers.

Rapport got into the dog show business years ago, when he and his then wife were looking for their first dog. The two considered several different breeds, before settling on Irish Terriers. They found their dog, Bailee, on happenstance by scouring ads in the paper after an exhaustive year-and-a-half search.

Rapport soon after took in another Irish Terrier, this one named Kelsey. Other Irish Terriers soon followed and, before he knew it, Rapport was encouraged to begin showing the dogs and the wins began piling up. He began breeding the dogs as well in hopes of finding the next great champion.

“Every breed has a breed standard,” Rapport explains. “The judge’s opinion of that dog on that day [of a show] is how it compares to the breed standard. Three different dogs can win if you have three different judges

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On The Cover Getting into the Paws & Claws spirit, we invited Leesburg Today staffers to bring their furry friends to a photo shoot at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg. There was a fair amount Photoshop involved to get all the faces pointed the right way, but this is some of our family.

Clockwise from top: Bella Ryder; Lady Grayson; Chester Clark; Pearl Morton; Truman, Hurley & Hayrs Pinner; Bubba & Snoopy Styer; and Ginger Howe.

Photo courtesy of Doug Rapport

Heidi, or Grand Champion Foxbend Colour Me More, picked up Best in Breed honors for Parson Russell Terriers at last week’s Westminster Kennel Club in New York City. Handler and co-owner Dana Bryson-Bell is pictured on the right.

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

interpreting the standard.”

Over the years, when the dog shows and breeding became too much for him to handle alone, he hired a professional dog handler, Dana Bryson-Benn, who lives in southern Pennsylvania. She is the co-owner of Heidi, and showed her at Westminster.

As for how he came to acquire the dog, Rapport said he was contacted in November 2010 by someone who told him about a young Parsons, one he had met previously.

Her owners could no longer keep her, and Rapport was asked if he wanted to have her.

He jumped at the chance.

“I’ve always loved the breed,” he said of the Parsons Terriers.

He, Bryson-Benn and another individual were her owners, but Rapport recently bought out the third owner so now Heidi belongs to him and Bryson-Benn, and splits her free time between Leesburg and Pennsylvania.

Rapport said Heidi would likely continue showing throughout this year, although not with the packed schedule she had in 2011. Next year will likely be the year she breeds, and as her owner, Rapport will have the pick of the litter of her offspring.

He explains that, in evaluating dogs, he looks at both their genotype, or heredity, and phenotype, the physical characteristics that denote how the dog compares with the breed standard. Usually by the time a dog is closing in on a year old, he can tell if they would be a good candidate for showing or breeding. He even has those who purchase his dogs contact him before its first birthday and he can evaluate whether a dog should pursue either of those paths.

Rapport says his love of dog shows and breeding Irish Terriers, and soon Parsons, comes all from ego, and certainly not for money. In fact, he points out the thousands of dollars he spends on his dogs on a regular basis, from their food to their extensive veterinary bills. It’s his full-time job that gives him the resources to continue showing and

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breeding dogs.

Rapport maintains a detailed website, replete with spreadsheets, with pictures of his dogs, their show results and even his female dogs’ ultrasounds as their pregnancies progress. He is constantly contacted by prospective buyers when a litter of puppies are on the horizon, and his phone rang several times during this interview alone.

But his attention to detail does not stop with his online work. Rapport’s home has everything a dog could dream of, not the least of which is more than three acres of land to roam and play. Next to his house is a small kennel, with runs for about four dogs, and a grooming table with all the supplies. Keeping him company are his four current Irish Terriers—Morgan, Clover, Autumn and Shea. The latter of the four, and the only boy, Rapport believes may have the most potential to be a future Westminster champion. In fact, Shea racked up all the points needed to be a Grand Champion in the dog show in three weeks, a process that generally takes about a year.

As if Rapport’s plate was not already full, he is taking the steps to become an American Kennel Club judge and, as part of that process, will spend time as a steward during the dog shows. He also continues to be an active participant in Irish Terrier rescue, having helped to found the Irish Terrier Rescue Network. He and other Irish Terriers in the region are also annual participants in Washington, DC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

While dog showing and breeding may be run like a business, Rapport stresses an important point. Despite a dog’s pedigree or good showing ability, a dog is, after all, a dog and should be given all the freedoms to enjoy a fun, carefree life.

As he sits and pets Shea, who has the humorous habit of watching television and runs to the TV when he sees a Terrier-looking dog on the screen, Rapport says “him as a dog always comes first.”

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FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Pets Find Homes In Loudoun’s Classrooms Danielle Nadler Staff Writer

Giggly second-graders peered through the glass tank inside a science lab at Loudoun Country Day School on a recent afternoon.

“Oooh, he’s so cute,” one little girl squealed.

“I get to hold him first,” a brave little boy proclaimed.

Science teacher Laura Kitselman removed the tank’s lid and gently picked up Cleopatra, one of four corn snakes that call her classroom home.

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Kitselman has had snakes as classroom pets for the past 10 years as a chance to show her students the effects of genetics. “It’s really a good learning opportunity for them,” she said.

Little furry—and scaly—creatures can be spotted inside classrooms all over Loudoun. A bearded dragon, a type of lizard, has been the school mascot at Arcola Elementary School since it opened five years ago. Two pythons were longtime pets at Evergreen Mill Elementary School. And many more schools have everything from birds to fish for students to observe and look after.

Teachers and school administrators see it as not only a chance for a bit of fun in school, but as a lesson in itself.

A baby bearded dragon named Smoothie— a name chosen by the students—watches over the kindergarten class at Loudoun Country Day School. Kindergarten teacher Julie Roberts shares the responsibility of caring for the classroom companion with her students. They change his water every day and share with him nibbles of their fruits and vegetables.

“It teaches the children that this is a living thing—it’s not a stuffed animal—and there are basic needs to a living thing, as well as a sense of responsibility,” Roberts said.

A classroom pet also teaches students to cope with a loss.

Students at Arcola Elementary School in Aldie are mourning the loss of their bearded dragon, Petunia, who died two weeks ago.

Arcola Elementary Principal Clark Bowers said since he got the lizard five years ago, he has seen her make a huge impact on the lives of students. The lizard stays in his office, which often lightens the mood when students are asked “to go the principal’s office.”

“Having a pet allows me to have kids come up and visit the office for a reason that’s not punitive or anything like that, and because of that you build positive relationships with sometimes the kids who need it the most,” he said.

Students who do good deeds in the community or are well behaved in school get to

play with Petunia and help care for her. For some students, Petunia helped them overcome a fear of coming to school. A chance to pet and feed their favorite school mascot brought them out of their shell.

“For some of our students, at that moment in their life Petunia was really instrumental in helping them overcome apprehensions with school,” Bowers said. “It opened up a whole venue of communication opportunities that would not be there if it wasn’t for that little dragon.”

Petunia has been replaced—if you can do such a thing with a beloved pet—with a new bearded dragon. The students are in the midst of a contest to come up with the perfect name for the new face of Arcola Elementary.

Above, Loudoun Country Day School second grade student Tess Lattanzi handles Cleopatra, one of the school’s four corn snakes. Below, Loudoun Country Day School science teacher Laura Kitselman facilitates a closer look at another of the classroom’s scaly friends.

She sees classroom pets as a unique learning opportunity for her students.

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Pet ownership is shown to increase the years in one’s life, as well as add to its overall quality. But, what many are not aware of is that our furry friends can have quite the impact on our pocketbooks.

The ASPCA keeps an updated, eye-opening spreadsheet on average pet care costs. Let’s use a medium-sized dog for example, which I happen to have as my own pet. Annual average costs are estimated at around $695.

This breaks down to $120 for food, $235 for recurring medical treatment, $55 for toys and treats, $15 for the dog license, $225 for health insurance and $45 for miscellaneous expenses.

And that’s just an average year. First-year costs for a medium-sized dog are estimated at almost $1,600, which takes into account spay and neutering fees, initial pet equipment, like collars, leashes, beds and more, and even training classes (which, in my opinion, more pets need—especially mine). As you can imagine, the larger the animal the more the cost of care increases. And exotic animals, despite their generally smaller stature, often ring up a pretty penny themselves.

While I think this list is incredibly helpful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. On a recent weekend, with family in town and young, pesky children in tow, we boarded our dog for two nights. Always wanting to give him the best experience, we sprang for the extra walks and playtimes and, when we went to pick him up, were presented with a bill nearing $100.

For less than 48 hours. And this is one of the more affordable places in the area. Now just imagine a week- or two week-long vacation, with boarding all those days. Very quickly, you will be at that average yearly figure before Dec. 31 hits.

Obviously, those little “extras” add up and it doesn’t end at boarding. Thankfully, our dog has been healthy. However, a couple of summers ago, he jumped and landed badly and the next day his paw was swollen and he wasn’t walking properly. We told ourselves “Let’s wait two days and, if it’s not better, we’ll take him to the vet.” I’m pretty sure we were sitting in the vet’s office an hour later. Needless to say, it was just a sprain and he was back to his old self in no time. But not before that ever-important “lameness exam” where the veterinarian observed our dog walking for 15 seconds and thusly charged us $60.

A funnier example I will steal from my co-worker, whose dog I recently cared for while she was out of the area. Pearl is a black Lab mix, a wonderful girl who is just the sweetest animal you’d ever want to meet. But she has the peculiar and at times aggravating habit of opening the refrigerator and helping herself to sumptuous portions, or counter-

surfing to see what we humans have left out for her. When we were caring for her, we made the mistake of leaving a pumpkin pie out on the counter for literally one minute. Needless to say when we looked back the middle of the pie was missing. So, take into account all those unplanned trips to the store when the pet has helped itself to your food rations.

This article is not meant to dissuade from pet ownership, as I’m sure any pet owner, present company included, will tell you that the costs of owning an animal are far, far outweighed by the benefits. I can tell you with all honesty I would make sure Chester had food before I did and I stay on top of his healthcare like nobody’s business. But many are misled by the initial “low” cost of purchasing a pet. I once went to an out-of-state pet shop that let you pay for a dog in monthly installments and just put $1 down and walk out the door with a dog that day. Don’t get me started on all the things I find wrong with that promotion.

Rather, the point of this is to encourage proper research. Treat purchasing a pet as you would buying a house or a car. Talk to current pet owners. Get an idea of all the costs for “maintenance” as you would ask a contractor for a home or a salesman for a car. There are many wonderful resources in the area, not the least of which can be found in a dog park or vet’s office or pet shop down the street.

And, in this day and age, online forums and animal societies are an abundant source of information.

The ASPCA properly notes above its pet care costs spreadsheet, “This chart represents the estimated minimum cost of humane care.

You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more.” Please do your research before considering purchasing a pet. It’s better to be prepared for the costs rather than let them take you by surprise.

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Bringing pets to sick, apprehensive or elderly patients as a way of comforting them and easing their fears has become a regular part of the care provided by volunteers at Inova Loudoun Hospital.

Sandra Johnson has been volunteering herself and a succession of her cats and dogs for the past 12 years. Calling the experience of uniting pets and people a “win, win, win” situation, Johnson said, “people enjoy it, so do the animals and I get to watch, also with enjoyment.”

The weekly visits help her put life in perspective, she says. “It reminds me we don’t always realize how much these little friends give us until we’re missing them,” she said.

Johnson takes her pets to the Inova Loudoun Nursing Home and Rehab Center. She took up the venture when at an area church she found a request asking for volunteers to do visitation. She called the number and offered the services of herself, her dog and a “very unfriendly cat.” She visited the volunteer coordinator, who watched her go through her paces with her friendly dog Faith, who easily passed muster. Later, she adopted Faith’s half nephew and added Max to the roster. “He was very shy initially, but going to the nursing home he discovered what it was to be loved,” she said of the then-timorous Max who had been pushed around by larger dogs in various homes. “He was the low dog on the totem pole—no longer,” she said, ascribing a “quiet, pushy confidence” that now causes him to leave a patient if he’s ignored. Max was then joined by another Sheltie, at the urging of very soft-hearted friends, who told Johnson “you take the girl, we’ll take the two boys.”

So, Hope, who was in need of socialization, joined the family. “Shelties do much better when they have a job,” Johnson noted.

Over the years, the pets have changed.

Faith, who trained the other two dogs and the cats, and Max passed on, so Hope is now joined by cats Taz and Izzy as the visiting posse to the nursing home. Taz likes to curl up on the patient’s bed.

From Johnson’s first visit 12 years ago, the response was electric. “People weren’t used to seeing pets in the hospital. I had people chasing me in walkers and wheelchairs, they were so eager to see them.” Most patients had owned pets themselves, and missed them terribly.

Johnson said her pattern is to go room to room, knocking on the door to see who would like a visit. The cats have harnesses and leashes, along with a cat stroller, which serves

as a safe haven when they’re not on call or snuggled on the bed.

She usually puts down a sheet on the bed, and lays all the pets on it. “Once I had five animals on the bed: my full house,” Johnson recalled, noting that some patients “want them all on the bed.”

She works with the animals to make sure they get along in close quarters and don’t get scared when people pet their paws and faces.

“The pets sometimes sit on each other, sometimes using each other as a pillow. They don’t fight or fuss, just shrug and shove the other one off.”

Patients greet the pets like family members and tell her the stories of their own pets, ones that touched their lives. Johnson and her pets have even converted a few people who were not into pets. “One woman said she had never petted a cat. She was a little phobic. She petted mine in the stroller and said, ‘OK, it’s clean and well behaved.’ I finally got a picture of her holding the cat. Her family thought she’d lost it—they didn’t believe she’d ever held a cat.”

On another occasion, she found two women in one room who were both animal lovers. They were strangers and appeared to have nothing in common. But the pets drew them together. All of a sudden, they began talking about their pets and realized what they had in common. “They’d ignored me by the time I left them—chatting happily,” Johnson said. “They’d been in there together for days and hadn’t spoken to each other.”

But the experience that most moved her concerned a male patient who was not responsive. His mother and sister were there. “I told them the animals were for the family as well as the patient, and that they could take his hand and pet them. So the sister took his hand and helped her brother pet Faith. Then he started tracking the dog with his eyes, and when the sister took the dog away, he reached for it.”

Johnson told them to leave the dog near him.

Later that night the man began talking to his mother and sister.

“Faith woke him up,” from the state where he wasn’t talking or looking at his family. “That does give me chills,” Johnson said. Faith was special. “She was a little bit of a diva. She only wanted to be with those whom she knew needed her. She was able to know when someone was in pain or depressed— she’d go to them.”

Johnson laughed as she remembered.

“If patients were too well, she snubbed them.” Luckily Hope was less picky. “She’s a snuggler.”

The two cats have different takes on their

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position on the bed. Taz curls up, while Izzy feels “her mission in life is to sleep on the patients, usually on their legs. She’ll get really comfy,” Johnson said.

The length of her visits vary—sometimes short, but also longer when people are lonely and need more time with the animals. Johnson says she usually visits the nursing home for about two hours on Monday nights, and can manage to visit between 10 and 30 people during that time.

For oncology patients awaiting radiation treatment at the Mary Elizabeth Miller Radiation Oncology Center, the pets are a blessing and needed comfort to ease their apprehension as they await treatment for their cancer. Social worker Karen Archer says when patients walk in, they see friendly human faces as well as “a furry friend, with a wet nose and a great disposition,” who comes up to anyone who wants them. The roster of dogs include Sully, Fancy, Guinness or Hobbs, all of whom are expert pet therapists and know all about easing human fears. The four dogs visit weekly, along with their volunteer owners. They are specially trained for the job and registered through Therapy Dogs International or Delta Society.

All the dogs have to be well groomed, have their shots and be up to date with medical care.

Ann Hereford is a regular visitor with her goldendoodle Sully. The cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle is eight years old and the pair have been visiting the unit since August 2006.

Mostly it was his personality that was the impetus for becoming pet therapy volunteers, Hereford said. “He’s so good with people.”

The duo’s job is to be in the waiting room along with patients and their family while he or she awaits treatment. The unit feels more like a family room than a medical office. Nevertheless, there’s “a lot of tension for both the patient and the caregivers,” Hereford said.

She recalled one patient who’d had chemotherapy and had to give up their dogs. “So it made the day to be able to come in and pat the dog,” she said. Sully, himself, was diagnosed with cancer. “He lost all his hair like them, so they can identify with him,” she said of her dog, who’s now in remission. “He gives them hope.”

Like Johnson’s Faith, Sully has the ability to pick out the patient from the family. “He goes to them first. People who are afraid of him or don’t want him, he’ll ignore them,” she said.

Hereford has become so involved she’s become an international evaluator herself. “I test them. Obedience is easy to teach, but personality is what I’m looking for.”

The Therapy International testing is like an American Kennel Club “Good Citizen” test, she said. The dogs learn basic obedience, to leave medications and spills alone and be comfortable with wheelchairs and medical equipment.

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But, as she and others in the job know full well, it’s the animals’ personality that is the main factor in bringing a smile and comfort to patients in need.

Guinness is another of the dogs that regularly visits the cancer center. He’s a standard poodle, who was about a year old when Richard O’Connor got him. His registered nurse wife thought the pair would make good volunteers because of their friendly dispositions. So she gave her husband a Christmas present of the money for the training.

March 1, Guinness turns four. In the years since he was trained, Photo by Sandra Johnson he’s become a fixture A former cat hater is now a convert, happily petting both felines—Taz, a Maine Coon mix and Izzy, a silver Bengal. at the unit. “Patients Meanwhile, White Sheltie Hope makes the most of her new friend’s comfy bed. always come looking for him. ‘What, no Guinnap.” ness today,’ they’ll say,” O’Connor said of his them up.”

A naturally friendly canine, the more His presence is so much appreciated, pet’s excellent personality.

Guinness sees people and the more they pay there’s even a call that goes up “Guinness is in Like most poodles, Guinness is very attention to him, the happier he is—so much the house.” smart. “He’s cool, calm and collected. They so by the time he gets home “he’s ready for a [patients] pet him and talk to him. He cheers

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FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Those Pearly Whites: Addressing Your Cat’s Dental Health Samantha Bartram Staff Writer

Cats are notorious for their aloof demeanor and no-nonsense attitudes. If you want to do something they don’t want to do, it’s pretty tough to get a cat to go along.

That’s why a veterinarian’s recent suggestion to this reporter that it’s time to start brushing the cat’s teeth was met with a heavy helping of skepticism. Of course, good dental care is important to a cat’s overall health, but how would I get my frenzied feline to go along with a daily tooth brushing?

Turns out it’s not that hard to get your cat into a routine that will help keep her teeth tartar and plaque free, increasing her immediate health and longevity. That’s especially true when you consider how poor oral hygiene can negatively affect your pet’s health, possibly leading to a host of other, more expensive, problems like heart and liver disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, fully 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease. But, with a little effort and vigilance, your cat’s oral health can be much improved in just a few minutes a day.

Start Slow

It’s best to gently introduce your cat to the idea of daily tooth brushing. Start by simply touching her around the mouth area

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during cuddle time. Try to gently pull her lip up and get a glimpse of her teeth while the petting continues. A little love distraction can go a long way. Most pet owners will find that once the cat is relaxed, there’s a lot less resistance to exploring the teeth and gums.

Once you and your cat are comfortable, gently work your finger up along the gum line, massaging in small circles as you go.

Many vets recommend using a gauze pad dipped in a little tuna water or chicken broth to make the process a bit more enticing. There are also several toothpastes on the market specially formulated for cats, but in the beginning, the gauze and broth method is just as effective. The grimy, yellowish plaque buildup along the gum line is actually quite easy to remove—just a little gentle rubbing should do the trick.

Eventually, you can work your way up to using those pastes and special toothbrushes designed only for cats, or stick with the gauze method. The important part is making sure your cat’s teeth are cleaned once a day, every day.

Helpers

Maybe you’re planning a trip out of town or things got hectic in the morning and you couldn’t fit in kitty’s tooth time. Not to worry—a host of products are available to augment your dental health arsenal. Feline Greenies dental treats were developed specifi-

cally to address tartar and plaque build-up in cats. If my cat’s behavior is any indication, these guys not only help keep teeth clean, but they taste great, too. Greenies and similar treats are also a great way of rewarding your cat once brushing has been completed. Compliant cats should always be praised after a successful brushing session, and what better way to do so than with treats that are made to further promote dental health.

If your cat’s more into playing than eating, there are many toys that have been developed to help wipe away nasty buildup on teeth while ensuring a fun play time.

Check out the pet aisle the next time you’re in the grocery store—there, you’re likely to find a wide selection of toys that purport to help clean kitty’s teeth as she happily gnaws away.

Another alternative to brushing is using a dental rinse. If your cat won’t stand for tooth brushing of any kind, ask your vet about plaque-preventative products that can be used in lieu of brushing.

advanced periodontal disease or might require a professional cleaning before you begin the at-home regimen.

Ask The Experts

Careful pet owners know the overall health of their animal should be evaluated regularly by a qualified veterinarian. Any standard exam should cover the teeth and gums—take that opportunity to ask your vet for oral care tips and recommended products.

They’ll also be able to tell you if your cat has

Humane Society Offers Spay/ Neuter Program The Humane Society of Loudoun County is introducing a special “Pit Fix” spaying/neutering program for all pit bulls in Loudoun County at a discounted cost of $25 per surgery.

Pit bull owners will choose a vet from a list of about 20 participating HSLC veterinarians and submit forms and payment ahead of time. Then they will receive a voucher for the program.

The form will indicate the deadline by which the spay/neuter service must be obtained. The program will be active for approximately three months, according to a spokesperson for the HSLC. Pit Fix was set up through the generosity of friends and family of Jared Dodson, a lover of pit bull terriers, following his death at Dulles Airport several weeks ago.

For details of the spaying/neutering program, go online to: www.hslcva.org.

Why Choose Us?

Why Choose Us?

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FRIEND

Why Choose Us? We treat your pet as we do our own.

By combining our Veterinarians’ knowledge base and specialties with our medical and surgical equipment, we exceed the standard for veterinary excellence. We put an emphasis on detailed client communication in

Friends of Homeless Animals is Loudoun’s local no-kill shelter focusing on the rescue and placement of homeless dogs and cats. Please think of us when you are looking to adopt.

Come. Sit. Stay.

ADOPT.

Meet our dogs and cats at our shelter in Aldie.

Go to www.foha.org for details or email Laura at President@FOHA.org.

You won’t be able to refuse some of the

a supportive environment so that the best decisions are made regarding your pet’s healthcare.

Our care is focused on dogs and cats.

Customer care is a top priority.

State-of-the-art equipment.

A highly trained and caring team.

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Individualized protocols.

(703) 327-0909

43083 Peacock Market Plaza, Unit 140 South Riding, VA 20152 www.aldievet.com info@aldievet.com