Home for the Holidays | Guest Blog Spot by Sarah Jones

The Loudoun Pet Sitting Company is proudly supporting Sarah's efforts to improve dogs' fortunes in Armenia through her work with Pawsitive Rescue Armenia. Please help her ensure that the dogs in the shelter can get fed TWICE a day through the winter months by supporting her gofundme fundraiser -- and if you have some room  for an adoptee from halfway around the world read on!

Tis the season for pet adoption! A time when families get together and decide to open their hearts and their homes to a new furry friend. What a lot of people don’t know is that you can do this both near and far and make a big difference in a dog's life who otherwise would, sadly, never get adopted in their own country. I never knew this option existed and how easy it is to adopt a dog from overseas until I started volunteering at Pawsitive Rescue in Armenia.

Pawsitive Rescue has a multitude of dogs, like Hamo, Lexie, Bobie, and Neo pictured here, available for adoption in all shapes and sizes, and has several special needs dogs who desperately need a loving home in the US where they can get the care they need and the love they deserve. The best part is there are no adoption fees and for those who cannot afford the transportation (which ranges depending upon the airline, the size of the dog, and how they travel),  Pawsitive Rescue will help you raise the money by reaching out to its supporters and saying “HEY! We found this dog a loving family, help us get him home!”

Previously, adoptions occurred mostly in CA, NY and NC, but now, with the help of The Loudoun Pet Sitting Company, the dogs at Pawsitive Rescue Armenia can be adopted by people and families in the Loudoun County and DMV area.

Dogs hoping for a new home for the holidays are on the Pawsitive Rescue Facebook album called Ready to Adopt. Just click to read their story (google can translate for you if needed, most have English too). If you fall in love with one of them just contact the shelter via Facebook @pawsitivearmenia to let them know you're interested, ask any questions, have a home check done if you are not already a LPSC client, and discuss transportation and timing options with the shelter.

If you are not looking to adopt at the moment, but still want to help, dogs can also be sponsored with monthly donations to the shelter, which pays for veterinary care and shelter expenses for that dog. For more information about sponsoring a dog please contact the shelter via Facebook @pawsitivearmenia.

To contribute to Sarah's efforts to feed the shelter dogs go to PROJECT SANTA PAWS.

HO HO BARK! We're Sending Santa Paws Overseas!

The Loudoun Pet Sitting Company is proud to announce that this holiday season we are partnering with our colleague Sarah Jones in her fundraising campaign PROJECT SANTA PAWS, to feed 2 meals a day during the cold Armenian winter to 127 dogs at the shelter where she is volunteering. At the moment they are only fed once a day.

We believe that all animals around the globe should have the chance to experience care, safety, comfort and love and are excited to help Sarah in her efforts to make a huge difference so far from home. Sarah is the founder of Pawsome Palz Pet Sitting which merged with The Loudoun Pet Sitting Company over the summer.

When Sarah arrived in Armenia with her husband, who is working in the country for a year, she saw the heartbreaking situation regarding stray animals and the serious lack of shelters/support for them. She knew she had to do something and since she couldn't take them in herself, she decided to help those that do by volunteering at Pawsitive Rescue. After hearing the shelter founders mention how much they wish they could feed the dogs twice a day during winter she went from "How can I make this happen for them" to "I'm going to make this happen for them!" If you have ever met Sarah, she never backs down from a challenge, especially one she sets herself.

Therefore in addition to making a donation on in honor of our wonderful clients to Pawsitive Rescue Armenia, we aim to help Project Santa Paws reach audiences both near and far by sharing Sarah's story, information about her campaign and hope our readers will do the same by supporting her efforts.

Pawsitive Rescue is a no-kill shelter, in a low adoption area that runs purely on donations and volunteers like Sarah. We invite you to stay tuned as we will be featuring Sarah as a guest blogger with updates on the positive impact donations make, shelter life abroad and how to adopt these lovable pups,  back to the US.....including a cameo of Kiki, the pup she will be bringing back home with her in the spring to her horse farm in Purcellville, Va.

For more information please visit Project Santa Paws' webpage:  www.gofundme.com/project-santa-paws or contact Sarah Jones directly at projectsantapaws@gmail.com.

WHAT TO DONATE TO ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Good morning all!

With the 2018 Holiday season in full swing, you might be wondering how you can help our animals in need this season, especially animals that are in shelters. Financial donations are always welcomed but there are also other ways you can give back and help out! If you don’t have a specific organization in mind, why not look for a local group that you can help by providing a financial donation, gifts-in-kind, or a few hours assisting with chores. All gifts provide much needed resources, and provide you with the joy of helping animals. Also, depending on the organization, your donation may be tax deductible.

Here are some other ideas about donating from our friends at petsbest.com!

To learn more about our professional pet sitting and dog walking services this holiday season visit: www.loudounpetsitting.com! 

Traditional Thanksgiving Foods That Are Bad and Good for Pets!

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and while you are preparing your menu for yourself, friends or family it is important to think about what menu items your furry loved ones can and can't eat. Today we are sharing a quick article from petsbest.com which talks about six foods that your pets cannot have. Some of the foods listed might be obvious but others might surprise you!
6 Thanksgiving Foods That Are Bad for Cats and Dogs

It's always better to be safe than sorry so if you are unsure of a food but want to treat your pet to some Thanksgiving goodies, here are some alternatives that they can have thanks to an article from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.  7 Thanksgiving Foods Dogs Can Eat

Learn more about our professional pet and farm sitting services in Loudoun County, Virginia at: www.loudounpetsitting.com! And Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Pets!

Fun in the Snow with Fido: Ways to Play with Your Dog in Winter

Dare we say it...there is a slight possibility of snow/freezing rain later this week. Which means winter is almost here and the odds of us having snow are getting higher by the day. So what does that mean for you? Fun in the snow with your dog!!! If you are like most of us, having the motivation to go outside and play with your dog in winter is a lot harder than other seasons. But thanks to this great article from PetMD, there are some fun indoor and outdoor things you can do with your dogs this winter!

Photo credit: PetMd

Fun in the Snow with Fido: Ways to Play with Your Dog in Winter

If you are looking for extra walks, potty breaks or help this winter with your pet, give us a call! Learn more about our professional pet sitting and dog walking services at: www.loudounpetsitting.com! 

Keep Fidos Skin and Coat At Its Healthiest This Winter

Winter will be here before we know it and during the winter months, dry skin and excessive shedding are major concerns for pet owners. Thanks to Thepetshow.com, they have put together some of the top tips for keeping your pets coat in tip-top shape during the cold weather. Take a look at some of the article tips here!

Photo credit: WallpaperMania

If you are looking for help keeping your pets exercised this winter, have no fear! Contact us at www.loudounpetsitting.com to take a look at our terrific pet sitters and schedule your consultation today!

Which Emotions Do Dogs Actually Experience?

Good morning!

Today's blog is sharing an article from Modern Dog Magazine which talks about emotions our dogs can experience. This article covers one author's opinions but does provide for a very interesting read with some thought-provoking points.

"Most people can read emotions in their dog quite easily. For example, you come home and your dog dances around wagging her tail, and you think to yourself, “Lady is happy to see me,” or “Lady really loves me.” Or perhaps you’re out on a walk and, at the approach of another canine, your dog freezes in place, his hackles raised, and gives a low throaty growl. We interpret this as “Rex does not like that dog. Seeing him makes Rex angry.” In such situations the emotional state of our dogs seems quite obvious. For this reason it is difficult for many people to understand that the existence of emotions in dogs was—and in some places still is—a point of scientific controversy (Modern Dog Magazine)."

Whether you agree with the article or not, you can be assured that we will love your pet and take care of them like our own at each visit! We take great care in working to learn your pet's behavior and know their likes and dislikes. You can rest assured that they are in the best of hands while you are away! Learn more about our services at: http://www.loudounpetsitting.com/