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AWLA: Keep Your Pets Safe On July 4

Published July 3, 2013 at 10:00AM

The Fourth of July — traditionally filled with fireworks exploding and open flames for barbecues — can be dangerous for pets, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington warns. All sorts of hazards can cause dogs and other critters harm or cause them to run away.

“Dogs have acute hearing — far more sensitive than human hearing — so firework explosions, excited voices, visual stimulation and smells can panic dogs causing them to be fearful, which can activate their fight or flight response,” Alice Burton, Chief Animal Control Officer for the AWLA, said in a press release. “For their own safety this holiday, indoor-outdoor cats should be kept indoors and when outside, dogs should be kept on a leash.”

The AWLA offers some tips to make sure the household pets have a safe holiday.

Leave them at home inside. Fireworks, crowds and fanfare can be stressful for pets, causing them to panic or run off. Leave them in a safe area with a television or radio playing to mask frightening sounds.
Alcoholic drinks poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure.
Do not apply sunscreen or insect repellent that is not specifically indicated for animals. Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. Deet, a common insecticide, may cause neurological issues.
Keep lighter fluid and matches away from pets. Chlorates, a chemical substance found in some matches, if ingested, can cause difficulty breathing, damage blood cells or even cause kidney disease. Lighter fluid can cause skin irritation, respiratory and gastric problems.
Citronella and insect coils harm pets. Insect repellants are irritating toxins to pets. Inhalation can cause severe respiratory illness such as pneumonia, which can harm a pet’s nervous system.
Resist feeding table food. A change in diet can give a pet severe indigestion and diarrhea. Foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
Keep pets away from glow jewelry. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling, gastrointestinal irritation and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing the pieces of plastic.
Never use fireworks around pets. While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.

Flickr pool photo by ameschen

Arlington Pet of the Week: Sabra

Published May 1, 2013 at 1:00PM

Meet Sabra, a rescue dog who escaped war and near-death before finding her new owners in Arlington.

This is what Sabra’s owner said about this international pooch:

This is our dog, Sabra. She is a very special dog because she came to us from Israel as a rescue during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War. Sabra was found with several other litter mates at just a few months old in an area that was being hit with rockets. An organization brought Sabra and 38 other puppies from Israel to the United States for adoption. My mom and I decided to help out at an adoption event for these puppies but because we already had two dogs (both from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington!) we told ourselves we could not and would not get another dog.

We ended up fostering Sabra. She needed special care because she almost died on the way to America. When she arrived, the veterinarians were sure that they’d have to put her down but she’s a strong doggy and she made it! As we cared for her, we fell in love with Sabra and ended up adopting her.

She is the most affectionate, loving, and strange dog we’ve ever had. She is about 80 pounds but she thinks she’s a lap dog. If you’re on the couch it won’t be long before she gets on the couch and falls asleep in your lap. If you’re not paying attention to her she’ll paw at you until you do — it gets annoying but we love her. We are not sure what her breed is, but we are sure that she’s beautiful, cute, and has the most expressive eyes.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Cops: Man Chokes Ex-GF, Steals Chihuahua

By ARLnow.com

Published May 1, 2013 at 10:50AM

A Hyattsville, Md. man has been arrested after police say he choked his ex-girlfriend and stole her dog.

The victim was walking the dog on the 2400 block of 11th Street N., in Courthouse, when her ex-boyfriend approached her and began an argument, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The man then allegedly choked the victim and ran off with her Chihuahua. He was arrested when he tried to give the dog back.

“He came back to the scene to return the dog and was greeted by Arlington County police,” Sternbeck said.

Jonathan Jimenez, 24, was arrested and charged with strangulation, attempted malicious wounding, grand larceny, and domestic assault and battery. He was held without bond.

File photo via Paul Komarek/Wikipedia

Arlington Pet of the Week: Adam Puppy

Published April 17, 2013 at 12:30PM | Updated April 17, 2013 at 6:03PM

This week’s Pet of the Week is a young rescue dog named Adam Puppy, who is looking for a family to call his own. Here’s what the the volunteers at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue had to say about him:

Meet our Lucky Dog. He’s a one-year-old Catahoula Leopard/Doxie mix who is very playful and energetic. Adam is a sweet pup that needs time to warm up to new people, dogs, and places.

Adam Puppy will need an experienced dog owner that can help with his socialization and teach him to trust new things. His new owner needs to be committed to training him. Once he has warmed up to you, he is incredibly affectionate and will be your little shadow. Adam is an expert at de-squeaking any plush toy and will happily remove all the stuffing as well. He also enjoys a good game of fetch, curling up on long car rides, and playing with his other doggy friends (as seen in this video).

For more information on Adam Puppy and adopting from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue please visit our website.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Pet Safety: It’s Time for the Canine Car Cutoff

Published April 15, 2013 at 12:45PM | Updated April 15, 2013 at 1:02PM

Editor’s Note: This new sponsored column on pet safety is written by Terry Haas, a pet care professional. Terry owns Loyalty Pet Care and its Safety Furst division.

Recently, a dog owner in Virginia left a store only to discover police and rescue personnel surrounding her car. The two dogs she had left in the car, parked in the shade with the windows cracked for about an hour, had died. In spite of her insistence that she had just “made a mistake — a huge mistake,” the dog owner was charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty.

She didn’t know her actions would cause her dogs harm, and unfortunately for many dogs, she’s not alone. According to Alice Burton, Chief of Animal Control Animal Welfare League of Arlington, it happens more often than you might think.

“We have 62 cases in our system where our Animal Control Officers responded to a call of a dog trapped in a hot car,” Burton said. “However, the number of times it is reported is higher (probably 80) because if the dog is not in distress (panting, barking) we do not respond, but will monitor the situation. Owners that leave their pet in the vehicle could be charged with Cruelty to Animals which is a Class 1 misdemeanor.”

On a warm, sunny or even an overcast day, the average normal-muzzle dog left to wait in a parked vehicle will be in respiratory distress in 10 minutes and dead in 20. A dog with a shorter muzzle (such as a Pug or Boston Terrier) will expire in even less time.

We all want to consider our dogs part of the family. We want to take them everywhere. But dogs differ from humans in ways that, if we aren’t careful, can result in tragic accidents.

Humans and some animals (horses, for example) sweat to cool themselves. Our type of sweating allows us to expend energy over long periods while maintaining safe body function. We have endurance. We can also acclimate to warming temperatures.

Although dogs have sweat glands, too, they’re not designed for cooling. Dogs cool themselves by panting, which cools the mouth and tongue as well as the blood flowing through the head, an obviously inefficient process. They also get some extra support by finding good places to rest. They find cool surfaces to press against the thinly furred areas of their bodies.

Watch your dog when it’s hot. Outdoors, he’ll select a shady spot, maybe dig up some cool earth beneath the surface, and lie in that spot. Indoors, he’ll flop onto a cool tile floor.

A parked car collects sunlight like a solar cell. The temperature in the car rises rapidly, turning the interior into an oven. Dogs can’t say “let me out,” and we often misinterpret their body language and limitations. There is no cool earth or tile floor in a car, and the dog can’t open the door to go look for a cooler spot. As animal guardians, we need to educate ourselves on how to prevent these dangerous situations. Laws like Virginia’s are designed to help speed the education process along.

What might surprise you is that it doesn’t have to be a hot summer day to be deadly to take your dog along while you run errands. When it’s just 70 degrees outdoors, the interior of your car becomes dangerous. To help remember this, think of the “Canine Car Cutoff” — 40/70.

When it’s 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below outside, your dog DOES NOT ride along with you.
When it’s 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above outside, your dog DOES NOT ride along with you.
When it’s between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s OKAY to take your dog on a ride-along where he might be unattended in your parked vehicle with access to water for short periods.

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Health Dept. to Allow ‘Dog Friendly’ Outdoor Dining

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2013 at 4:40PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 1:50PM

Sidewalk cafes in Arlington are going to the dogs.

Arlington’s Public Health Division has reversed course and will now allow restaurants to have “dog friendly” outdoor dining areas. As recently as November, the health department was reminding restaurants that no pets — except for service animals — were allowed in any dining area, inside or outside.

Now, restaurants can apply for a variance that would allow dogs in outdoor dining areas.

“Restaurants that wish to allow dogs in their outdoor dining areas now have an administrative process they can initiate to request a code variance,” Arlington’s Public Health Director, Reuben Varghese, said in a statement. “To receive a variance, a restaurant will have to comply with a set of safeguards designed to minimize risks to the dining public.”

“The change is in response to community requests,” the health department said in a press release. “With proper safeguards, restaurants can protect their customers’ health and safety in the presence of dogs.”

“Safeguards include requiring dogs to be leashed and not allowing them on seats and tables, restricting food and drink preparation from the outside dining area, and requiring signs to inform diners they are in a ‘Dog Friendly Area,'” said the press release. “Compliance would be evaluated as part of the routine restaurant inspection process.”

Photo via Arlington County

Arlington Pet of the Week: Roxy

Published April 3, 2013 at 12:45PM

Meet this week’s Pet of the Week, Roxy, a teeny Yorkshire Terrier with a personality larger than life.

Here’s what her adoring owner had to say about this pint-sized Ballston pooch:

Roxy is quite likely the smallest dog in the Ballston neighborhood. Smaller than your average Yorkie, she was the runt of her litter and not a teacup. While she is small, she makes up for it in volume. She’s received multiple complaints from neighbors for barking when she’s left alone, although she’s doing much better these days. She’s extremely social, but is very cautious with dogs she doesn’t know.

Unlike most small dogs, she lacks a Napoleon complex and seems to be very self-aware as to just how small she is. But if she’s sitting in her mama’s lap and another dog comes up to say hello, watch out! She will snap just to let them know that this is HER human. It’s not uncommon for her to walk up to people, wagging her little nub-tail furiously in greeting. Not only is Roxy social, but she is a little bit of a flirt as well. She’s got quite the little fan club in the neighborhood and it’s not uncommon for people and security guards to greet her by name.

Roxy has an inordinate amount of toys and she loves them all. She typically takes them out one at a time to subtly let you know it’s time to play fetch. While she’s been trained extremely well to get and fetch her toys, putting them away is still a trick that hasn’t caught on. When it’s nice outside, she loves to go running around in Quincy Park (on leash, of course.) What she loves even more is to go up to Great Falls and roam around the woods and climb on the rocks.

For a little diva dog that struts around in a leopard print coat and matching carrier, she’s actually quite the outdoor lover. This dog will go for a five mile hike, and then want to play fetch when she gets home. She’s a four-pound bundle of energy!

Roxy’s favorite place to nap is in the crook of your neck. She’s a serious snuggler when she finally does get tired.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Ellie

Published March 21, 2013 at 1:15PM

Meet Ellie, an inspiring 11-year-old lab and pit bull mix who survived living on the streets and now gives back to her Clarendon/Courthouse community by working as a therapy dog.

Here is what Ellie’s rescuer and owner had to say about her:

I adopted Ellie from a rescue after from college. She is an incredible, well behaved dog. She has gotten to know the location of any local store that provides her with free treats and often attempts to direct me there on walks. She was a real hit at the recent Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade and got more beads than she knew what to do with!

Ellie is a joy and I cannot imagine not having her. She is a therapy dog and we volunteer with a local organization called People Animals Love (PAL). We often frequent the Central Library where children actually read to dogs like Ellie. She has brought a lot of joy to various local nursing home residents where we also volunteer.

Ellie loves to play and has remained active in her old age. She used to be the best running partner I had, but now she settles for long walks. She loves catching Frisbees and has been known to run up and down park slides. She adores toys and often takes them with her outside. At my prior condo she was known as the dog with the big fish in her mouth and brought a smile to anyone that saw her.

Ellie is the perfect example of the joy that a rescue dog can bring to a household. I have often had many people comment that before Ellie they did not like dogs, but that they would gladly adopt any dog that has her disposition. The rescue found her as a stray roaming the highway extremely underweight. Whomever her prior owner was had no idea on what an amazing dog they missed out on! She is without a doubt my best friend.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected]. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Chewie and Wicket

Published March 6, 2013 at 12:20PM

This week, our Arlington Pet(s) of the Week honor goes to a pair of energetic mini Aussies named Chewie and Wicket.

Though they reside in Pentagon City, these playful pups enjoy getting out to the country to herd some sheep, as their ancestors were originally bred to do. Closer to home, they settle for attempting to herd squirrels.

Here’s what owner Desiree had to say about them:

Meet Chewie (R) and Wicket (L). They are Miniature Australian Shepherds. Chewie just turned five in November and Wicket will be four in April.

Chewie was one of my largest sources of support when my dad passed away. He inspired me to want to be a dog trainer, and was the reason I left my career as a lawyer to become a full-time dog professional. He loves playing fetch, doing agility, rally obedience, and herding sheep. He loves all people and thinks everyone is here to serve him.

Wicket is our gentle baby, but she is more ferocious than she looks. Even though she is only 14 pounds, she is a better herder than her big brother! She loves agility and has passed her odor recognition test in Canine Nosework. However, her favorite activity is terrorizing the squirrels of Pentagon City.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected]. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Arlington Pet of the Week

Published February 6, 2013 at 12:45PM | Updated February 6, 2013 at 2:17PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Kona, a 6-year-old brindle American Pit Bull Terrier.

Kona resides in the Arlington Village neighborhood with owners Hilary and Ryan. Here’s what the couple had to say about their pooch.

Each day she gets so excited for her walks around the neighborhood, likes to go down to the creek that runs through an area with a nature trail and is always happy to see her friendly neighbor dogs! She enjoys laying out on the deck in the sun and loves the local dog park. Originally from Texas, she was the runt of her litter who has stayed true to her roots, she weighs in at only 50 pounds and hates rain and snow.

While at home, Kona enjoys playing hockey with her dad and has an extensive toy collection to choose from. Kona is a loyal friend, a super cuddler, a big kisser and most of all, our best friend. Despite judgment on her breed, she’s always been the happiest dog and makes friends with anyone that comes her way.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected]. Each week’s winner receives either a $25 Dogma gift card or a prize from another pet-related business.

Luxury Dog Boarding Business Planned for Shirlington

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 2:45PM

Another dog based business has plans to set up shop in Shirlington. According to its website, The Board Hound (3520 S. Four Mile Run Drive) aims to provide “luxury” dog boarding services, saying “it’s not just boarding; it’s pampering.”

Its website says the mission is “to provide a fun, comfortable, clean and safe environment for dogs and peace of mind for their owners.” Pet owners can choose long or short term care services.

The business plans to provide cage-free doggie daycare with indoor and outdoor play areas. Pets are only confined to their “suites” during feeding, downtime and during the night. The website says the facility will play soothing music at night to “lull our guests to sleep.”

The facility boasts of heated and cooled floors to keep pups comfortable year-round, along with a front walkway that will be heated in the winter. It will also have a top-of-the-line security system to protect the dogs, clients and employees.

The Board Hound will join other nearby pet boarding businesses, including Wag More Dogs (2606 S. Oxford Street), Fur-Get Me Not (4140 S. Four Mile Run Drive) and Woofs! (4160 S. Four Mile Run Drive).

Although the website states “We are counting down to our opening day,” ARLnow.com was unable to reach the owners to find out when exactly The Board Hound will open.

Hat tip to Jason Peschau