Pet of the Week

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Shytakee, a 16 year old cat who loves nap time and cuddling.

Here is what Shytakee’s owner had to say about his long life here in Arlington:

Meet Shytakee,

He was adopted from the Miami Humane Society at 4 months old and has been a love bug from the second I met him.  They say pets select us and that’s true.  Shytakee was one of 4 kittens I was evaluating and when I picked him up, he put his paw on my cheek and licked my nose.  It was from that moment, I knew he was meant to come home with me.  Today, he is a 16-year-old sweetheart who loves nap time, cuddling up with anyone who will pet him, being kind to foster kittens when we have them and eating.  He also took his role as big brother seriously to Portobello who was with us for 14.5 years.  What’s his favorite food you ask?  Fresh tuna with some water as broth and treats.

Shytakee may be an old man, but he is young at heart.  He still runs around the house, screams at 7am to get dad to play and loves a good laser pointer.  He requires multiple heating pads around the house to ensure he is always warm and soothing his arthritis and every time we get a new blanket it quickly becomes his property.  Shytakee doesn’t understand the concept of personal space and is always touching his dad. He also loves to give kisses on the lips which has sometimes turns to love bites that hurt a bit.

This old man is one cool cat and much like a fine wine, he gets better with age.

Previous Image 1/3 Next Image

Meet Louie who was brought to Arlington from Maryland 4.5 years ago and now enjoys his life of retirement.

Here is what Louie’s owner had to say on his behalf:

Hello, my name is Louie.

I was born in Maryland but was scooped up by my parents about 4.5 years ago and haven’t looked back. After my parents brought me home to Washington, DC, I spent most of my young years roaming the hallways of the Opower office in Arlington. It was a very special place and I was lucky to receive many walks, pets and treats daily. I even met the Governor of Virginia at the time, Governor McAuliffe.

I’ve now been retired for about 3 years and while I miss Opower a lot, I enjoy sleeping on the couch, looking at the birds from the window and sailing with my pack. Follow me on instagram – hi_im_louie!

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Bubbles the Beta fish, who began the year in the second grade classroom at Nottingham Elementary School.

Here is what Bubbles’ temporary caretaker has to say about his life here in Arlington:

This aquatic resident of Arlington comes with quite a tale. Bubbles is a Betta fish, a type of fish originally from Thailand. We know he began the 2019 school year with his friends, in the second grade “Owls” classroom at Nottingham Elementary School.  His classroom friends all voted to give him his name, Bubbles, and it fits him perfectly — he regularly blows bubble nests on the edge of his tank.

Bubbles spent a happy school year paddling around his bowl, eating and sleeping and watching his friends learn from their teacher, who brought Bubbles to school to start the year.  All was well until a Friday in mid-March, when everything changed. Sadly, school had to close for a while.  Everyone agreed Bubbles would have been lonely spending all that time by himself in an empty classroom, so he had to move, fishbowl and all.

Fortunately, Bubbles was able to go home (for a while) with one of the Owls. We’re sure it was a bewildering transition to leave school, but Bubbles has settled in swimmingly in his new environment.  Bubbles now spends his days in the kitchen, actively swimming around the grass in his tank, or sheltering under his big pink leaf, or just napping on the surface or the bottom.  His temporary caretakers love how his vivid blue scales and colorful tank brighten up their home.  They also like having a new friend to keep them company as they wait for Nottingham to open again, at which point Bubbles can go back to swimming with his teacher and her new class of friendly Owls!

Previous Image 1/2 Next Image

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Steven, an igneous rock that was rescued from a gravel mine.

Here is what Steven’s owner had to say on his behalf:

Hello! My name is Steven and I’m an igneous rock (part quartz and feldspar) rescued from a high-crush gravel mine! I’m a sprightly 570 million years old. While the first couple hundred million years of my life have been pretty rough and tumble, I’m living in Arlington now and taking nothing for granite! My favorite activities include sunbathing, skipping on smooth bodies of water, and holding down papers for my mom. I’m not that good at fetch, but I love being held in a warm, comfortable hand or occasional pocket. I’m learning a few new tricks but so far all I’ve mastered is “sit” and “stay.” I love music (rock, of course) and have been told I’m a great listener!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

Meet Bea, a 1 year old cat who’s favorite activities include birding and stealing hair ties.

Here is what Bea’s owner had to say about her life here in Arlington:

Christened after animal loving Golden Girl Bea Arthur, Bea is a 1 1/2 year old tortie, with all the spunk, smarts, and sweetness of her namesake. When her human roommates first met her at a local shelter, she immediately settled down on one of their laps and went right to sleep – and 30 minutes later, the paperwork was completed for her to come home with them! Bea’s love languages are physical touch and quality time. She loves helping her roommates get ready in the morning, following them around the kitchen (requesting snacks), greeting them at the door with tales of the day’s adventures, and generally being in the same room as one of them at all times. So, as you can imagine, she has absolutely loved her roommates working from home now and is happy to have them close by all day, every day!

Some of Bea’s favorite things are: birding, and racing to the windows to chirp at the crows that are bigger than her; jigsaw puzzles (she nests on the puzzle and guards the pieces when no one’s around); stealing hair ties from unsuspecting bathroom counters; morning sprint drills; and chasing after her favorite foam bouncy ball all over her apartment. And when tennis is on tv, she’ll happily chase after that ball, too, poking behind the tv to look for it when it bounces off the court.

Bea is a favorite among her human friends – so many people who claim to be “not a cat person” have gushed over Bea’s sweet nature and friendly personality, quickly becoming one of her fans and asking about her. Her roommates absolutely love her, and make sure she knows it at every opportunity. With her 1-year adoptiversary falling during this quarantine period, she’s getting the best gift she could dream of: all the love and cheek scratches, all the time – and lots of treats, just for being so darn cute.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

Meet this week’s Pet of the Week, Cooper, a 5 month old puppy recently rescued from Moldova.

Here is what Cooper’s owner had to say about his young life so far:

Though only 5 months old, Cooper is already an international world traveler with the passport stamps to prove it! The youngest of a litter of 7 puppies, Cooper and his siblings were born on the streets of Chisinau, Moldova in the middle of winter. Cooper and his siblings were strays, living outdoors in the middle of an extremely cold Eastern European winter. As luck would have it, Cooper and his siblings would be found by an animal lover right outside the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, who took in all the pups into her home! There they were cleaned, fed, trained, and most importantly loved for the first time ever in their lives. Once Cooper and his siblings were old enough to be vaccinated, they were flown to the United States and all adopted into forever homes on the East Coast.

My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to foster Cooper, but after just a few days with him we knew that he was ours! Even though Cooper is the runt of his litter, he has the biggest heart and the most playful personality. He is super adventurous, and completely fearless. He will explore every nook and cranny of whatever room he is in, and is never afraid to get his nose into things to discover new things! He is loving, and enjoys nothing more than to curl up with us on the couch or his new adopted sister, our 5 year old rescue Black lab, Tally! Cooper’s favorite room is the kitchen- during meal times you can always be sure to find him waiting patiently next to the counter for something to fall. We have yet to find a treat or toy that Cooper dislikes, simply because he loves them all.

Cooper is a one of a kind puppy, and we couldn’t be happier for him to be a part of our home!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/7 Next Image

This week two rescue cats are Arlington’s Pet of the Week: Vila & Macchiato.

Here is what the felines’ owner has to say about their lives in Arlington:

Vila and Macchiato began life on the streets of Belgrade, Serbia.  Vila and her birth brother were in a parking garage; Mac was in a street.  Some kind people found them, bottle fed them, and those people’s cats helped raise the tiny kittens to be well-socialized bigger kittens, ready to go to a permanent home.  Their new Mom & Dad met them, fell in love, and adopted them, living first in Belgrade, where the humans were U.S. diplomats representing American interests to that country.  Eventually, the humans were transferred back to the U.S. and found their new home in Ballston, bringing the now-American kitties with them.

Vila, whose name means “Fairy” in her native Serbian, is a wiry, spunky girl, which is helpful as her big brother sometimes picks on her.  She usually holds her own.  Macchiato doesn’t actually mean “coffee;” it means “stained,” like Mac’s silly spotted nose.  He is tall, limber, cuddly and gregarious — and a little jealous.  Both are smart, enabling them to work together to open cupboards and get into lots of trouble.  Although they will turn 8 this spring, they still play, racing up and down the stairs of their townhouse and wrestling.  Fortunately, they also still love each other and snuggle.  Vila is the ground athlete, excelling at crumpled paper soccer and hockey with unpopped popcorn kernels.  Mac is a graceful aerial athlete, catching and destroying wand toy lures with alarming hunting prowess.

They love visitors, but are strictly indoor cats, for the sake of their health and that of neighborhood fauna.  They were neutered as young as possible, to ensure they wouldn’t contribute to pet overpopulation in Serbia or here in the U.S.  They are very happy to be part of the greater Arlington family!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/3 Next Image

Meet Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week, Fergus who is celebrating 10 years since being adopted.

Here is what Fergus’s owner has to say about life here in Arlington:

Fergus is a 10 year old diplodog who has lived in Jordan, the United Kingdom, and is moving to South Korea this summer.  When not making friends for the United States overseas, he calls Arlington home.

Fergus is happy dog who wears his heart on his collar — you never have to guess what he is feeling (hungry, usually hungry).  He loves hiking, swimming, traveling, eating, hiding bones from his cousin Samson, and eating.  He also likes to help around the house and is particularly adept at gardening (digging holes in the yard) and overseeing all food preparation and cleanup.  Dislikes include being woken up suddenly, skateboards/scooters, cats, and missed meals.

Fergus was adopted from Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation 10 years ago this March.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/6 Next Image

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Louie, a 6 year old domestic short hair who always wears one of his many bow ties.

Here is what Louie’s owner had to say about his life here in Arlington:

Louie is a six-year-old domestic shorthair with distinct black spots (like a cow). Louie was once an outdoor cat and he was very bad at it. He craved the luxury of a warm bed and air conditioning, so now he lives in a large house with five girls who give him all the attention he properly deserves. Louie is a gentleman who is never seen without one of his many bow ties. You might still find some lingering “Lost Cat” signs in Arlington from when Louie went missing for a week last fall. A small army of humans desperately looked for him while he was lost just two blocks away from home! Did I mention he’s bad at being an outdoor cat?

While he might come off as a serious cat, Louie is sweet and kind, and he has a way of knowing when someone needs an extra cuddle–he will stand watch day and night if he knows you are sad or a under the weather. But he can be persnickety, like with his refusal to eat anything poultry-flavored, his demand for freshly poured water every morning, and his made-up rule that he can’t go to bed at night unless the lights are off… and he will stare at you until you turn them off.

Louie loves routine. Every morning, once the coffee is poured for his human, Louie goes out in the backyard to sunbathe, eat grass, and hunt. He is a great provider and has brought LIVE chipmunks, voles, and mice into the house, but he’s quite useless in helping his human catch them once they’re inside. When he is done outside, Louie comes inside for breakfast and a nap. On nice afternoons, you might spot Louie going for a car ride in the High View Park neighborhood. He sits on his human’s lap and sticks his head out the window while listening to music and turning heads at the unexpected sight of a cat riding in a car. Maybe one day you, too, will spot the spotted cat driving around town!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/7 Next Image

Meet Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week, Duke, a 2 year old German Shepherd who loves to play in the snow.

Here is what Duke’s owner told ARLnow about their life together in Arlington:

Duke is a 2-year-old silver German Shepherd. Even though he weighs about 105 lbs, Duke is a big baby with a very caring heart. Sometimes, because of his size and breed, he gets mistaken as mean, aggressive, or dangerous. In reality, he loves all people and fellow doggos and all he really wants is affection, attention, and a few head scratches here and there.

Duke is originally from Mississippi, where he was born into an unexpectedly large litter and was unable to be cared for by his parent’s owners. At 5 weeks old I took him in and we have been inseparable ever since! Since moving to Arlington, he has adjusted to city life pretty well, however the only things he can’t seem to get used to are the subway grates. He approaches them very cautiously and refuses to walk over them – he doesn’t trust them. On the other hand, one thing he has learned to love since moving here is snow. In his eyes, the magical white dust that falls from the sky is magnificent and turns the whole city into a playground. To him, there is no downside of snow – he loves to roll around in it, burrow his face in it,  pounce into it (as if attempting to catch the ground by surprise), and lay quietly in it to enjoy the cold.

Duke’s favorite day-to-day activities are swimming, playing fetch, and napping – and he excels at each one! He enjoys splashing around in any body of water (except in the bathtub), no matter what the temperature is outside – whether it’s 33 degrees or 98, that’s where he wants to be. He would also play fetch until he passed out, if he were allowed. His favorite places to go around Arlington are the Shirlington Dog Park, James Hunter Dog Park, and the U.S Marine Corps Memorial next to the National Cemetery.

Duke’s favorite thing about living in Arlington is having so many new friends (human and canine) to make friends with every day! If you happen to spot Duke walking around Courthouse or Clarendon, feel free to say hello and give him some pets – it would make his day.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Previous Image 1/5 Next Image

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Confetti, a 2 year old rescue cat who loves to sleep in the bathroom sink.

Here’s what Confetti’s owner told ARLnow about how the feline feels about life here in Arlington:

I was born outside in a barn without good food or water. Luckily, a nice Arlington cat rescuer named Lily helped me out. She took me to a foster home with other cats who had trouble. There was one, grey cat that scared me. Soon after, Lily took me and some of the other cats to a pet a shop to meet potential families to help us find our forever homes. The grey cat came along and I was scared. One little girl looked at me and saw that I was shaking. She put her hand inside the cage and pet me. It made me purr. She felt my motor and I knew that she loved me. The family took me home that very day.

When I got to my forever home, I was really scared but after a few days I was more comfortable. My belly hurt because of the bad barn water and the vet said I had giardia. My new family gave me medicine and healthy food and nursed me back to health. The name I was given is Confetti because I have lots of little spots. My new family calls me lots of new names too, like: Marbles, French Fry, Fuzz Face, FetFet and Caramel Toes. I love all my names! My favorite toy is the one that my little girl owner makes for me out of pipe cleaners. I like to play fetch up and down the stairs with her. Sometimes I like to sleep in the cool bathroom sink because it feels really good. I also like to drink glasses of water that my family leaves out, but they don’t like that so much.

I know that I am loved and cared for and I feel so lucky that there are people out there like Lily to help cats like me that need a second chance. I am only two but I feel like I’ve been with my forever family… forever!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency