Pet of the Week

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This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Stetson, a two year old Bernedoodle.

Here is what Stetson’s owner has to say about their life together in Arlington:

Meet Stetson George. 2-year-old Bernedoodle, 100% Michigan farm raised, cage free and sometimes grass fed (when his tummy hurts). He used to hang his leash the last 14 dog-years in the Windy City of Chicago, and after a cross-country move, where he slept the whole time, he now calls the Clarendon neighborhood home.

The breakfast bell rings early in our home. He’s out the door at 5:30am for an early morning walk to one of the many Arlington parks. He’s a strapping young pup who loves to run, play with other 4-legged friends, and makes most anyone happy to see him or pet him. He recently discovered that sometimes stores have free treats for dog friends, and since discovering this, his whole late evening walking world has changed, to the point he sometimes protests changing streets to find his beloved free biscuits.

Last weekend he went on a new adventure to the Shirlington Dog Park and loved it! We never knew, nor did Stetson, just how great of a swimmer he really is! He has it all! His good looks, calm temperament, and a loving family to support him. He has very promising dog career ahead of him!

If you want to be friends with Stetson, follow him @stetsonyeepaw

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.

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This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is one-year-old green Pacific parrotlet, Thorondor.

Here’s what Thorondor’s owner has to say about this beautiful bird’s life in Arlington:

Thorondor is a green pacific parrotlet who just turned one year old this summer. He was hatched and weaned at Columbine Aviary in Denver, CO and flew to us in Arlington in the hold of a commercial airliner last August (it would have been a long way to fly on his own). He took some time to acclimate to his new home, but we instantly fell in love with this feathery little ball of attitude. He’s very much a part of the family now.

For food, Thorondor of course loves seeds, especially sunflower seeds and millet. Parrotlets shell all their seeds before eating the insides, so he generously shares all of his husks with the floor. But, he mainly eats lots of fresh food like broccoli, cauliflower, oats, apple, and kiwi.

Thorondor’s favorite activity is probably sitting on phones. He likes to chew on the case a little bit, tap at the screen with his beak (yes he can click on things and type gibberish), and just enjoys sitting up high. Thorondor’s other interests include bathing (mostly just dunking his head in water) and chewing. His favorite chew toys are shirts, socks, and beards. Thorondor has a feisty personality. He likes to playfully attack fingers and toys while making tiny roars. If he doesn’t want to step onto a finger or is annoyed by activity around his cage or wants someone to come pay attention to him, he can *loudly* let you know. But most of the time he likes to softly peep and swing on his swing or flap his wings for exercise. He’s even starting to roughly mimic some English phrases, but he has a lot of room for improvement! We look forward to seeing how our little beautiful birdy continues to develop and grow.

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.

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Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Darla, a four year old lab.

Here is what Darla’s owner has to say about their life in Arlington:

Darla is a four year old yellow lab and social butterfly. She insists on greeting any person or animal she passes with a wagging tail and kisses. Her favorite pastimes include napping (always on furniture and snoring), eating (literally anything), swimming, and visiting her friends at the dog park. She loves belly rubs and will adamantly request them by tapping you with her paw.

Darla is named after the character from Little Rascals, and is just as much of a charmer. As of late, Darla has a new baby brother who of course became her instant best friend. She got to visit her favorite place this summer (the Outer Banks) where she plays in the ocean and digs in the sand. She’s excited for fall to arrive which means jumping in leaf piles and snuggles while watching football.

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.

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This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Ferda, a sweet rescue pup who recently found her forever home.

Here is what Ferda’s owner says about life here in Arlington.

Ferda was adopted from Pet Rescue Alliance in mid summer. My husband saw her online and fell in love, so when we heard she was still available we jumped at the chance to meet her. When we brought her home she explored for a minute, then claimed a cushy spot on the couch and promptly fell asleep. I guess she decided she was home.

Ferda is probably a mix of a Boxer and a Boston Terrier, though since she was found abandoned as a puppy we don’t really know for sure. Our research into that mix revealed that they are known to be smart, affectionate and very loyal. Considering how she’s basically velcroed to us when we’re home I’d say it’s an accurate description.

Ferda loves looking for squirrels along Four Mile Run and joining us for happy hour at the many dog-friendly patios in Arlington.  She’s a goofball who makes us laugh everyday. She mastered ‘shake” really quickly,  which is a super cute trick. We’ve put in some effort at expanding her repertoire, with a little ‘roll over’ and ‘spin’, but so far her response to each has been to wave at the air until we shake her little paw.  Oh well, she’s definitely enjoying tons of treats no matter the results of her training.

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.

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Arlington’s newest pet of the week is Bear, a 2.5 year old pitbull mix who loves his full time job.

Here is what Bear’s owner has to say about his life in Arlington:

Bear is a 2 & 1/2 year old Pitbull mix that was adopted from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Originally from Galax Virginia he was transferred up north to to a non kill shelter where his owner subsequently fell in love with and adopted him. Like his father, Bear is a food motivated gentleman who will do anything for a treat. In his spare time he enjoys watching squirrels out the window and taking long naps.

Coming from the animal shelter Bear has worked his way up to corporate ladder with a cushy town house in Old Town. While he resides in Old Town Bear works a 40 hour week at the Ballston BID. His official title is Director of Happiness Operations. His main duties in the office entail greeting everyone at the door, employee stress relief via belly rubs and tricks, and ensuring no food goes to waste. Though Bear is the newest employee his in enthusiasm for the job and the Ballston neighborhood lead to quick promotion within the company.

Bear is big on community outreach, you can often find him going for walks around the neighborhood — make sure you say hi!

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.

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This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Roux.

Here’s what Roux has to say about having a new home here in Arlington:

There was a horrible flood in spring of 2017 in my hometown of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and someone found me in the floodwater as a kitten. I was taken to the pound and was about to be put down when my forever family found me and took me home with them to Arlington, VA. 

They didn’t know at the time that I would try to impress them with my fluffy bottlebrush tail, nightly jailbreaks into the apartment building hallway, munching on the houseplants, and constant purrs and snuggles. I even like to show off my parkour skills and try to open the apartment door by jumping on it! I also enjoy chasing fake rats around the house in my cat castle and bothering my brother and sister as they try to nap on the couch. 

My family named me Roux as an homage to my Louisiana roots, but my aunt would often ask if I was being a “muffin” (sweet) or a “puffin” (feisty) on any given day. So most who meet me today call me Puffin!

Keep up with me on instagram by following @MuffinOrPuffin!

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.

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This week, the Arlington Pet of the Week is continuing to profile companions of those whose homes were affected by last week’s flash floods.

Chloe, 13, is the feline friend of Westover residents Melinda Root and John DeMarce, whose home was damaged by water that filled the basement and rose almost two feet high in the first floor.

Root previously told ARLnow that she awoke that morning to the flood waters rising out of the floorboards at her bed.

“The first thing I thought of was my cat,” she said.

Luckily, Chloe made it to higher ground on the house’s second floor thanks to the quick thinking of a friend. Unfortunately, the couple still lost their car, parts of their dry wall, kitchen appliances, hot water and HVAC system, and many personal keepsakes.

“I’ve thrown away hundreds of books and CDs,” said DeMarce, who tore up the first floor carpet after worrying the water that saturated it could lead to mold in the house.

Two days after the flood, when ARLnow visited, Chloe could be seen winding around DeMarce and Root’s legs, and perched on the books and boxes piled for the garbage truck like little islands in a sea of lost belongings.

Now, DeMarce says they’re “down to the guts of the house” but they were able to save the floor and the older plaster walls. He said the house is “almost dry” again, but he’s been keeping Chloe upstairs where he and Melinda are staying while contractors are repairing the downstairs.

“She’s not afraid of them,” he said. “She likes to help.”

So for now, Chloe is busy dozing on the second floor where she can’t rub up against any sharp tools or step on any nails. And outside, a young wild bunny has returned to their yard after DeMarce and Root feared it had drowned in the storm.

In the heavily damaged Westover neighborhood, DeMarce said two young girls held a bake sale to raise money for gift certificates to the nearby Ayers Variety and Hardware store. They delivered one gift certificate off to him this week, writing on a note in blue marker, “I hope this will brighten your day.”

“It was just the cutest thing ever,” he said.

DeMarce’s coworkers at the Arlington Animal Welfare League have also launched two GoFundMes that hopes to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of the damage to the couple’s home — one of several fundraising efforts in the county aiding flooded neighbors and businesses.

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.

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(Updated at 3:50 p.m.) This week, ARLnow is doing something different with our Pet of the Week selections by featuring the companions of those whose homes were affected by last week’s flash floods.

Beagle duo Callie, 7, and Abby, 13, are members of the Sakell family in Westover. Owners Tom and Kathy evacuated with the dogs and their children Monday morning when the water rushed into their basement, and the family carried the beagles over a neighbor’s fence to higher ground.

“They’re both a little traumatized from the flood,” said Kathy. “They simply must be near me all the time. When they are, they are happy as clams.”

Tom previously told ARLnow that his family was babysitting another dog named Austin at the time. Austin is a 86 lb. golden retriever who was too heavy to lift over the fence, so Tom said they had to swim through the street together.

The Sakell family cannot live in their house at the moment because of the mold risk and repairs needed to their home — making them one of over a thousand homeowners and businesses who reported damages caused by the historic storm.

The Westover family said they’re currently staying near a beach in South Carolina while they regroup and decide how to fix their home. And for Callie and Abbey, it’s heaven.

“Their favorite thing is now running on the beach,” said Kathy.

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.

With quality service for over 20 years, 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.

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Our new pet of the week is 6-year old cat Stormy who loves posing for pictures so much her owner thinks she should run for office.

Here’s what Stormy’s owner Paola said the feline thinks of her life in Arlington:

Hello, my name is Stormy! I’m a 6-year-old cat and the sassiest and friendliest lady feline you’ll ever meet. I’m originally from D.C., where my cat mom adopted my sister and I from a shelter at just eight weeks. We recently moved to Rosslyn from D.C. and I just love it here! There are so many trees around us and birds (my favorite are Cardinals!)! I especially like to chase them around the apartment from window-to-window! Although my cat parents travel overseas a lot, they make sure I’m surrounded by hoomans… for you see, I’m one social cat! I don’t like being alone too long and when we have company, I immediately make friends with everyone invited. My favorite place to take naps is on my cat dad’s chest, or at night, on my cat mom’s head. I like sitting on my kitty bed and also like to take long naps outside on the balcony. My cat mom enjoys taking pictures of me, and I enjoy it too, so much so that I have my own hashtag! #Stormyforcatpresident

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 six 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.