Pet of the Week | ARLnow.com

Arlington Pet of the Week: Buster

Published March 13, 2013 at 12:00PM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Buster, a boisterous four-year-old cockapoo who is defying the odds. This Ballston pooch has proven that living with epilepsy doesn’t have to mean living life sick as a dog.

Here’s what Buster’s owners had to say about him:

Not only is he cute, loving, and hilarious, he’s living with epilepsy and still enjoys life to the fullest. Every morning and evening, Buster must take multiple medications to help with his seizures and these medications have side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. But that doesn’t stop our little Buster!

Buster brings a smile to everyone he meets. He enjoys playing with his toys, especially toys that squeak. His idea of playing fetch is when you throw a ball, he retrieves it, and then you chase him around to get it back. Buster is also super smart and has a way with the ladies. He’ll come up to you while you’re eating, looking all cute and innocent, and then swipe your sandwich. And yes, we took him to obedience school. He just didn’t pay attention, I guess!

Buster has been an Arlington dog since he was born. He loves the Clarendon dog park, hanging out at Northside Social and Whitlows on sunny days, and walking by Pinkberry hoping to get a taste of someone’s frozen yogurt. Buster is a special dog and he’s brought so much joy into our lives.

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: Hathor

Published February 27, 2013 at 11:00AM

It’s no coincidence this playful hedgehog shares a name with the Egyptian goddess of joy and love. Meet our Arlington Pet of the Week, Hathor, a playful African Pygmy Hedgehog living in Crystal City.

Here’s what Hathor’s owner had to say about her:

When you first pick Hathor up, she will curl up into a ball in the palm of your hand. After a few seconds, when she senses that you’re not there to harm her, she will uncurl and begin flailing her arms around — her sign that she wants to play with you!

Hathor’s enclosure is filled with pieces of fleece, which she loves to burrow under and move around. She has a wheel that was custom-made for her, which she sometimes uses for exercise. But she seems much more interested in seeing what will happen if she jumps off the side or uses it as a swing to rock back and forth.

Even though she is fully grown, Hathor still thinks she can crawl into toilet paper tubes. If you leave one close to her, she will inevitably get it stuck on her head and walk around that way until somebody takes it off.

Hathor loves snuggling with her owner or with visitors. One of her favorite tricks is to crawl up the sleeve of somebody’s jacket, emerging a few minutes later on the other side. She also loves crawling onto people’s shoulders, licking their hair, and sniffing the inside of their ear, which really tickles!

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: Roo

Published February 13, 2013 at 2:45PM

Meet Roo, our latest Arlington Pet of the Week. This playful rabbit is waiting to be adopted at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Read more about Roo here. From the AWLA’s write-up:

February is Adopt a Shelter Rabbit Month!

Rabbits make wonderful companions because of their social and curious nature. They are intelligent, easy to litter train, and can even learn tricks. This Valentine’s Day, consider bringing home one of these gentle and silly souls to become part of your family.

Roo would love to be your Valentine all year long. With his soft velvety coat, he’s as handsome as he is loving. He is a 5 year old, neutered male Rex rabbit. Rex rabbits can have a feisty side and are very smart. He has great litterbox habits and loves a good nose rub. He would love a nice big rabbit-proofed room or large pen for his new home, and lots of toys and snuggles.

If you are interested in adopting Roo or any of our other rabbits up for adoption, please come to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington! Want to learn more about rabbits as companions? The website http://www.rabbit.org is a wonderful resource for all things bunny.

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.

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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.

Arlington Pet of the Week

Published January 30, 2013 at 1:00PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Charlotte, a Shiba Inu-Chihuahua mix puppy.

Rescued from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina, Charlotte now resides with owner Jeannie on Columbia Pike, in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Jeannie wrote the following about Charlotte.

This is my dog Charlotte. She is a Shiba Inu-Chihuahua mix puppy about 7 months old. Just a few short months ago she was in a high kill shelter in North Carolina. But luckily she was flown out of North Carolina by Pilots and Paws to safety here in VA. A volunteer with Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) fostered Charlotte and just a few days after Charlotte was in VA I met her on the street during one of her walks and fell in love with her sweet face! About a week later she was home with me for good! She has been with me for a few months and still LOVES her walks. The picture below should say it all. Pilots and Paws and FOHA are so wonderful to take care of these animals, get them out of the shelters and into loving homes. I can’t thank them enough for Charlotte!

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]. This week’s winner gets a $50 gift certificate from Becky’s Pet Care for pet walking and sitting services.

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Arlington Pet of the Week

Published January 23, 2013 at 12:00PM | Updated January 24, 2013 at 12:54PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Porter, a two and a half year old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

This furry Clarendon resident recently overcame some scary health problems but never lost his happy attitude. Owners Malarie and Craig wrote the following about their tough terrier.

Meet Porter, a 2 1/2 year old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier from Clarendon. As you can see in the photos, Porter is a good sport! This year brought a lot of bumps and bruises for the little guy. Late this past summer, Porter was diagnosed and treated for a tough case of Lyme Disease. On top of that, he fought off an icky virus, a headfirst run in with a tree, and a recent choking scare that led to a middle-of-the-night visit to the local animal hospital (it turns out eating your toys can backfire! If only he would learn!) Through it all, Porter has never faltered from his sweet disposition.

While he is painfully shy with most people, Porter is always thrilled to see his favorite humans, their close friends, and his dog walker, Danielle. Like a traditional Wheaten Greetin’, kisses are plentiful. More than anything, Porter is a true “dog’s dog.” He loves nothing more than a good play bow at the local park or a muddy, backyard run with friends. When playtime ends, the softy comes out again. He loves to cuddle. Sometimes Porter thinks he is human, and helps himself to his owners’ bed, even taking the time to rest his head on the nearest pillow (pictured). Most of all, Porter lights up his owners’ lives more than they could have ever imagined, and has given them the chance to meet so many wonderful dog owners in the Arlington community.

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.

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Arlington Pet of the Week: Jasmine

Published January 16, 2013 at 3:59PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Jasmine, a 7-year-old cat who’s awaiting adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

More information about Jasmine can be found here. From the AWLA’s write-up:

Jasmine is quite a sweetheart! She was brought to us due to her owners allergies, and she wasn’t happy about it one bit! The shelter is a stressful environment for most cats, and especially for Jasmine. She is very frightened of the other cats and all the commotion really stresses her out. Jasmine is cautious of new people and doesn’t trust them right away, though once you’ve earned her trust she’ll be your best friend. She loves head rubs and chin scratches and will show her appreciation with a good purr!

Once Jasmine is used to you she will sweetly meow for your attention and greet you with a brush against you legs. Jasmine also likes to play with all kinds of toys and, according to her previous owner, she will even play a game of fetch with you! Jasmine also loves laser pointers and, baffled by that pesky red dot, could chase them for hours. It takes Jasmine some time to adjust to new environments and she would benefit from a slow introduction to her new home. Because Jasmine is wary of the other animals at the shelter, she would prefer to be your only pet. Sudden movements and loud noises are scary for her, so she would do best in a home with older children who are familiar with cats. Come visit this sweet, smart, and spunky gal and give her a chance to to settle in your heart, and perhaps your home too.

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).

Dogma selects one shelter pet per month to be featured as the Pet of the Week.

“Beginning on the day we first opened, Dogma Dog Bakery encouraged people to consider adopting or fostering dogs and cats,” said owner Sheila Raebel. “Every month, we will work with our local shelters, and rescue groups to feature a pet in need. Sometimes, some adoptable pets are just overlooked for no special reason, and they need a little more exposure to find the right home.”

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.

Photos used with permission.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Atlas

Published January 9, 2013 at 1:15PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Atlas, a 5-year-old miniature goldendoodle described by owner Michaela Hackner as “pretty much the mayor of Arlington.”

Atlas’s larger-than-life personality seems to match his name, if not his stature. Hackner writes:

Not a stranger to fame, Atlas is a 5 year-old, miniature goldendoodle that is pretty much the mayor of Arlington. He can be seen walking with his owner Michaela several times a day, all over the Clarendon and Courthouse neighborhoods. When he’s not watching over the city from his perch at the window, he’s partying at WOOF’s doggy daycare and living it up with his many human friends. He loves playing in fountains, drinking from water fountains, and sniffing out water bowls along the way – but don’t think that he enjoys swimming, he hates getting wet because it makes him look like a drowned rat (which is so uncool)!

People stop him wherever he goes due to his winning personality and happy gait. He can frequently be seen grinning from ear to ear, or acting snarky when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. He used to be a regular Facebook junkie, but mom took away his iPhone after he ate through one of the silicon cases. He’s also well known for his patented “ninja spin” and expertise in devouring “street morsels”, which are pretty commonly found after a big night in the ARL. (He’d like to ask all readers to leave more pizza on the ground so that he has a chance of snagging some on his morning walk!)

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.

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Arlington Pet of the Week: Starr

Published January 2, 2013 at 3:10PM

The inaugural Arlington Pet of the Week is Starr, a 4-year-old Newfoundland pooch.

Starr, nicknamed the “Goofy Newfie,” has her own Facebook page. She lives in the Shirlington area with her owner Stephanie Kwisnek, who wrote the following on her behalf.

“Starr’s here!” “Starr’s here!”

The kids chant my name as soon as I jump out of the car. They come running up to me and give me a big hug, and I feel like the luckiest dog alive!

Hello, my name is Starr. I am a show-stopping 4-year-old Newfoundland dog who is a trained therapy dog living in the Shirlington neighborhood of Arlington. I have learned how to comfort, cajole, listen and support people in ways that humans never can.

I volunteer with the Casa Chirilagua organization Kids Club; an after-school program for 6-12 year olds that helps children with their homework, especially with reading. Because of my good listening skills and sweet personality, I was recently named “Volunteer of the Month” with the organization.

Now, you can imagine I am pretty imposing by my size: 175 pounds, about 5’ 6” when stretched out. But deep down, I am just a big, furry, teddy bear. One little girl was so afraid to touch me at first; but now she can’t give me enough hugs. The organizer recently said that even their most resistant readers can’t wait to get a chance to read to me!

In addition to my work at the Kids Club, I am a certified therapy dog with the People Animals Love (P.A.L.) organization. With PAL, I visit libraries in Arlington to read with more kids. I also volunteer with the Arlington County (Virginia) Animal Welfare League and visit with patients at Northern Virginia Training Center (NVTC), a residential training facility for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. I am the perfect size for the patients, most of whom use wheelchairs.

Believe me, when I walk the streets of Arlington — carrying my treats home from Dogma or Best Buns — heads turn. I am definitely, “the Starr.”

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.

#Pet of the Week