Your pet wants to have a great start to the new year too.
Lucky for them, there are plenty of events where they can tag along at a local bar and meet new pups, sniff new scents and lounge while you enjoy a drink in January.
Here’s a handful of pet-friendly and pet-inspired events coming to the region to kick off the new decade.
Happy New Year Adoption Event
Thursday, Jan. 2, noon-7 p.m.
New Year, new you … and new friends! Fairfax County Animal Shelter is hosting an adoption event with $20 adoption fees to help encourage local residents to give a pet a home in 2020. Maybe your apartment would be a little brighter with a sleepy cat on the windowsill, or you’re more likely to get up and take a walk if your dog is begging you to go outside. Whatever your reason might be, maybe this year and the decade is the time to get a pet (or another furry friend) that can change your life. // Fairfax County Animal Shelter: 4500 W. Ox Road, Fairfax; free
Friday Yappy Hour Yoga
Friday, Jan. 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
We hear you about New Year’s resolutions, and maybe, just maybe, your pup wants to join you in your journey to become more active, take more time for yourself or spend more time outdoors. Whatever your resolution might be this year, let you and your dog relax at Yappy Hour through a fun and furry flow of upward dogs, downwards dogs and sleepy savasanas. After the class ends, attendees are welcome to speak with Linda Horn of Pawsitive Angels about animals and their needs. // Samskara Yoga & Healing: 22000 Dulles Retail Plaza, Unit 102, Sterling; $20 per human
Weekly Adoption Event
Saturday, Jan. 4, 1-4 p.m.
Looking for another furry friend to add to the family? This could be your chance. A Forever Home Rescue Foundation is passionate about finding the right pet for the right family, and this event will allow you and your family members the chance to meet, interact with and maybe even fall in love with a dog that needs a “fur-ever” home. If there happens to be a dog you would like to apply to adopt, the organization encourages everyone to read up on the process and guidelines before attending. // Weber’s Pet Supermarket – Chantilly: 14508G Lee Road, Chantilly; free
New Year, New You! Puppy Yoga + Bottomless Mimosas
Sunday, Jan. 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
We all have a different vision of what starting off the New Year right looks like, but this one might be something we all can agree on. A 90-minute yoga class with puppies (available for adoption!) and bottomless mimosas, with all proceeds from the event going back to the SPCA of Fredericksburg. So let’s break it down here for a second: You get to see, play and pet local puppies, drink bottomless mimosas on a Sunday (with no judgement involved) and do something great for your body (didn’t you just think of a New Year’s resolution the other day?). Time to say cheers to a New Year for the second time. // Adventure Brewing Company: 33 Perchwood Drive, Suite 101, Fredericksburg; $25 yoga, $40 with bottomless mimosas
Vino Bistro Yappy Hour
Sunday, Jan. 5, 3-5 p.m.
If you count two of the greatest things in life to be dogs and wine (especially your dogs and good wine), this event is for you. Bring the dogs along to Vino Bistro for yappy hour, where adults can enjoy a selection of wine, beer and food specials, and local resident pups can mix and mingle while enjoying time out and about with their owners. Vino Bistro will also have special homemade treats and surprises for your dog, making sure they’re well taken care of throughout the afternoon. // Vino Bistro: 1605 Village Market Blvd., Suite 100, Leesburg; food and drink prices vary
Paint Your Pet Night
Sunday, Jan. 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
So your pup can’t join you for this DIY event, but you can think about them the whole night as you re-create them on a canvas! Paint-your-pet night is a local favorite where attendees will be provided colorful palettes and outlined canvases in order to bring a masterpiece of your furry friend to life. Plus, enjoy food and drinks while you’re at it, and get a new home decor piece customized for you and your pet. All ages are welcome, so feel free to bring your little family members along too. // Muse Paintbar Fairfax: 2920 District Ave., Suite 100, Fairfax; $45 per person
Dog Krazy Ice Cream Social
Monday, Jan. 6, 3-7 p.m.
This weekly event is a great way to get your dogs out of the house and enjoy their time with you. Stop by Dog Krazy for all of your necessary items such as a new collar or leash, a new chew toy or a big bag of treats, and let your pup enjoy a free cup of ice cream with your purchase. Want to stop by just for the ice cream and tail wagging? Doggy ice cream is $1 per cup and can be enjoyed at any time of year. // Dog Krazy: 1603 Village Market Blvd., Suite 108, Leesburg; free
Pets on Wheels Orientation
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax Pets on Wheels needs you and your pet’s help. Attend this informative session to find out how you can spread joy and laughter around the Northern Virginia region by visiting local long-term care facilities with your pet of choice (dogs, cats and rabbits are welcome). Before you know it, your pet won’t only be sharing the love with you, they’ll be sharing it with even more community members who might just need to give an ear scratch or tight hug to brighten their day. // Providence Community Center: 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax; free
Pet Loss Support Group Meeting
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7-8 p.m.
The holidays are hard. New Year’s can be hard. And losing pets is hard too. If you recently lost a furry friend in the family, it’s OK to seek help in order to cope. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is hosting its first quarterly meeting of the year to gather community members with Kathy Reiter (who has helped pet owners cope with loss for more than 25 years), and allow them to air their memories, emotions and struggles associated with the loss. This meeting could even be the first step to an emotionally healthier 2020. // Arlington Welfare League of Arlington: 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington; free
Celebrate Virginia Dog Show
Jan. 8-12, times vary
If you’ve always wanted to attend a dog show in person, now is your chance with the Fredericksburg-based Virginia dog show. The five-day event will feature five shows, showcasing a variety of dog breeds and talents from across the commonwealth. Look out for the breed competitions, the “4 & Under” competition and the national owner-handled series. Exhibitors from the Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club, Inc., Charlottesville-Albemarle Kennel Club and Northern Neck Kennel Club of Virginia will be on-site to compete and name best in show. Plus, register for the care clinics with local practitioners, including one on cardiac and another on eye care. It’s sure to be a tail-wagging good time. // Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center: 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg; free (clinic workshop prices vary)
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