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  • NoVA Pets of the Month: Meet 10 Cats and Dogs Looking for a Home in the New Year
drusilla the cat
  • Pets

NoVA Pets of the Month: Meet 10 Cats and Dogs Looking for a Home in the New Year

If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry friend to the family, consider adopting these friendly faces.

By Kate Oczypok December 28, 2022 at 11:23 am

Typically, we feature one adoptable dog and one adoptable cat as our pets of the month. But in the spirit of the holiday season, we included all responses we received for our monthly call for adoptable animals to show off. Here are 10 dogs and cats ready to come home with you this holiday season.

ivy the dog

Ivy, Animal Welfare League of Arlington

Ivy, 9, is a sweet cuddle bug. She is friendly and likes meeting new people, especially those who give her pets. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington says that Ivy would make an excellent companion for anyone who loves a good snuggle. She is quite smart and picks up new tricks easily. You can find out more about Ivy here.

drusilla the cat

Drusilla, Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation

Drusilla was found abandoned and eventually made her way to the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. In a caring foster home, she has turned into a little furball of energy, love, and fun. She loves a good wand toy and will entertain you for hours with her cat gymnastics, including twisting, turning, jumping, and running. After a day of fun, she loves sleeping under the covers in her foster mom’s bed. You can read more about Drusilla here.

aspen the dog

Aspen, Fairfax County Animal Shelter

Aspen has been at the shelter since February 2022. When he arrived, he needed emergency surgery for bloat, which caused his stomach to become twisted. Staff acted fast and Aspen got the life-saving surgery he needed. His foster mom says that Aspen is very affectionate and shows no aggression. He has a playful nature and loves when a good wool dryer ball is dropped when doing the laundry. He’s also great about letting you know when he needs to go outside. Aspen will need an adopter with plenty of time to spend with him and help him learn to relax when he is alone. He has lots of energy and loves to lean in when you pet him.

If you’d like to meet Aspen, visitors are welcome to come on in during the shelter’s open hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon-5 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from noon-7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information on the adoption process, including requirements and fees, see here. 

azalea the cat

Azalea, Fairfax County Animal Shelter

Azalea has been at the shelter since May 2022. She is 9 years old and was surrendered because her owner got married and Azalea was not a fan of her owner’s new partner. Luckily, Azalea has adjusted quite well to her foster home (both people this time!). She loves to sit on the most comfy surfaces possible and would prefer a quieter home where she can settle in at her own pace. If you’d like to meet Azalea, potential adopters can email [email protected].

ube the cat

Ube, King Street Cats

Ube came to King Street Cats from a big city shelter after he’d been found wandering alone and badly injured (most likely after being hit by a car). While the injury required one of his legs to be amputated, that did not slow him down. Ube loves jumping on shelves, chasing kittens, and tossing his favorite toy mouse into the air. He also loves comfy laps and will purr as soon as you look at him. You can find more about Ube here.

sophie and joey the dogs

Sophie and Joey, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

Bonded 12-year-old canine sisters Sophie and Joey might be considered senior dogs, but they are sweet and social and have embraced the snow-white faces that have come with their distinguished old age. After spending their whole lives living with the same person, they are currently looking for a new home. Their devoted senior owner was unable to care for them anymore and when she surrendered them, she said her one wish was for the dogs to stay together. As part of the AWLA’s “Home for the Pawlidays” event, adoption fees have been paid by Priority Automotive for all adult animals — including Sophie and Joey! To schedule a time to meet the pair, it is recommended to email the shelter at [email protected]. To learn more about giving the pair a shelter break by fostering them in your home, email [email protected]. There’s even a video about these two sassy seniors here.

milo and scout the cat

Milo and Scout, Mount Purrnon Cat Café and Wine Bar

Milo and Scout are a bonded pair of cats from Kuwait. They were found as kittens on the streets and raised in a foster home, moving to the U.S. earlier this year (pet passports included!). They have been residing at Mount Purrnon since late September. Both are energetic cats and despite having only one eye, Scout doesn’t know he’s any different than the average cat! He also loves to sit on laps. The duo enjoy playing with and grooming each other when it’s nice and quiet. They are food-motivated and are at your side the second they hear a can of cat food being opened. They would do best in a home where they are only cats and would enjoy a house with kids who would like to play with them. More information on how to adopt Milo and Scout can be found here.

asher the cat

Asher, Loudoun County Animal Services

If winter makes you want to curl up and stay in bed, meet Asher the cat. Asher is mellow and sweet and loves to snooze away the day with you. She also doesn’t mind giving you space and chilling on her cat tree or on a windowsill watching TV (aka watching the world go by outside her window). She has lived with other cats and dogs before and is up to date on vaccines. The 6-year-old is spayed, microchipped, and ready to go home. If you’re interested in meeting Asher, Loudoun County Animal Services is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Sunday (check the website here for holiday hours).

Feature image courtesy Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation

For more local adoptions, subscribe to our Pets newsletter.

Kate Oczypok

Kate Oczypok

Contributing Writer

Kate Oczypok has been a freelance writer since 2011, and is proud to be a regular contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine in digital and print since 2020. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, People.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and locally The Georgetowner and Washingtonian Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University and a M.Ed. in Education from Penn State. She also teaches virtual piano lessons in the after school hours and does portrait photography on weekends.

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