Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Operation Paws for Homes

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

WOOF! My pawsome friends at Operation Paws for Homes brought by a pawsome friend for you to meet! Talen! 

Talen will make the pawfect couch companion, a pawfect friend to take neighborhood strolls with and even the friend to keep you company while you garden! 

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

Talen is around 2-years-old. She may be a Spaniel mix. She is a sweetheart and loves to snuggle!

Talen knows basic commands, loves chasing tennis balls, and loves going for walks. 

Talen is good with older mini-humans. She is a bit shy with strangers but once she knows you, she will freely give doggy kisses! 

Talen may be quietly gruff to other dogs. She would enjoy being your one-and-only, dog that is! She can follow directions on relating to other neighborhood dogs. She loves to watch the world go by in her fenced-in yard to give passing dogs too much attention.

Click here to see Talen in action!

If you would like to learn more about dog adoption, pawlease visit the Operation Paws for Homes Dog Adoption Guide.

Interested in applying to adopt or meet Talen? WOOF! Complete the Operation Paws for Homes Adoption Application.

Unable to adopt? Please consider supporting Talen financially. Donations will assist with her care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other dogs at Operation Paws for Homes. Interested, please donate HERE!

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

#dogadoption, #dogadoptions, #dogadoptionoption, #dogadoptionsvirginia, #dogadoptionva, #dogadoptionmaryland, #dogadoptionmd, #dogadoptionwashingtondc, #dogadoptionwdc, #dogadoptiondc, #dogadoptionpennsylvania, #dogadoptionpa, #adoptdontshop #dogadoptionfairfaxcounty, #dogadoptionnorthernvirginia, #dogadoptionarlington, #dogadoptionarlingtonva, #dogadoptionalexandriava, #dogadoptionalexandria

Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, PetConnect Rescue

Photo Credit: PetConnect Rescue
Creative: Allen Pearson

MEOW! My pawsome friend "Cat Lady" from PetConnect Rescue stopped by this week with a meowster for you to meet- Maisy!

If you are looking for a sweet, gentle lap cat, Maisy is the happiest girl when she is on your lap! She will curl up and purr up a storm! MEOW! 

Maisy loves to play too. She has shown off some pawtremely impawsive leaps going after her favorite wand toy! 

Maisy is the pawfect cat for a human looking for a low-key affectionate feline with enough spirit to enjoy an occasional play session.

Maisy was abandoned by her humans when they moved and she spent seven months in a shelter. She was provided a place to stay and food but she had a bit of a stressful time adjusting. In her foster home, she is becoming the meowster she can be! 

Maisy loves humans but not dogs. She will need a canine-free home. She is up-to-date and current on vaccinations and shots. 

If you would like to learn more about cat adoption, pawlease visit the PetConnect Rescue Cat Adoption Guide.

If you would like to apply to meet or adopt Maisy, pawlease complete the PetConnect Rescue Cat Adoption Application. 

Unable to adopt? Please consider supporting Maisy financially. Donations will assist with her care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other cats at PetConnect Rescue. Interested, please donate HERE!

Photo Credit: PetConnect Rescue
Creative: Allen Pearson

#catadoption, #catadoptions, #catadoptionoption, #catadoptionsvirginia, #catadoptionva, #catadoptionmaryland, #catadoptionmd, #catadoptionwashingtondc, #catadoptionwdc, #catadoptiondc, #catadoptionpennsylvania, #catadoptionpa, #adoptdontshop,

#catadoptionfairfaxcounty, #catadoptionnorthernvirginia #catadoptionarlingtoncounty,

#catadoptionarlingtonva, #catadoptionalexandria, #catadoptionloudouncounty, #catadoptionprincewilliamcounty, #catadoptionstaffordcounty, #catadoptionfauquiercounty

Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, Homeless Animals Rescue Team

Photo Credit: Homeless Animals Rescue Team
Creative:  Allen Pearson

WOOF! er, MEOW! I'm getting a bit better of my cat language since my new brother Samson came along. He is fluent in cat.

So is my pawsome friend "Miss Kim" of Homeless Animals Rescue Team. She knows cat and all about cats and where they are at and what they are about! She brought by a meowsome meowster named Butterscotch I for you to meet!

Butterscotch is around 5-months-old. She is not declawed and is friendly with other cats, dogs, and mini-humans! Purrs! She is a pawsitively pawsome sweetheart!

Butterscotch is easy-going, super-friendly and quite the handsome fella!

If you have questions about Butterscotch, pawlease contact Kim.

If you are interested in applying to adopt Butterscotch, pawlease read through the HART Kitten Adoption Policy.

To apply to adopt this pawsome gal, pawlease complete the Homeless Animals Rescue Team Adoption Application.

Unable to adopt? Meow, how about supporting Butterscotch financially? Donations will assist with her care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other cats at Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART). Interested, please donate HERE!

#catadoption, #catadoptions, #catadoptionoption, #catadoptionsvirginia, #catadoptionva, #catadoptionmaryland, #catadoptionmd, #catadoptionwashingtondc, #catadoptionwdc, #catadoptiondc, #catadoptionpennsylvania, #catadoptionpa, #adoptdontshop,
#catadoptionfairfaxcounty, #catadoptionnorthernvirginia #catadoptionarlingtoncounty, #catadoptionalexandria, #catadoptionloudouncounty, #catadoptionprincewilliamcounty, #catadoptionstaffordcounty, #catadoptionfauquiercounty

5 Ways Pets Can Be Healing for Those in Recovery

(C) Allen Pearson

We all know how much pure joy and happiness our pets bring us each and every day. Whether they are meeting us at the door after a long day at work with their tails wagging and a warm welcoming twinkle in their eyes or they are demonstrating silly playful acts that make us smile our pets are truly an important part of our daily lives. Did you know that pets are beneficial to us both physically and mentally? Here are five ways in which pets can offer healing to people in recovery—whether physical recovery or recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

Physical Benefits

• Helps reduce stress by releasing oxytocin (a relaxation hormone)

• Blood pressure improves which improves heart health

• Helps reduce overall pain associated with recovery

Mental Benefits 

• Lifts spirits thus decreasing depression and the feeling of being alone

• Encourages communication and socialization

(C) Allen Pearson

When treating someone that is, for example, recovering from knee replacement surgery many factors go into making sure they heal properly and timely. By focusing on the physical well-being as well as the mental health of the patient, therapists and doctors can be sure their patients will heal better than expected. Many times after such an invasive surgery, patients are left with lots of pain and self-doubt.

Questions such as, "Will I ever be able to walk again?" may surface as physical therapy combined with the physical pain may be too much to handle. Depression could also result from such doubt. This is where pet therapy could come into play. By introducing a furry friend to this patient, their anxiety and depression would be calmed. Also with the release of oxytocin, their pain would be more manageable which would, in turn, give them much more motivation to continue and push through their recovery therapy.

Pet therapy does not have to just heal those that have physical impediments. It can also do wonders for those that have perhaps gone through something very traumatic in their lives such as witnessing the death of a loved one or having been through situations of horrible neglect and abuse. These people do not respond to social situations very well and generally display reactions of high anxiety and stress. Sometimes they will completely close themselves off as their internal survival mechanisms kick in.

So how would our loving fur babies help in this sort of situation? Again, this has a lot to do with the release of endorphins that help to alleviate stress and anxiety. By introducing these patients to warm, loving animals, they will not only get the benefits of relaxation but they, in time, will also learn to trust these animals. Building trust with the therapy pets is just the start of a journey of learning to build trust with people and going on to build relationships, friendships and a more fulfilling life.

Another and possibly more obvious example of how pets can aid in the healing process of someone in desperate need would be a patient that has undergone a life-altering cardiac event. Not only is this stressful for the patient but is equally as stressful to their loved ones. Pet therapy in this sort of situation would be beneficial for the entire family. By healing the stress and anxiety of the loved ones, they will, in turn, be able to provide much-needed support to the recovering patient. The beloved pet will also be able to provide additional support by not only helping to keep the patient's blood pressure at an acceptable level bettering their cardiac condition, but they can help the patient ward off any depression and give them a new outlook on life.

In conclusion...

No matter how we look at it, pets are truly a blessing in so many ways. The mere fact that they give us a reason to smile and make us feel unconditionally loved is only topped by them giving us so many added health benefits. So snuggle your pets. Take them for a walk more often. Give them an extra minute of a scratch in their favorite spot. With everything they do for us, this is the least we can do for them.

About the Author:
Peter Lang is a freelance writer from Atlanta, Georgia. In recovery himself, he is dedicated to helping those who struggle from drug and alcohol addiction.

(C) Allen Pearson

 

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

Photo Credit: Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc
Creative: Allen Pearson

WOOF! It seems my pawsome pal, "Lab Lady" from Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc. has become a work traveler, barkingly, or maybe she sent one of her pawsome volunteers, by going to Puerto Rico to pick-up Sultan for you to meet!

Sultan was living in Puerto Rico when the country suffered the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria! Barkingly, as Lab Rescue kept in touch with rescue needing assistance, they received a call about this handsome fella Sultan needing assistance! 

Photo Credit: Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc
Creative: Allen Pearson

Sultan is a Black Labrador Retriever around 2-years-old. He was living in not-great conditions after his owner passed away and his owner's mother needed to relocate! After a long journey through the skies to arrive at Dulles International Airport, Sultan promptly received the Veterinary care he needed.

Barkingly, my friends at Lab Rescue say Sultan loves being petted, giving kisses, and walking on the leash. WOOF! The pawsome friends are learning more about Sultan and will share as they can! WOOF!

Sultan has tested heartworm-positive. Lab Rescue will pay for his treatment so that he can get back to being the playful young dog that he deserves to be!

If you would like to meet Sultan, learn more about dog adoption or apply to adopt him, pawlease complete the Lab Rescue Dog Adoption Application. 

Unable to adopt? Barks, how about supporting Sultan financially? Donations will assist with his care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other Labrador Retrievers at Lab Rescue. Interested, please donate HERE!

Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)

Photo Credit: Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)
Creative: Allen Pearson

Meet my new friend Honeybee from Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)! She is around 4-months-old, not declawed, and is friendly with other cats, dogs, and mini-humans!

Honeybee loves to romp and play more than anything else! Well, almost. A good scratch box with a little catnip is meowingly pawsome too!

Honeybee gets a bit scared when new humans pick her up. Pawlease allow her to share her lovin's on all 4 paws- until you get to know each other that is!

Do you have questions about Honeybee? Pawlease contact Kim.

Before completing an application to meet or adopt Honeybee, pawlease read through Homeless Animals Rescue Teams Kitten Adoption Policy.

Interested in meeting Honeybee or applying to adopt? Pawlease complete the Homeless Animals Rescue Team Cat Adoption Application.

Unable to adopt? Meowingly, how about supporting Honeybee financially? Donations will assist with her care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other cats at Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART). Interested, please donate HERE!

#catadoption, #catadoptions, #catadoptionoption, #catadoptionsvirginia, #catadoptionva, #catadoptionmaryland, #catadoptionmd, #catadoptionwashingtondc, #catadoptionwdc, #catadoptiondc, #catadoptionpennsylvania, #catadoptionpa, #adoptdontshop, #catadoptionfairfaxco,
#catadoptionnorthernvirginia

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Operation Paws for Homes

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

My friends at Operation Paws for Homes brought by a pawsome character for you to meet this week! Young MC!

Young MC is around 11-months-old and a Miniature Pinscher mix! He enjoys playing with toys playing tug and chasing tennis balls! Barkingly, he loves playing with the other dogs in his foster home too! WOOF! He loves nice walks around the neighborhood but is a little scared of the big noisy trucks. He would like a home in a quiet neighborhood where he can watch mini-humans play!

Young MC can be shy around new humans but if you give him a chance to warm up, he's not shy at all! WOOF! 

Young MC has pawsome crate skills and is working on his house training!

If you would like to learn more about dog adoption, pawlease visit the Operation Paws for Homes Adoption Guide.

Interested in meeting Young MC or applying to adopt? Pawlease complete the Operation Paws for Homes Dog Adoption Application. 

Unable to adopt? Barkingly, how about supporting Young MC financially? Donations will assist with his care. Any extra funds will be used to assist other dogs at Operation Paws for Homes. Interested, please donate HERE!

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

Photo Credit: Operation Paws for Homes
Creative: Allen Pearson

#dogadoption, #dogadoptions, #dogadoptionoption, #dogadoptionsvirginia, #dogadoptionva, #dogadoptionmaryland, #dogadoptionmd, #dogadoptionwashingtondc, #dogadoptionwdc, #dogadoptiondc, #dogadoptionpennsylvania, #dogadoptionpa, #adoptdontshop, #dogadoptionfairfaxco, #dogadoptionnorthernvirginia, #dogadoptionarlington, #dogadoptionarlingtonva, #dogadoptionalexandriava, #dogadoptionalexandria,