Loudoun Animal Shelter Creates Wish List During Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — As the spread of the new coronavirus continues, animal shelters and animal rescue groups in Northern Virginia are doing their best to help animals. These groups are now reaching out for the public's help. In Loudoun County, the animal shelter, together with its partners, is seeking pet food and monetary donations to help families who are struggling to find the means to feed their dogs and cats.

Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) is focusing its efforts on its Pet Pantry program, a collaborative effort with the Humane Society of Loudoun County and Loudoun Hunger Relief. LCAS and the Humane Society of Loudoun County are making weekly deliveries to Loudoun Hunger, delivering pet food kits for small dogs, large dogs and cats.

Loudoun Hunger Relief serves as the county's primary emergency food pantry, providing food assistance to the hungry and food insecure in Loudoun. Right now, the Pet Pantry program's need for food is increasing. LCAS has updated its Amazon wishlist to reflect what it needs for the Pet Pantry program.

LCAS is looking for donations of small (3 to 7 pound bags) of dry adult cat and dog food and canned food for cats and dogs of any size. The dry and canned food can be purchased online and then shipped to the shelter at: Attn. Pet Pantry, 39820 Charles Town Pike, Waterford, VA 20197. Monetary donations for the program can be made through the Humane Society of Loudoun County.

"Our goal is to ensure no one has to surrender their pet due to a lack of food, especially during these uncertain times," LCAS Community Relations Manager Talia Czpaski said Friday in an email to Patch.

LCAS is still open for people interested in adopting an animal — with a few changes to its regular processes. When people arrive at the shelter just off Route 9 near Waterford, they should pull up to the circle and wait in their vehicle for a team member to come out.

People should expect slightly longer wait times. "We are hoping to get all of our animals adopted as we anticipate a significant decrease in adoption traffic in the coming weeks even while intakes continue and kitten season coming soon," Czpaski said.

LCAS also is encouraging the public to remember their pets as they make emergency plans by identifying secondary caretakers, checking pet supplies, and ensuring pets have proper identification and are up to date on vaccinations.

"We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of community support that has come our way the last few days," Czpaski said. "We will all get through this together."