Tag: animals

Hedgehogs move closer to pet status
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a motion recommending a change in the zoning ordinance to allow hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs to be considered “commonly accepted pets.” That means those animals could be kept as pets without the need of a special permit. The Board of Supervisors will consider the zoning amendment … Continued

Paws for Pets: Danny wants your vote
Danny Paws for Pets is a series focusing on pets of any kind. Danny, a formerly homeless 2-year-old hound lab pit mix, has dreams of stardom, but he needs your help. He is asking people to vote for him in the Washingtonian magazine’s cutest dog contest. If he wins, Danny plans to host to host … Continued

Supervisors consider broadening definition of allowable pets
An African pygmy hedgehog Fairfax County residents could soon be able to keep hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs as pets without a special permit. The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 17 authorized a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow those animals to be considered “commonly accepted pets.” A … Continued

Cat café planned for Fairfax
The CatCafe Lounge in Los Angeles. Fairfax County is poised to get its first cat café. The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special permit in September for a business called Patriot Pawsabilities at 10611 Braddock Road, Fairfax. The cat café, in a storefront at University Mall, would allow patrons to relax and interact with … Continued

Annandale homeowner can keep his chickens
Annandale homeowner Young Gee Kim can keep his chickens, the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruled Sept. 26. Kim needed a special permit because his property, at 3801 Annandale Road, is smaller than the two-acre minimum required for having chickens by right. Kim has five pet chickens in a coop on the side … Continued

Chico’s one-year anniversary party on Sept. 30 features mini-makeovers for pets and people
Chico’s new pet spa. Chico’s Natural Pet Market invites everyone and their pets to an Open House and Pampered Pet Party Sunday, Sept. 30, 1-7 p.m., to celebrate the store’s one-year anniversary and introduce its new pet spa. Chico’s, at 6349A Columbia Pike, is hosting the best-dressed pet contest at the Taste of Annandale and will … Continued

‘Animal communicator’ will help judge pet contest at the Taste of Annandale
The Taste of Annandale Planning Committee is pleased to announce that Diane Roadcap, the “animal communicator,” will be one of the judges at the best-dressed pet contest at the Oct. 13 street festival on Tom Davis Drive. The Taste of Annandale schedule hasn’t been finalized but the pet contest, hosted by Chico’s Natural Pet Market, … Continued

Zoning board will decide whether Annandale resident can keep his chickens
The Kim family’s pet chickens. When a friend of Annandale resident Young Gee Kim gave him five chickens last spring, which he keeps in a coop at the side of his house, he didn’t know he was violating Fairfax County zoning regulations. Under the zoning ordinance, a homeowner must have a two-acre property in order … Continued

Willie brings campaign for ‘mayor of Annan-tail’ to Taste of Annandale
Willie With the Taste of Annandale happening just a little more than three weeks before Election Day, we’re expecting there will be some intense political campaigning going on at the Oct. 13 street festival. Joining the real candidates, will be Willie, a friendly pit bull mix, who’s running as mayor of “Annan-tail.” Willie will be … Continued

Paws for pets: Lacey and Lynx need a home
Lacey The Paws for Pets series focuses on pets – dogs, cats, birds, fish, ferrets, geckos, snakes, or whatever you have. Here’s one example, and here’s another. If you would like us to publish a post about your pet, send us a brief story – or just a few sentences – and a photo to [email protected]. … Continued

Paws for pets: ‘Toothless’ was rescued from Thailand
This is the first in a new series focusing on readers’ pets. If you would like us to post a story about your pet, send us a few sentences about your dog, cat, bird, snake, or whatever you have and a photo. Contact [email protected] for more information. “Toothless,” a brown and white cat from Thailand, actually has three … Continued
Remains of human foot found in backyard now thought to be a bear paw
The partially decomposed body part found in a North Springfield backyard Jan. 20 that was initially identified as a human foot is now believed to be a bear paw, the Fairfax County Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced. A resident of the 5900 block of Brunswick Street had called the police after the gruesome … Continued

Coyote kills small dog
Rufus A small dog has been attacked and killed by a wild animal, most likely a coyote, in the Broyhill Crest neighborhood in Annandale. Mary Trice let her dog, a seven-year-old male neutered Maltese named Rufus, outside for a bathroom break on Dec. 10, and he never returned. She found his partially eaten body the … Continued

The horses are back for the summer
Preschoolers at Congressional School enjoy rides on Tinkerbell, seen here with camp counselor Julia Utting. Back in the day when the Annandale area was dotted with farms, horses were a common sight. They’re gone now, as the area has urbanized. But there is still one place left in Mason District where you can find horses … Continued

How to live with outdoor cats in your neighborhood
Community cats who have been spayed and neutered usually have an ear clipped. [Fairfax County Animal Shelter] The following piece was written by an Annandale resident and cat rescuer in response to a recent Annandale Blog post about a small colony of feral cats. The public needs to be educated about feral cats, … Continued