This is Abby. The N. Va. representatives of Northumberland County’s Animal Shelter will be at the Petco Store, on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford on Feb. 20 from noon until 4 p.m.

Pepper is a tan and white adult female hound mix. She was originally a stray. She is friendly but shy, and is looking for a forever home. Come visit her soon.

Haole is a tri-color young adult male hound mix. He was originally a stray that was adopted. He is a sweet dog but a little shy, and he is looking for a loving new home.

This great guy is Benny. He is 2 to 3 years old.  Benny is cautious about new people and is slowly getting more comfortable being petted and held but still needs lots of TLC and patience.

Lucy is a shy but gentle dog. She has a very sweet disposition and walks great on a leash. Lucy prefers a quiet, mature household. She is a 5-year-old Shepherd/Lab mix that likes to run, and is good with cats and dogs.  If you think she is the one for you, please come and visit with her very soon!

Donna Gail Abel
Donna Gail Abel, 48, of Woodford, died Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at Henrico Doctors Hospital.

Hi, everyone! My name is Sammy. Are you looking for a pup who will lavish you with love and kisses? If so, you’ve found the perfect one!!! I have a very sweet and playful personality, and I love lots of attention. I am a 3 year old Boxer mix. I am good with kids over 12 years old, good with cats and have lots of energy. Please come and visit with me soon!

This is Jade. If you look into his “jade” colored eyes, you might get hypnotized. He is such a sweetheart! Jade can independent because he gets really shy.  However, he can be very playful once he gets used to a new place. Jade is looking for an experienced cat owner and a home where there might be another cat. Jade is 7.5 years old and is good with kids over 10 years old.  Please come and visit with him at the SPCA.

The N. Va. representatives of Northumberland County’s Animal Shelter will be at the Petco Store, on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford on Feb. 20 from noon until 4 p.m.

STAFFORD — Later this month, Tim’s Rivershore Restaurant & Crabhouse will host a Polar Plunge Festival to benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

Abbey the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is home! For those of you who don’t know Abbey’s story, she’d been missing for over a week, and had eluded rescue through both of our recent snow storms. Thankfully she was found this past weekend.

STAFFORD — Merry Robertson said that her husband, a longtime Stafford County volunteer fireman, always wanted to be part of the community. He always wanted to make it better.

James Thomas Daymude
James Thomas Daymude, 72, of Stafford County, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.

Billy Gallahan
William Eugene “Billy” Gallahan Jr., 78, of Stafford County, died Jan. 26, 2010 at Stafford Hospital Center.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Mary Ann Gallahan; his children, William Eugene Gallahan III Corvallis, Ore., Patricia Thomas of Fredericksburg, and Katherine Marie Eggers of Reno, Nev.; and two grandchildren.

STAFFORD — Ret. United States Marine Corps Col. Al Mackin would have been proud.

This Frankie. The N. Va. representatives of Northumberland County’s Animal Shelter will be at the Petco Store, on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford on Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 from noon until 4 p.m.

This is Abby. The N. Va. representatives of Northumberland County’s Animal Shelter will be at the Petco Store, on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford on Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 from noon until 4 p.m.

The N. Va. representatives of Northumberland County’s Animal Shelter will be at the Petco Store, on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford on Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 from noon until 4 p.m.

Barley is a Shepherd/Lab mix. This male dog is about one year old, blonde/black in color and crate-trained.

Ozzie is a male American Dingo — bred in South Carolina and Georgia — that is golden in color and 11 months old.

Indy is a handsome guy who had proven that age is just a number. He has had all of his teeth removed, so soft food is best for him. Indy is good with kids over 7 years old, likes to be groomed and is good with other cats and dogs when properly introduced. Indy has a lot of love and affection to give to his new family, and, if that could be you, please ask to visit with him soon!

This handsome guy is Roady. He is a 6-year-old Chocolate Lab/Hound mix. He is a very lovable guy who is looking for a second chance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Smithsonian National Zoological Park’s favorite bear cub was en route to China on Thursday.

This fellow is Griffin. He is such a character especially when it comes to feeding time. He is 5 years old, is very curious and loves attention. Griffin doesn’t mind being picked up and loves chin rubs.

This is Sweetie. She is a 4-year-old hound dog. I bet we don’t have to tell you how she got her name. This gal is a little shy but a big sweetheart and is looking for an experienced dog owner.

STAFFORD — Fredericksburg native Caressa Cameron is on her way to something big.

Positive reinforcement is pretty easy to understand.  You tell your dog to sit, he sits and you praise and give him a treat, and he learns sitting when you tell him it’s a good thing.  No rocket science there!  However, there are times we don’t realize we’re using positive reinforcement, and unfortunately we could be using it to reinforce behaviors we don’t want! 

Patricia Eileen Popper Knick
Patricia Eileen Popper Knick, 60, of Spotsylvania County, died of a heart attack after a long battle with breast cancer Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Capt. Francis Xavier and Eunice Popper; her aunt, Marie Grace Kelly Rice; and a nephew, Sean Popper.

STAFFORD — A 4-year-old North Stafford boy is on a journey that his parents want to alter for the better.

Dog training, especially positive, dog-friendly training is sort of like putting money in a savings account.  Even though it might be more fun to spend that money as we make it, putting it away for safe keeping in the bank will allow it to accrue interest and multiply!  Devoting time and effort toward consistent training and socialization for our dogs, especially during that first full year they’re living in our homes, is an investment. One day, our dividend will be a well trained, well socialized family member for life.  So, let’s do the math: save up for a year and get 10+ years of a wonderful relationship with your dog?  That’s not bad!