Saturday, November 5
11am – 4pm
K-9 Lifesavers
Reston Town Center, Reston, VA

The eighth annual Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption event will be held on Saturday, November 5th at the Reston Town Center from 11AM – 4PM.   In addition to K-9 Lifesavers, over 40 all breed and purebred dog rescue organizations will be on-hand with adoptable dogs awaiting their holiday gift – a family to spend the holidays with.

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With a laid-back ambiance and warm, friendly atmosphere the Doggy Happy Hour at Jackson 20 Restaurant stands as one of the most popular in the metro DC area.  Set within the confines of the inner courtyard of the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria, this doggy friendly happy hour is both cozy and inviting.  The large red-bricked area provides just the right amount of space for dogs and people to mingle freely, and enjoy the company of other dogs and their human companions.  There are ample tables with very comfortable chairs and even a few couches on which to relax, sit back and enjoy the open-air. By 6:00 pm on warm, sunny days the courtyard is bustling with people unwinding from their workweeks.  Plenty of parking is also available in either the underground parking garage below Market Square (adjacent to City Hall) across the street or on neighboring streets.

On this Thursday evening Amy Knebel and her husband John who just six months ago moved from Chicago to Alexandria, arrived at the happy hour with Lou Lou Maybelline.   Amy explained, “Lou Lou was adopted when she was around 10 weeks old from the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago.  She had been one of the dogs moved out of shelters in the central Midwest to make room for dogs being moved north, after they had been left homeless as a result of hurricane Katrina”.

Lou Lou had been sent to Chicago with her mother and sibling puppies after being rescued from neglect on a farm, and Amy mentioned that she and her husband adopted her on the same day that Lou Lou’s siblings were also adopted.  “She started positive reinforcement training shortly thereafter and because she has such an easygoing temperament her trainers recommended that she become a therapy dog”, added Amy.   So Lou Lou was trained in specific skills that she would need as a therapy dog, enabling her to visit patients in Chicago area hospitals.  She also received additional, specialized training so that she could work with patients undergoing occupational therapy.

After moving to the metro DC area, Amy involved Lou Lou in working with Pets on Wheels, an organization which coordinates bringing loving pets on visits with residents of area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  In addition to being a therapy dog Lou Lou is quite talented and knows a number of tricks including giving “high-fives” (see photo), praying, jumping up and off of things, balancing on her hind legs, taking a bow, and posing for pictures.

Another person at Thursday’s happy hour was Randy Plante with his dog Oliver.  His tradition of going to the happy hours began in the summer of 2002 when a flight attendant friend invited him to one.  He found that he had such a great time that he eventually began hanging out with people who have dogs – and because he had so much fun, he decided to adopt.  So he researched various rescue groups, visited a number of shelters and eventually saw Oliver’s picture on PetFinder.com.

At that time Oliver was being sheltered at the Washington Animal Rescue League and after going through the adoption process Randy brought him to his new forever-home.  Randy exclaimed, “Adopting Oliver was one of the best decisions I ever made”.  Randy, a former Air Force pilot, was so inspired by the experience that he decided to write a book about searching, finding and adopting Oliver. The book entitled “My Wingman Oliver” is currently being printed and will be available soon.

Also making an appearance this evening, as well as at every doggy happy hour was Charlie, a very friendly Bichon Frise, who serves as the Director of Pet Relations at Hotel Monaco Alexandria.  Woods Morrison, Restaurant Manager, pointed out that, “Charlie is responsible for making all of our four-legged guests feel welcomed and comfortable”.

Restaurant 20 will be hosting a Doggy Happy Howl-o-Ween party on Thursday, October 27^th.   This Happy Hour will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and has in years past been attended by hundreds of people and their dogs, decked out in some highly creative costumes.

Be sure to get there early if you want to enter your dog in the contest because the number of entrants is restricted to the first 50 who apply.  For more details on the contest see the Jackson 20 link below.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• The Most Glamorous Get-Up.  Prize: Overnight stay at a Kimpton New York property
• The Best Dressed Couple (pet/owner costume combo).  Prize: Overnight stay the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
•  The “Top Dog” Award (best overall costume).  Prize: Overnight pet package stay and dinner at the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and Jackson 20 Restaurant.

Jackson 20: An Alexandria Restaurant Celebrating Modern Tradition

Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Jackson 20 is at once elegant and casually comfortable, contemporary and rooted in tradition.  Our namesake, President Andrew Jackson, was legendary for his hospitable nature – he was the first U.S. president to invite the public to attend the inaugural ball. True to this spirit, Jackson 20 is a convivial and popular gathering place. Here you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and fresh, inspired American regional cuisine.

Jackson 20 Restaurant and Tavern

480 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: 703 842 2790

http://www.jackson20.com/

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