Pender Pet Retreat

02/04/2026

Hello friends!

We share our community with an animal-loving individual who has found himself in a very difficult place in life, down on luck. You may have seen Michael around the Chantilly/South Riding area with his female German Shepherd and in the last 3 months, her 6 LARGE (all black Shepherd Mix) puppies. Michael lives with his 7 dogs in a makeshift pop-up camper. As a veterinary community, we have come together to help Michael get the care he needs for his pups, but Michael himself needs help from his community. As a group, we have been collecting both dog and human food and supplies for him, but his storage is limited, so we plan to use the funds from this campaign to give Michael gas and Walmart gift cards.

The GoFundMe for campaign for Michael and his pups can be found here: https://gofund.me/365600468 or using the QR code below.

For those wondering, yes, Fairfax County Animal Control is aware of his situation and his dogs, as well as multiple local rescue organizations. Michael uses all of his time and resources to care for the dogs before himself, including feeding. The dogs are in good physical shape and are being fed and bathed regularly.

Any contribution is MUCH appreciated by all involved and I know Michael is also very thankful for any show of kindness and support from his community.

Thanks for your consideration!
- The Pender Team

10/02/2025

We are super excited about Barktoberfest this Saturday, October 4th! Check out this awesome lineup of our rescue friends and local vendors!

Here’s just a few of our friends who you’ll see at the pawty:
BITE & GO - so many yums!
🍓 Blushing Berries https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQ2PbVbF6/?mibextid=wwXIfr – Sweet treats that are berry delightful!
🎶 Melissa Wright with Big Universe Music uhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1AVWdGyywA/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Musical artist!
🦜 Phoenix Landing https://www.facebook.com/share/1BBKTpnu6x/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Learn more about our feathered friends!
🐶 Operation Paws for Homes– Adoptable pups & rescue support.
🐾 Whiskers, Paws and Love Inc.
🐕‍🦺 Mutt Love Rescue located in Northern VA – Because every dog deserves love.
🦴 Pupalicious Treats by Chris – Tasty snacks your pup will drool over!
🏠 A Forever Home Rescue Foundation– Meet your new furry family member.
🐕 Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)- Giving animals a second chance.

🐶💖 **PLUS:** Fun for the whole family – human and canine!
🎨 Kid-friendly activities - pumpkin painting!
🐕 Pup play zones
🍂 Fall-themed fun for all ages

Parkway Veterinary Hospital has proudly been serving the pets and pet owners of the Virginia community.

09/23/2025

🎃🐾 **Barktober Fest is almost here!** 🐾🎃

Join us at Pender Pet Retreat on October 4th from 1pm-4pm for a tail-waggin’, family-friendly day full of furry fun, festive vibes, and some *paw-some* local vendors you won’t want to miss!

Here’s a sneak peek at who you’ll see at the pawty:

🍓 Blushing Berries https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQ2PbVbF6/?mibextid=wwXIfr – Sweet treats that are berry delightful!

🎶 Melissa Wright https://www.facebook.com/share/1AVWdGyywA/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Musical artist!

🦜 Phoenix Landing https://www.facebook.com/share/1BBKTpnu6x/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Learn more about our feathered friends!

🐶 Operation Paws for Homes https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ceb4ZBxEB/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Adoptable pups & rescue support.

🐾 K9 Lifesavers https://www.facebook.com/share/1F5nEhZuyZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr)– Saving lives, one pup at a time!

🦎 Reptile Education of Virginia https://www.facebook.com/share/17J5Jd4hU7/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Scaly, slithery, and super cool critters!

🐕‍🦺 Mutt Love Rescue https://www.facebook.com/share/175ePmTXQi/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Because every dog deserves love.

🦴 Treats by Chris https://www.facebook.com/share/17KBcboHY8/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Tasty snacks your pup will drool over!

🏠 A Forever Home https://www.facebook.com/share/1AAB3MXZAE/?mibextid=wwXIfr– Meet your new furry family member.

👵🐶 Fairfax Pets on Wheels http://www.fpow.org– Connecting people & pets in heartwarming ways.

🐕 Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)– https://www.facebook.com/share/1B1gLYUobE/?mibextid=wwXIfr Giving animals a second chance.

🐶💖 **PLUS:** Fun for the whole family – human and canine!
🎨 Kid-friendly activities
🐕 Pup play zones
🍂 Fall-themed fun for all ages

🎉 Don’t miss out on this bark-tastic event!
📍 **Pender Pet Retreat**
📅 **October 4th**
📸 Come for the fun, stay for the memories!

📣 Tag your dog-loving friends and let’s make this the best Barktober Fest yet! 🐾🍁

08/01/2025

Let's all wish a very YAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎂 to all of the shelter pups out there waiting on their forever homes! 🐕💙🩷💛
If you'd like to be proactive about providing something magical for your local shelter dogs on their special day, consider making a donation such as toys or treats, volunteering your time, or fostering! Many shelters allow you to 'day foster,' meaning you can take a dog home to give them a break from the shelter environment- this allows them the time to decompress, play with someone new, and increases their chances of adoption!

❤️🐶

07/31/2025

Happy to all of the mixed breed canines out there that bring us so many smiles and love! 🐶 ❤️

07/31/2025

Happy National Mutt Day to all of the lovely mixed breeds out there that make our lives brighter! 🐕

07/23/2025

Help your dogs THRIVE in this summer heat by following our simple guide!! 🌞 Which method do you prefer?
Featuring our friends Zoey, Mia & Canela 🐶

07/20/2025

Hello, furrends! It's National Feed a Rescue Pet Week, which means it's time to work together to keep our shelter pets fed! 🐶 🦴
Our rescues work hard day in and day out to provide the best care possible for homeless animals. We can help them immensely by providing a variety of donations, including: kibble, wet food, treats, toppers such as tuna or pumpkin puree, and even monetary donations. Single ingredient treats such as pig ears, beef trachea, freeze-dried fish, or jerky can go a long way in providing enrichment for our shelter animals. Imagine how much these donations would brighten their day! Contact your local shelter(s) and ask what you could do to help them care for these lovely souls while they await their new families.

07/10/2025

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July, everyone!~ 🎆
As we count down the hours to the festivities, we'd like to encourage you all to take a moment and review your game plan for your pets.
Many of our furry furrends have a hard time with the flashes of lights and loud bangs, so please consider their feelings this holiday! ❤️ Each year, the highest number of reported missing pets occurs on the 4th of July. Having a safety plan ready to go could make all the difference for you and your family!
We wish you all a spectacular, fun-filled holiday!!

06/23/2025

It's the perfect weather for pool time to be added to your pup's boarding stay! 💧🌞 Contact us to check for availability!

06/12/2025

⚠️ATTENTION FOLKS⚠️ Share this with your loved ones to keep you and your pets safe!!

⚠️ WARNING: HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM IN PROGRESS
A blue-green algae bloom has been identified at Burke Lake.
• Avoid contact with the water. This includes swimming, wading, and letting pets enter the lake.
• Keep pets away from the shoreline and do not allow them to drink from the lake.
• Individuals with respiratory sensitivities should avoid prolonged exposure near the water.
Avoid contact with the water until further notice. Blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins that pose serious health risks to people and animals.
Fairfax County Park Authority is monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and local health officials.

Please check Parks Alert webpage for updates before visiting: https://bit.ly/3x7CrP7

Additional information can be found on the Virginia Department of Health website: https://bit.ly/45Z3oUi