Paws to Think

10/22/2026

Upcoming events that support the adoptable animals at IOWCAS!

10/21/2026

📢 Local businesses and organizations! This is a great way to get your name out there while supporting an important cause!

❤️🐾We love our Community Pawtners!

The volunteers of IOWCAS are looking for businesses and/or organizations who would like to join in on a friendly competition to support IOWCAS!

The The Oaks Veterinary Clinic has a donation based fund set up for Isle of Wight County Animal Services. This fund is matched dollar for dollar by The Oaks, and is utilized for emergency care and treatment for IOWCAS animals

Starting November 15th through December 31st, they're challenging the community to donate towards this matching fund on behalf of their favorite business!

The winning team (business) will win bragging rights amongst the county for having the most animal loving customers!

🐈‍⬛️If you own a business or organization in Isle of Wight, and would like to participate, please email [email protected] for more information 🐕

Be sure to keep an eye on our socials and around town for how to support IOWCAS on behalf of your favorite local business!

10/19/2026

Friendly reminder that your child should not be climbing on your dog! For the safety and sanity of everyone involved 😅

🚸When we say a dog is "kid friendly" or "has done well around kids," this typically means the dog has met a kid and acted appropriately (no jumping, not knocking them down, etc.)

Of course, every dog and kid is different! Some dogs may prefer older kids, or those who respect their bubble 🫧

Similarly, some kids prefer lower energy dogs and others enjoy the crazier dogs!

🐶🧒 Anyone with a dog should educate themselves on doggy body language, but especially those with dogs and kids!

We recommend following pages like Dog–Baby–Toddler Safety Experts| Education For Growing Families and Kim Brophey to learn about body language, supervision, and so much more!

Management tools like baby gates and leashes are super handy, not only in the first few weeks, but even long-term as your kids grow!

Ultimately, our goal is for everyone to be safe and happy! Just because a dog tolerates something from a child, doesn't mean they should have to! It's our job as parents to intervene when needed ❤️🐾

❔️If you have dogs and kids, how do you keep everyone safe and happy?

📍13044 Poorhouse Rd., Windsor, VA 23487
🕑 Open to the public 11:30am-3:30pm daily (closed Weds)
📞 757-365-6318

10/15/2026

Happy 🎉

It only took me half of the month to remember to post 🤣🤷‍♀️

I wasn't diagnosed until my early 20s. Even then, I'd never really been exposed to what ADHD is. I could focus on things I enjoyed, sooo how could I have an attention deficit?!

Well, turns out, I can really only focus on the things my brain finds interesting (like dog behavior), but it checks out if the thing isn't fun 😅

People with ADHD also struggle with tasks. Basic things like brushing your teeth just come naturally to neurotypical people (NT), while someone with ADHD has to actively make a decision to do those things. Every. Single. Time 😭

Which makes sense why we struggle with task paralysis. On the outside, we might be sitting on our phones, but on the inside, we're arguing with our brain to just get up and do the thing

I've learned a lot about ADHD in the last few years, and I now realize just how much it's impacted my life over the years!

For me, a diagnoses validated that I was different, that my brain doesn't work like most people's. That doesn't make me less than! We need diverse ways of thinking to better our society.

Still, I never realized that most people's brains don't sound like this?!

💜What does the inside of your brain sound like?

10/15/2026

Anti-abortion ≠ pro-life

Pro-life shouldn't come with stipulations. Why are we only worried about someone being born, but not about what happens afterwards?

Every day, I scroll social media. Every day, I'm shocked by the lack of humanity and empathy. I shouldn't be shocked (which is sad in itself), but I just can't wrap my head around the amount of hate paraded so nonchalantly

Someone went to peacefully protest at a rally. Not only was she physically assaulted by men, but continues to be mocked and laughed at, by the same people preaching love (or does that only apply in church?). Instead of condemning it, the speaker praised their actions and made a negative comment about the protester's weight

What's crazier, is that her shirt said "Release the Epstein Files." Which, why wouldn't anyone who genuinely loves and supports kids not want pedophiles brought to justice? Or did that change when we realized a certain 🍊 🍇ist is on the list?

Love isn't just for unborn babies. It's also, not misgendering someone simply because you don't understand it (and certainly not calling someone "it"). It's not telling someone they're uneducated or that "the dye in your hair is shrinking your brain cells" because they have a different stance on things

Love is feeding the babies you wanted born, and making sure all of their needs are met. Housing the unhoused. Clothing the unclothed. Welcoming the unwanted (ya know, all of the things Jesus preached about?)

I think people get so caught up in red v blue, that they forget to stop and look at the topics/facts, AND do their own research! I've seen many people sharing posts with false information that encourages fear mongering

How extremely left of me to want equality and justice for all

TL;DR:
Stop preaching love on Sundays if you're not going to put it into practice 🤷‍♀️ do your research and 🗳

10/13/2026

So important! Just because a shelter may list a dog as "dog friendly," doesn't mean they'll be friendly with every dog

When adopting, be sure to tell staff what you'd like to do with your future pup! Whether that's being a couch potato, hiking, or taking your dog to events!

You may have noticed our adoptable dog posts say "dog friendly" or "tested well with dogs", but what does that mean?!

As an open intake shelter, we can't realistically dog and cat test every dog who comes in (though we try!)

We start new dogs with a dog we've seen do well with others. They're usually a calmer dog who is appropriate with others!

Then, we try to match dogs with similar play styles for play groups!

Some dogs have been in homes with other dogs, which helps us know what they can handle

Interested in adoption? Apply online!

Once you've submitted an application, contact Isle of Wight County Animal Services at 757-365-6318 to schedule a meet and greet with your pup!

A good dog test doesn't mean they'll get along with your dog. A slow introduction definitely helps with long term success!

We offer foster to adopt, so you can take a week to see if it's a good fit before finalizing!