Holiday Message

by Dr. Allison Mayo

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, it is time for me to reflect on the year that has unfolded. The sense of patriotism and faith in our nation that carried us through the tragedies of the previous year are still abundantly evident in our community. Our annual participation in the Dale City Fourth of July parade was somehow sweeter than ever (though it was, by far, the hottest one yet!), and I was proud to see so many of you lining the streets of our town to help celebrate our country's birthday.

Last year, I vowed that we would carry on with business as usual, helping to keep pets and their families healthy. And so we have. We continue to support the local animal shelters and rescue leagues (The Pet Assistance League is one of our main benefactors, and they could always use your support, too). Our Have a Heart Fund, thanks in large part to the generosity of so many of you, has provided care for untold numbers of stray and homeless animals. It warms my heart to be able to say that no stray has to suffer unnecessarily simply due to lack of money to cover the cost of their care. Our doctors continue to donate their time to this cause, so that only the material expenses must be deducted from the fund.

This year, as we did last year, we are going to adopt a needy family for Christmas in lieu of sending out holiday greeting cards. It is a small thing to be able to do to thank the community for the continued support our business receives. We want every one of you to know that we appreciate the trust you place in us when you bring your pets to us for care. We hope that all of you have a happy and healthy holiday.