Although born and bred in upstate New York, I have lived in Northern Virginia for 31 years. This election cycle, the Commonwealth is a battleground in the Presidential race, and by virtue of anticipated coattails, negative or positive, in the Senatorial one as well. For what seems like an eternity, residents have endured increasingly nasty TV ads, and it isn't even post convention, post Labor Day!  Candidates have been crisscrossing the state in attack dog mode, spewing gall and gaffes, attempting to drum up support. I want to buy earplugs.

Mocha
One-year-old foster pup Mocha found a forever home this week! We are so grateful to Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and his DC staff, our first official Congressional foster office, for taking great care of Mocha and supporting our mission. We love our incredible growing team of life-saving foster volunteers!

Tom, formerly Pie
“Last summer I helped cat Pie find an adoptive family in College Park, MD. They have renamed him Tom because he looks like the 'Tom' in Tom and Jerry.  Pie quickly became friends with the couple's dog Sydney, and here are the two of them lying together on the bed.”
-Ann Curtsinger, WHS Foster Volunteer

Spiro
Spiro, a New York Avenue adoption center alumni, joined a recent PACK run!

Gretel

From Allison Abney: Today, DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown released the following statement after the Council passed supplemental funding for DC Public Charter Schools and the Unemployment Compensation Fund:

“Today, the Council passed supplemental funding for DC Public Charter Schools and the Unemployment Compensation Fund; two programs that the CFO has identified as needing immediate additional funding and being at risk of violating the District’s Anti-Deficiency laws.