Article Text

Crates filled with puppies rolled into the Giant parking lot on Chain Bridge Road on May 17, turning an ordinary grocery run into an opportunity to meet rescued dogs seeking permanent homes.

The Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation held the adoption event outside the McLean store from noon to 2 p.m. The organization used the National Pet Month gathering to introduce its mission to more residents and expand its adoption efforts in the community.

Breny Recinos, Giant’s social media content specialist, helped organize the event after suggesting a dog-focused experience that could draw people to the store. She said visitors could enjoy meeting the animals even if they were not ready to adopt.

The dogs at the event came from shelters in Southwest Virginia, where overcrowding had placed them at risk of euthanasia, according to Lost Dog Special Events Manager Jody Kulstad.

Lost Dog volunteers regularly travel to that part of the state—sometimes as often as three times a week—to bring dogs and cats into the organization’s care. The animals receive beds, vaccinations and health checks. Those older than six months are also spayed or neutered before being offered for adoption.

Although Lost Dog holds adoption events across Northern Virginia, the May 17 gathering was its first at the McLean Giant. Volunteer Tomash Dase said the new partnership offered a chance to connect specifically with McLean residents, an area where the organization has not typically hosted events despite having one in Tysons Corner.

Prospective adopters begin by completing an application and registering for an interview. Interviews are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, with no more than three applicants considered for the same dog.

Kulstad described the interviews as thorough but said the goal is not to create unnecessary obstacles. Instead, volunteers assess whether an applicant can properly care for the animal.

The event also attracted families interested in volunteering together. Participants younger than 17 must be accompanied by an adult, prompting McLean resident Neha Vohra to attend with her son. Vohra said her family already has a dog and saw the event as an enjoyable way for the two of them to volunteer.

For Dase, the reward comes when dogs—particularly those that have waited longer—gain visibility and find permanent families through special events.

Kulstad said she most enjoys helping the dogs meet potential adopters, even though she cannot take every animal home herself. She has adopted four dogs from Lost Dog and another from a different rescue.

“My husband has cut me off,” she said, “but I still fall in love with every single one of them.”