Washing Dogs for a Good Cause

Local residents can have their dogs treated to a bath for a good cause this weekend.

Herndon’s Dogtopia is holding its annual Charity Dog Wash to support the nonprofit organization Hero Dogs on Sunday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Manager Laura Cruz said she can’t wait for the event.

“I’m really excited about it,” Cruz said. She said this will be the seventh annual Charity Dog Wash for Dogtopia, but the first at the new Herndon location, which opened in December. She said team members from the Tysons Corner Dogtopia location, as well as community volunteers, will help out at the event. 

Dogs who are brought in for the event will get a scrub in the tub, be towel dried, receive a bandana and a fragrance spritz. Cruz said the recommended donation for the bath is $15.

The Charity Dog Wash will feature more than just the dog wash as well. “There’s a lot of to do while you’re here its going to be a lot of fun,” Cruz said.

Those who attend can enjoy food from Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, Tropical Smoothie and Pink Piggy Sweets, which will offer treats for pets. Dogtopia staff will also hold a bake sale during the event.

While attendees are in line waiting for their wash, they can speak with the Ask the Experts Row, a panel of pet professionals who can help answer questions. The panel will include staff from Herndon Animal Medical Center, Opportunity Barks Animals Behavior and Training, and Bark N’ Bubbles.

All of the money collected from the bake sale and dog wash will go directly to Hero Dogs, as well as 10 percent of the sales from the concessions. “Hopefully we can get them as much money as they need,” Cruz said.

Hero Dogs is a Maryland-based nonprofit that exists purely to train and place service dogs with injured and disabled military veterans that have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Cruz said. She said they like to remember that dogs aren’t always the playing, romping family dogs—some are working and serving their country.

The original Dogtopia Charity Dog Wash, held in 2005, was about bringing awareness to dogs working for the country, Cruz said. She said since then the event has been opened up to organizations that benefit police dogs, guide dogs, service dogs and other working dogs. She said they also try to support a local organization.

“It takes two and a half years and $30,000 to raise and train one service dog,” Cruz said. “We need to get a lot of people out here so we can get them that money.” She said members of Hero Dogs, and some heroes themselves, will be in attendance.

Cruz said one of Dogtopia’s company values is to be active in serving the community. She said they feel it is their responsibility as a community business to help in ways that are close to them. She said they felt Hero Dogs was a great service with a great need that they could help with.

All of Dogtopia’s locations, including franchise locations, take part in Charity Dog Washes, supporting organizations close to them, Cruz said. And each location takes part during the weekend of July 16-17.

Cruz said the Herndon-area customers have been incredibly generous with charity items they’ve asked for so far, and she knows the community will be on board to help dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Herndon and Reston residents are big givers, Cruz said. “They’ve already proven themselves,” she said. She said the event will be phenomenal and she knows they’ll raise a lot of money for Hero Dogs.

To volunteer with Dogtopia to help wash dogs, or to donate old towels for the event, contact the Herndon Dogtopia location at 703-435-2544.