The Pet Train has arrived.

In only 2 months' time, 150 passengers on The Pet Train.

Two small NoVA pet care businesses, Barkley Square and KSR Pet Care, partnered in September 2020 to raise funds and financially support local 501 (c) (3) McLean Share. The reason was simple.

“COVID-19 continues to have a deep impact on many people's income and health, also in Northern Virginia. As small business owners operating in Fairfax county we could not just be silent and therefore set out to contribute to our community by giving back,” says Karen Rosenberg, KSR Pet Care’s Owner. “We found out that this year McLean Share is helping the local authorities with emergency COVID-19 assistance. McLean Share has been a direct resource in making financial contributions to Fairfax county families in response to social worker’s pleads for help in a rising number of cases where families are in desperate need. All this because of the impact of COVID-19 on both the health, wellbeing and income of these families. McLean Share has been an effective and trustworthy organization since 1969 so we pledged to help them.”

To make the effort more appealing to local pet owners and pet clients, Karen Rosenberg, owner at KSR Pet Care and Kristina Robertson, President at Barkley Square, came up with the idea of a pet train. The Pet Train is in fact a one-of-a-kind photo collage and whoever owns a dog or cat in Virginia can upload their pet’s photo to the collage. Each photo was then matched with $1.00 by KSR Pet Care and Barkley Square.

“Pets are the center of our business but pets also play a crucial role in the joy and happiness of families, our clients,” says Kristina Robertson of Barkley Square. “With this campaign we want to prevent pets to become victims of the COVID19 pandemic as well as help their owners. Families are suffering because of loss of income, loss of life or illness. As much as we want to help our community, we also want our donation of emergency funds to help pets stay healthy and well-fed with their families.”

In less than 2 months’ time, 150 pets hopped on the pet train. This means that KSR Pet Care and Barkley Square are donating $300 to McLean Share this week just in time for Thanksgiving.

“We hope to expand the idea of The Pet Train and have even already secured a domain name for 2021,” says Karen Rosenberg, owner at KSR Pet Care. ”This year was only a short train but in 2021 we hope to run the train for at least 6 months.”

More pets (even pets who have passed away same year!) can then join the train and increase the donation. More sponsors will also be invited to join and match photos with money making it an even greater joint community effort.

“We have not decided yet on who the donation will go to in 2021. We will let you know!” says Kristina Robertson, President at Barkley Square. “We will continue The Pet Train as long as it is a joyful and happy train for all and it creates togetherness which due to COVID-19 and social distancing we crave more than ever right now.”

About KSR Pet Care LLC.

KSR Pet Care has been in business since 2008 and offers quality and emergency services in dog walking, pet sitting (cats, dogs, small animals), overnights, errand service, house checks and pet taxi in McLean/ Tyson’s Corner, Falls Church, Vienna, Merrifield, Dunn Loring). A team of 25+ employees continue to receive excellent reviews, deliver highly in quality and are meticulously and professionally organized. KSR pet Care received many recognitions over the years including "Best Dog Walkers/Pet Sitters"--Washingtonian Magazine 2011 + 2013 +2016 +2019 +2020 and “Best Pet Care” – The Northern Virginia Magazine 2019. More news on https://www.facebook.com/ksrpetcare

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ksrpetcare/ , LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksrpetcare/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/ksrpetcare

Contact: Karen Rosenberg, karen@ksrpetcare,com, C. 703-819-9292

About Barkley Square

Barkley Square is a high-end grooming spa offering custom grooming services to each of their pet guests. Barkley Square also offers professional pet-sitting, dog walking, and Bed and Breakfast services. Barkley Square is an accredited, bonded, and insured Pet Care company providing superior service catering to you and your pets specific needs. In-home professional dog walking, pet sitting and pet grooming service catering to you and your pets' specific needs in Arlington, Falls Church, Tyson’s Corner, Reston and surrounding area. Barkley Square has now been serving the area for close to 30 years (this October 2020) .

Contact: Kristina Robertson, kristina@barkleysqaure.com, C. 703-628-4311

About McLean Share

McLean Share aka Share Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who has been offering emergency assistance since 1969 in McLean and nearby areas of Northern Virginia. This year McLean Share is helping the local authorities with emergency COVID-19 assistance. Fairfax County social workers continue to work up every case where a request exceeds a nominal amount and McLean Share has been a direct resource in making contributions for families in desperate need. This means help paying utility bills, rent and other emergency financial aid, food, shelter and clothes

More on McLean Share at https://www.facebook.com/ShareOfMclean and https://www.shareofmclean.org/