Meet Zoe, a lovable but sometimes mischievousness rescue dog, and this week’s Arlington Pet of the Week.

Here’s what Zoe’s owners had to say about her:

This is our dog Zoe, a 1.5 year-old mix who lives in Arlington. We adopted her when she was 3 months old from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation right here in Arlington — she was found on the side of the road with her brothers and sisters, all very malnourished.

She was a little timid when we first got her, but she has long since forgotten her tough past and is now quite the pampered pup. She enjoys strolling through Clarendon and has learned which stores give out free dog treats. When Lululemon has their doors open, she strolls right on in and sits in front of the treat jar until someone gives her a treat (and then her owner is FORCED to go shopping for new Lululemon clothes!).

She also rules the roost at home. Her owners have come home to various destructions, including chewed kitchen cabinets and hardwood floors, a digested Kindle charger, and feathers covering the entire living room from ripped-apart pillows. Despite this, her owners are obsessively in love with her and can’t imagine life without her!

She would also like to know when James Hunter Dog Park in Clarendon is reopening (July -ed.), because she misses her playtime with all of her neighborhood friends! And her owners miss how tired and calm she gets after a long day playing at the dog park.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is a long, but lovable Australian Bearded Dragon named “Kirky”.

Here’s what Kirky’s owners had to say about this unique family pet:

When our oldest son was six years old he asked for a lizard for his birthday. Our friends had a bearded dragon that he loved and they told us that it was easy to take care of. Off to the store my son and I went to pick up our baby “beardy” who he named Kirky. Kirky was about 6 inches long and ate only crickets.

When Kirky was about one year old, he was a bit under the weather and we took him to a vet. To our surprise and delight we found out that Kirky was a girl!

As she grew (and grew) Kirky lived in a 10 gallon tank, then a 40 gallon tank and now, 6 years later, she lives in a 70 gallon tank by our picture window where she loves to sun herself. Kirky is about 2 ½ feet long and lucky for us, she is not going to grow any more. She no longer eats crickets but she does love broccoli and celery leaves and her Bearded Dragon Food.

Kirky enjoys sitting on her log under her heat lamp to warm up. When the TV is on, she watches with us. We even tried to take her on walks but that didn’t work out too well. She just sat in the grass and did not move! She is incredibly easy to take care of and is a joy to have around the house! Guests who come into our home are fascinated by her!

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Meet Espen, a talkative Arlington rescue cat named after her owner’s favorite hobby.

Here’s what Espen’s owner had to say about her.

You can probably guess that I’m a huge sports fan. To answer the obvious question: Yes, the name “Espen” does derive from ESPN. She is a very colorful, friendly, and talkative feline resident of Arlington. As you can see from the pictures, Espen has a shiny coat of brown and black fur that she often effectively uses for camouflage, as well as bright green eyes that peer into the soul. She is nearly five years old, having been adopted from the local Last Chance Animal Rescue (LCAR).

In many ways, Espen is more of a dog than a cat. She likes to greet people at the door, often with saucy language and a brush of her fur. When there are guests, she likes to announce herself, momentarily retreat, and then wait for the perfect moment to unexpectedly hop onto someone’s lap. Espen also talks. A lot. Perhaps she gets that from her BFF, a mini-Yorkie that lives in the same building.

During the day, Espen can be found either perched on a pillow or laying out in the sunlight next to a window. All in all, Espen knows she has it very good in Arlington.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Meet Sabra, a rescue dog who escaped war and near-death before finding her new owners in Arlington.

This is what Sabra’s owner said about this international pooch:

This is our dog, Sabra. She is a very special dog because she came to us from Israel as a rescue during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War. Sabra was found with several other litter mates at just a few months old in an area that was being hit with rockets. An organization brought Sabra and 38 other puppies from Israel to the United States for adoption. My mom and I decided to help out at an adoption event for these puppies but because we already had two dogs (both from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington!) we told ourselves we could not and would not get another dog.

We ended up fostering Sabra. She needed special care because she almost died on the way to America. When she arrived, the veterinarians were sure that they’d have to put her down but she’s a strong doggy and she made it! As we cared for her, we fell in love with Sabra and ended up adopting her.

She is the most affectionate, loving, and strange dog we’ve ever had. She is about 80 pounds but she thinks she’s a lap dog. If you’re on the couch it won’t be long before she gets on the couch and falls asleep in your lap. If you’re not paying attention to her she’ll paw at you until you do — it gets annoying but we love her. We are not sure what her breed is, but we are sure that she’s beautiful, cute, and has the most expressive eyes.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Our Pet of the Week is Gordy, an athletic 9-year-old yellow lab who has a voracious appetite for furniture and brownies.

Here’s what Gordy’s owner said of him:

He loves playing soccer (see his favorite ball in the picture), taking long walks on the trails at Potomac Overlook, eating, swimming at Roosevelt Island and sometimes getting into the trash.

Gordy was adopted when he was 7 months from a home in NY state. When we first brought him home he broke his leg in a freak Frisbee accident. He then tore off over 4 casts before we got smart and put on the dog “cone”. He also made a habit out of chewing up numerous pieces of furniture and swiping countless food items from the counter, including a full plate of freshly-baked brownies.

Since then he has turned into a wonderful family dog to our two small girls and despite having a “tough” bark, he is a very sweet-natured, loving dog. His only weaknesses still include food of any kind and small socks

He started his early years with us in Ballston and now lives in Cherrydale.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

This week’s Pet of the Week is a young rescue dog named Adam Puppy, who is looking for a family to call his own. Here’s what the the volunteers at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue had to say about him:

Meet our Lucky Dog. He’s a one-year-old Catahoula Leopard/Doxie mix who is very playful and energetic. Adam is a sweet pup that needs time to warm up to new people, dogs, and places.

Adam Puppy will need an experienced dog owner that can help with his socialization and teach him to trust new things. His new owner needs to be committed to training him. Once he has warmed up to you, he is incredibly affectionate and will be your little shadow. Adam is an expert at de-squeaking any plush toy and will happily remove all the stuffing as well. He also enjoys a good game of fetch, curling up on long car rides, and playing with his other doggy friends (as seen in this video).

For more information on Adam Puppy and adopting from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue please visit our website.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

This week’s Pet of the Week is Cooper, an energetic dog who hits both the gym and the dance floor.

Here’s what he wanted to say to his fellow Arlingtonians:

Hi, my name is Cooper. From my earliest years, I have considered myself an athlete. They say I’m pretty fast. In order to keep in shape I routinely work out, as seen in this video. My New Year’s resolution is to compete in a triathalon. Please let me know if anyone knows how to modify a Trek road bike for paws. The cycling leg is my white whale thus far, but I am motivated to overcome the challenge.

But don’t pigeonhole me. I’m not just a jock. I do have a softer side, as I was a cornerstone at my parent’s wedding. There were serious moments, but I also was called upon to get the dance floor going. In preparation for the arrival of my first sibling, I’m teaching myself to read. I look forward to being as involved in his delivery as I was in my parent’s union.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Meet this week’s Pet of the Week, Roxy, a teeny Yorkshire Terrier with a personality larger than life.

Here’s what her adoring owner had to say about this pint-sized Ballston pooch:

Roxy is quite likely the smallest dog in the Ballston neighborhood. Smaller than your average Yorkie, she was the runt of her litter and not a teacup. While she is small, she makes up for it in volume. She’s received multiple complaints from neighbors for barking when she’s left alone, although she’s doing much better these days. She’s extremely social, but is very cautious with dogs she doesn’t know.

Unlike most small dogs, she lacks a Napoleon complex and seems to be very self-aware as to just how small she is. But if she’s sitting in her mama’s lap and another dog comes up to say hello, watch out! She will snap just to let them know that this is HER human. It’s not uncommon for her to walk up to people, wagging her little nub-tail furiously in greeting. Not only is Roxy social, but she is a little bit of a flirt as well. She’s got quite the little fan club in the neighborhood and it’s not uncommon for people and security guards to greet her by name.

Roxy has an inordinate amount of toys and she loves them all. She typically takes them out one at a time to subtly let you know it’s time to play fetch. While she’s been trained extremely well to get and fetch her toys, putting them away is still a trick that hasn’t caught on. When it’s nice outside, she loves to go running around in Quincy Park (on leash, of course.) What she loves even more is to go up to Great Falls and roam around the woods and climb on the rocks.

For a little diva dog that struts around in a leopard print coat and matching carrier, she’s actually quite the outdoor lover. This dog will go for a five mile hike, and then want to play fetch when she gets home. She’s a four-pound bundle of energy!

Roxy’s favorite place to nap is in the crook of your neck. She’s a serious snuggler when she finally does get tired.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and 3-4 photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

This week’s Pet of the Week honor goes to a pair of quirky dwarf hamster brothers named Pockets and MIRV. While the two share the same genetics and an extravagant cage in Arlington, they could not be more different.

Here’s what their owner wrote about them:

Pockets and MIRV are brothers born five months ago from the same litter. I adopted them from a local pet shop and they continue to call Arlington home.

Despite being brothers, the two roommates have vastly different personalities, like a smaller and furrier Odd Couple. Pockets – named for his check-based storage capacity – is shy, relatively tiny, and the cleaner of the two. When he was adopted, we noticed he was missing part of his left ear, which gives him an ironic “bad boy” look. If his cage was the mean streets of The Outsiders, Pockets would definitely be more Ponyboy Curtis than Dally Winston. He loves yogurt chips and hiding in an old margarine container called Ft. Butter.

MIRV – named after a type of ballistic missile warhead because his owner works as a nuclear wonk in DC – is always curious, willing to defend his cage through finger bites, and very messy. MIRV enjoys running and making a mess in his wheel at 6:00 am, which is good exercise for him and a cheap alarm clock for me. His favorite snack is a peanut.

We try to give them a fun and spacious living environment with two levels, two wheels, a couple hideaways, and a fresh supply of fruits and veggies always on the menu. Pockets and MIRV really like their doctors at SEAVS in Fairfax and look forward to calling Arlington home for many years to come.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

Meet Ellie, an inspiring 11-year-old lab and pit bull mix who survived living on the streets and now gives back to her Clarendon/Courthouse community by working as a therapy dog.

Here is what Ellie’s rescuer and owner had to say about her:

I adopted Ellie from a rescue after from college. She is an incredible, well behaved dog. She has gotten to know the location of any local store that provides her with free treats and often attempts to direct me there on walks. She was a real hit at the recent Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade and got more beads than she knew what to do with!

Ellie is a joy and I cannot imagine not having her. She is a therapy dog and we volunteer with a local organization called People Animals Love (PAL). We often frequent the Central Library where children actually read to dogs like Ellie. She has brought a lot of joy to various local nursing home residents where we also volunteer.

Ellie loves to play and has remained active in her old age. She used to be the best running partner I had, but now she settles for long walks. She loves catching Frisbees and has been known to run up and down park slides. She adores toys and often takes them with her outside. At my prior condo she was known as the dog with the big fish in her mouth and brought a smile to anyone that saw her.

Ellie is the perfect example of the joy that a rescue dog can bring to a household. I have often had many people comment that before Ellie they did not like dogs, but that they would gladly adopt any dog that has her disposition. The rescue found her as a stray roaming the highway extremely underweight. Whomever her prior owner was had no idea on what an amazing dog they missed out on! She is without a doubt my best friend.

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered to be the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email steph@arlnow.com. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.