Arlington Pets of the Week: Abby and Callie

(Updated at 3:50 p.m.) This week, ARLnow is doing something different with our Pet of the Week selections by featuring the companions of those whose homes were affected by last week’s flash floods.

Beagle duo Callie, 7, and Abby, 13, are members of the Sakell family in Westover. Owners Tom and Kathy evacuated with the dogs and their children Monday morning when the water rushed into their basement, and the family carried the beagles over a neighbor’s fence to higher ground.

“They’re both a little traumatized from the flood,” said Kathy. “They simply must be near me all the time. When they are, they are happy as clams.”

Tom previously told ARLnow that his family was babysitting another dog named Austin at the time. Austin is a 86 lb. golden retriever who was too heavy to lift over the fence, so Tom said they had to swim through the street together.

The Sakell family cannot live in their house at the moment because of the mold risk and repairs needed to their home — making them one of over a thousand homeowners and businesses who reported damages caused by the historic storm.

The Westover family said they’re currently staying near a beach in South Carolina while they regroup and decide how to fix their home. And for Callie and Abbey, it’s heaven.

“Their favorite thing is now running on the beach,” said Kathy.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

With quality service for over 20 years, Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.