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New to Arlington, VA with Pets? Start Here

  • Writer: Steve & Hong-An San Miguel
    Steve & Hong-An San Miguel
  • Jul 1
  • 2 min read

Your Local Starter Guide for Pet Parents (2025 Edition)

By Steve & Hong | Pet Sitting 4 Comfort® (PS4C)

Serving Ballston, Clarendon & Rosslyn | Family-Owned | Fear Free Certified® | Pet First Aid Trained



Welcome to Arlington, Virginia

If you're new to the area and have pets, this guide is for you. We’ve gathered the most important tips to help you get settled—from local pet laws to trusted veterinary care and community resources.



1. Local Pet Laws & Requirements

  • Dogs over 4 months must be licensed

  • Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all cats and dogs

  • Leashes are required in public spaces (except in designated dog parks)

  • Always pick up after your pet—fines are enforced




2. Veterinary Care in Arlington

Schedule a wellness check shortly after you move and transfer your pet’s medical records.

Trusted local clinics:

  • Clarendon Animal Care

  • Ballston Animal Hospital

  • Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic

  • Caring Hands Animal Hospital - Clarendon 




3. Dog Parks & Outdoor Spots

Arlington is full of pet-friendly green spaces. Be sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccines and properly tagged before exploring.

Top dog parks:

  • Shirlington Dog Park

  • Fort Ethan Allen Park

  • Glencarlyn Dog Park




4. Emergency Preparedness

Keep these nearby clinics saved:

  • VEG – Clarendon

  • UrgentVet- Falls Church

  • VCA SouthPaws – Falls Church

  • Hope Advanced Veterinary Center – Vienna

Double-check your pet’s microchip info and ID tags.




5. Finding Pet-Friendly Housing

  • Use filters on Zillow or Apartments.com

  • Ask about breed or weight restrictions and pet deposits

  • Always confirm pet policies in writing



6. Grooming, Training & Daycare

Popular options nearby:

  • Dogma Dog Bakery & Spa

  • Woofs! Dog Training Center

  • Olde Towne Pet Resort




7. Reliable In-Home Pet Care

Need a local sitter you can trust? We offer:

  • Dog walking and cat visits

  • Medication and senior pet support

  • Enrichment and companionship

  • Real-time GPS check-ins and visit reports

  • Care from certified, Fear Free professionals




8. Moving Essentials for New Residents

Utilities

  • Dominion Energy (electric)

  • Washington Gas

  • Arlington County Water/Sewer

  • Verizon Fios, Cox, or Xfinity (internet)


Address update: moversguide.usps.com

Register to vote: elections.virginia.gov



Transportation

  • Get a Virginia driver’s license within 60 days

  • Register your vehicle and apply for a residential parking permit

  • Use WMATA Metro, ART Bus, or SmarTrip cards



Schools & Healthcare

  • APS School Locator, early childhood programs, private options

  • Virginia Hospital Center, CVS, Walgreens, and One Medical



Must-Have Apps for Daily Life

  • ParkMobile – parking

  • Google Maps / Waze – navigation

  • Nextdoor – neighborhood alerts

  • Eventbrite – local activities

  • Transit / SmarTrip – public transport tools



Final Checklist

  • License your pet

  • Set up veterinary care

  • Transfer medical records

  • Bookmark emergency contacts

  • Confirm you're within our service area

  • Book your pet’s first visit



Here to Help Your Pet Feel at Home

Whether you're brand new to Arlington or returning with pets in tow, our team is ready to support you with reliable, in-home care rooted in trust, safety, and local experience.

Pet Sitting 4 Comfort® LLC (PS4C)

571-839-0088

stevehongsm@ps4c.net

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