Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

I’ll never forget the first snow with our ancient miniature poodle, Cotton Methuselah. We’d adopted him a couple months prior, thinking that he probably had a few weeks left to live (when I say he’s old, he’s old). Seven years later, he’s somehow still kicking—but he wasn’t kicking much when we got 18 inches of snow during the winter of 2018-19. 

See, we always walked him out the front door when it was time to do his “business.” Cotton has a front cleft paw, so he hops more than walks. Well, when he saw the snow, Old Man Dog turned into a little puppy. He leapt right off the porch… and immediately landed in a snow drift deeper than his height. He looked up at us incredibly confused—and like it was “our fault.” 

We picked him up, dusted him off, and carried him back inside—but that precious little face of misconstrued betrayal makes me giggle every time. Below, we’re highlighting some ways to keep our furry friends safe this winter. Enjoy reading the tips—and remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Here’s what you need to know: Virginia’s diverse climate presents unique challenges for pet owners during the winter months. While our coastal regions may experience milder temperatures, inland areas can face severe cold snaps that put our pets at risk.

Coastal Virginia presents unique winter challenges:

• Salt and chemical de-icers used on roads and sidewalks can irritate paw pads
• Frozen puddles near the coast may contain harmful saltwater
• Strong coastal winds can dramatically increase the wind chill factor
• Rapid temperature changes common in our region can confuse pets’ natural adaptation

Remember, Virginia’s winter weather can be unpredictable. The best approach is to bring pets indoors during extreme conditions and ensure they have warm, dry shelter when outdoors is necessary. For more information about pet precautions, visit the link below.

Question of the Week: March is Women’s History Month! Write to me at  amie@couriernewsroom.com and tell me about a Virginia woman who inspires you.

President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has meant tariffs are back in the news, raising fears about how the levies on foreign goods will impact Virginia’s economy with its robust international trade. 

While there is plenty of uncertainty about which of Trump’s tariffs will actually go into effect, the latest is that he announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on cars and automobiles by April 2. His administration has imposed a 10% tariff on all imports from China, and is still considering 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and non-energy imports from Canada. 

That’s bad news for Virginia given the billions of dollars worth of exports and imports that flow in and out of the state. While Trump says the tariffs are meant to win concessions from other countries and support US industries, most experts agree that tariffs will raise prices for businesses and consumers. Meanwhile, Trump has yet to roll out an industrial policy to help develop domestic industries the tariffs would ostensibly protect.

• Did you know that you can visit Booker T. Washington’s birthplace? And that the site is a national monument? Born into slavery in 1856 on a 207-acre farm in rural Franklin County, Washington went on to become one of the country’s best-known historical Black figures (READ MORE HERE).

• Need some good news to jumpstart your weekend? We’ve rounded up three Virginia stories sure to bring a smile to your face, including a new cat cafe, a person living the American Dream, and a marriage that made history (READ MORE HERE).

• Federal contractors are getting laid off—but they can’t claim unemployment. A new proposal aims to change that. Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell recently took to the House floor to discuss the issue (WATCH HERE).

This week, we’re featuring a boxing highlight! If you’d like to see your team’s accomplishments broadcast on Dogwood’s platforms, send a note and photo to amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply to this message. Just be sure you have permission to share from all of the proper sources—players/guardians, photographers, and coaches/schools, to name a few.

Keyshawn Davis celebrates after defeating Esteban Sanchez during a lightweight boxing bout on Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Talk about a knockout performance! Norfolk native Keyshawn Davis recently became the new World Boxing Organization lightweight champion. 

The Virginia boxer knocked out Denys Berinchyk in the fourth round of the Valentine’s Day fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

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