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Local cat swims her way slim

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – Holly needs to lose a few pounds. Make that six or seven pounds.

And her fitness journey has garnered a lot of interest on the Web. Not because of all the other worried pet owners struggling to help their own cats and dogs lose weight. But because of her unusual weight loss plan.

The 13-year-old feline is swimming her way to a slimmer Holly.

Her owner, Dani Lawhorne, tells ABC 7 that swimming is the only type of exercise the 20-pound cat will tolerate. She doesn’t like the outdoors. She disdains cat toys. Not even the most potent cat nip will entice her to frolic.

Instead, she allows Lawhorne to strap her into a full-body life vest and guide her around a pet-sized therapy pool at Olde Towne Pet Resort in Sterling. Once a week she goes for a paddle.

And the results?

With the help of a low-fat diet, she has lost one pound in six months, which is about five percent of her body weight.

Alexandria emergency veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson brought viewers the story to highlight the needs of overweight pets. More than half of cats and dogs are overweight or obese.

“Obesity in pets is sky rocketing the same way it is in Americans, in humans,” says Nelson, better known as WTOP’s Dr. Pawz.

The cardio exercise of swimming burns plenty of calories.

Although cats typically aren’t swimmers, Holly is more comfortable in the water than on dry ground because the water is easy on her arthritic hind legs, Nelson says.

“It’s a non weight-bearing exercise so it’s easy on her joints,” she says.

Now Holly’s story is spreading quickly.

Photos tweeted out Wednesday, when the segment was shot, attracted the attention of People magazine, Nelson says.

And the news segment of Holly’s workout has been viewed a few thousand times on ABC 7’s site wjla.com.

Olde Towne Pet Resort has received phone calls from around the world, including Finland. And the site BuzzFeed.com posted the news spot online Friday morning, she says.

“It’s getting a crazy response. It’s awesome. I hope it keeps on growing,” Nelson says.

WTOP’s Amanda Iacone contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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