Not long ago, I made another estate cleanout donation to an animal shelter—this time to the Montgomery County Humane Society.
We do this regularly as part of our work. When we come across pet items in a home, we set them aside, knowing exactly where they should go. It’s part of the rhythm now.
But every time I walk through those doors, it takes me somewhere else.
Back to Georgia, and to the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. Back to two Siberian huskies—Orion and Alexis—who changed the course of my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time.
Orion came first. A shelter dog. A presence. Anyone who’s ever known a husky knows what I mean—they don’t just live with you, they arrive in your life. He was strong, independent, a little wild, and completely unforgettable.
Alexis came later. A half-husky, just as spirited in her own way. Together, they were part of a chapter of my life that still feels close, no matter how many years have passed.
Alexis helped me survive the move from Georgia to D.C. Wouldn’t have made it without her.
Visiting a shelter—even here in Montgomery County—brings all of that back. The sounds, the energy, the quiet hope in those spaces. It’s never just a drop-off. It’s a return.
The Question That Changed Everything
Some academics might describe what we do as social entrepreneurship, and that is a term we hold dear.
But the truth is, Orion’s Attic almost didn’t happen.
The lightbulb moment for our company came after I first rejected, in response to a question from an executive coach, the idea of turning a hobby into a job. I had spent my life in journalism and in environmental communications. Starting a private-sector company with the primary purpose of making money didn’t appeal to me.
Then the coach asked the question that changed my life:
“What if you could create a company that matched your values as a human being?”
Orion’s Attic was born the next second.
I would name the company after Orion. And we would do good—for ourselves (me and Won-ok), for our community, for the planet—and for all the creatures on it.
Why We Still Pause
That idea shows up in small ways every day.
It shows up when we slow down during a cleanout and recognize that a bag of pet supplies isn’t just something to be discarded. It’s something that can help another animal, another family, another story begin again.
It shows up when we load those items into the truck and make that familiar drive to the Montgomery County Humane Society.
And for me, it shows up in the memories of Orion and Alexis—still present in the work, still part of the company in a very real way.
They’re not just part of the name.
They’re part of the reason we do things the way we do.
Want more husky heartstrings? Learn more about the dog who gave us our name.
Need Help With an Estate Liquidation and Home Cleanout?
Contact Orion’s Attic today to learn how we can make the process easier. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel at Orion’s Attic TV, too.
Learn more about liquidating estates in our Estate Liquidation and Downsizing Guide.
About Orion’s Attic
Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, Orion’s Attic provides estate liquidation, downsizing, and whole-home cleanout services throughout Montgomery County and the greater Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Since 2011, we have completed more than 100 full-home estate liquidation and cleanout projects each year, guiding families through life transitions in a calm, organized, and stress-free manner.
In addition to estate liquidation services, we buy gold coins, silver coins, sterling silver flatware, fine jewelry, and select collectibles and estate items.
We operate as a “green choice” estate liquidation and estate solutions company, emphasizing donation, reuse, recycling, and environmentally responsible cleanouts whenever possible.
Our service area includes Montgomery County (Ashton, Aspen Hill, Barnesville, Bethesda, Boyds, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Colesville, Derwood, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Echo, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Takoma Park, Wheaton), as well as Frederick County, Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City), Prince George’s County (College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville), Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.
