Our Mission:
"To inspire compassion for all living things, to provide shelter to animals in need, and to promote adoptions, animal welfare, and responsible pet ownership in our community."

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. The League is an animal sheltering and welfare organization focused on community responsiveness, professional animal care, dynamic education, compatible adoptions and a philosophy of compassion in all we do. Please click here to view a short video about the League.

Read our 2007 Annual Report

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Vision

Working in concert with the surrounding community, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is an organization which:

• inspires compassion for all living things.
• provides safe haven for those neglected, abused, stray and unwanted animals still in need of refuge.
• promotes lasting companion animal relationships where people responsibly and humanely care for their pets.
• serves as the community's primary resource for adoptable animals deserving loving, permanent homes.
• increases the number of animals kept in their homes and out of the shelter through education and outreach programs.
• achieves recognition as the premier source of information on animal issues and care.
• engages in active partnerships with other animal welfare organizations thereby benefiting both the animals and our community.
• values passionate, motivated, and well-trained people who enjoy a high level of job satisfaction from the work we do each day.
• fosters a happy, cheerful atmosphere where people are glad to come and where customer service is at the forefront of our interactions with the public.
• becomes the "charity of choice" by consistently demonstrating that it is a trustworthy steward of the public's money and deserving of financial and community support.

Animal Adoptions

The fee for cats, dogs, large birds and ferrets adopted from the League is $50. Other animals are $20. If the animal is not altered, spay/neuter surgery must be paid for at the time he is adopted. The adoption fee does not include the spay/neuter fee for unaltered animals, which will be an additional $50 to $150, depending on the animal and the veterinarian selected. It is the law in Virginia that all dogs and cats adopted from shelters must be spayed or neutered.

Citizen's Assistance

We take as much care to keep animals out of our shelter as we take of the animals in our shelter. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria receives hundreds of calls every week from people seeking advice about an animal behavior problem, or reporting lost and found animals. Our trained staff counsel callers on training, nutrition, health care and hundreds of topics, with the goal of helping people solve problems with training or behavior modification before they decide to give up the animal. Staff review new arrivals at the shelter and found reports to try to reunite lost animals with their families.

Reduced-Cost Spay/Neuter Program

Currently, the only answer to the problem is to reduce the number of companion animals being born. Spaying and neutering (surgical sterilization) makes dogs and cats healthier and better companions. This simple surgery gives your pet the opportunity for a longer, healthier life by eliminating or reducing his chances of developing many forms of cancer and other serious diseases. It also reduces the incidence of many common behavior problems.

Thanks to the participation of many local veterinarians, the League is able to offer this important surgery at a considerable reduction in cost.

• Visit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria during regular business hours to purchase your spay/neuter certificate.
• After you have purchased your certificate, you schedule your appointment with the selected veterinarian. Present the certificate when you take your animal for surgery.
• Depending on the size and sex of the animal, and the veterinarian you choose, fees are generally $50 - $150. The certificate covers only the spay or neuter surgery. Vaccinations and other medical treatment you authorize will be done at additional cost.
• Reduced-cost spay/neuter is available to everyone. There are no income restrictions.
• There is no limit to the number of certificates you can buy.
• Certificates are good for 6 months from the date of purchase.
• The purchase of reduced-cost spay/neuter certificates does not benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. The League does not receive a portion of the fee. We provide this service to benefit the community and to reduce animal overpopulation.

Animal Control and 24-Hour Animal Assistance

Our Animal Control Officers enforce State and City laws pertaining to the welfare and control of animals. These dedicated professionals rescue animals in distress and respond to and investigate complaints of animal abuse and neglect. Our Animal Control Officers help ensure that animals within the City of Alexandria receive proper and humane care. Emergency service for sick or injured animals is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Contract Services

Under contract to the City of Alexandria, the League operates the City-owned Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and provides residents with animal control services. The League has held the animal control contract since 1989, when the City first awarded a contract for this service. Animal Control is funded under the contract by the City, not by funds donated to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Operation of the Shelter is primarily funded through the City contract, but is also supplemented with donated funds.

Humane Education

Nearly 4,000 children a year learn to respect the animals who share our world through the League's Humane Education program. Schools, civic clubs, scout troops, and other groups benefit from this free program, as well as our educational brochures, newsletter, advertisements, and videos, all designed to educate the public on animal welfare issues.

Help for Wildlife

Our area is blessed with an abundance of wild species that share our community. However, many of these creatures become orphaned or injured from living in such an urban area. Our staff rescues wildlife in distress and expedites their transferral to licensed wildlife rehabilitators who have been trained in providing appropriate specialized care. The ultimate goal is to release wild creatures back into their natural habitat where they belong.

City Animal Licensing

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, under contract to the City of Alexandria, provides licensing services for pet owners in the City. Both dogs and cats over the age of 4 months must be licensed. Owners of service dogs are exempt from this tax as per the Virginia State Code (' 3.1-796.87). The fee is $10 for neutered dogs, $30 for unneutered dogs, and $2 for neutered cats and $10 for unneutered cats. There is no charge for dogs that are trained and serve as guides for the seeing or hearing impaired.

Licensing fees help our animal-friendly community provide services like dog parks for thousands of citizens, help ensure that animals are properly vaccinated and help the League reunite lost dogs with their families. A license is your pet's ticket home!

Applications are available at the Alexandria Animal Shelter, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue or online.

Pet Bereavement

A trained counselor conducts a free group support meeting on the first Wednesday of each month to assist people who have lost or who are anticipating losing a companion animal.

Reduced-cost Rabies Clinic

Twice a year, the League offers a reduced-cost rabies clinic to encourage people to keep their pets current on this state-mandated vaccine.

Special Events

The League holds many fun and informative events for pet lovers each year. For more information on any of our special events, please call our event hotline at 703/838-4774x321.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization. We rely on contributions from people like you to fund the many services we provide to the community.

The modest fee you pay when you adopt an animal from the League does not cover the cost of all the food, medical treatment and care your new best friend received while staying with us. Please help us care for the abused, injured, and homeless animals. Your tax-deductible donation will support our daily operations, our outreach programs and our new shelter.

Mail your tax-deductible contributions to 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304

Call 703-838-4774 ext. 206 for information about credit card giving, making gifts of stock or other securities, or to discuss remembering the animals in your will.