It is often said that your pets adopt you, not the other way around. In my case, truer words were never spoken. All of my pets have been rescues, save for my first dog, a rambunctious Dalmatian given to me as a gift. Since then, a small menagerie of strays has meandered its way into my home. I did not purposefully seek out any of them, and yet they each arrived at the ideal time, seamlessly creating the perfect family.

The first of the bunch, a sweet mix breed dog named Anya, was found wandering along the side of a North Carolina highway along with her littermate. Mere puppies, about 4 months old, they were brought in by a veterinarian to the animal hospital where I worked as a veterinary assistant. The first time I laid eyes on Anya, I had to bring her home. She was carefree, despite her rocky start in life. Her quizzical eyes were always ready to lead her to the next adventure. And she had a gentle, sweet demeanor that made her plenty of friends. I called my husband that day and lured him to the clinic under the guise of bringing me lunch. I strategically placed the puppy behind the reception counter, where, upon approaching, my husband would see a little face pop up above the half-door that lead to the area. With each jump, she secured a place in his heart as well.

Indy was also found wandering down a road, this time running down a busy city sidewalk. A black Pomeranian mix with little red bows in her ears, she clearly belonged to someone. The Good Samaritan who found her and brought her into our hospital searched long and hard, but could not locate an owner. I was not aware of Indy at the time, but a veterinary technician at the practice cleverly put this sassy little dog in the same dog run as Anya on a day I happened to bring Anya to work. Calling me to the kennel area, she pointed out the instant friendship between the two. I had no choice but to adopt Indy as well. I only found out later that she was a total escape artist, and was in fact the same dog that had caused quite a hullabaloo at the clinic for getting loose from her leash and running down the street, with a kennel assistant frantically racing after her. I would learn soon enough that this was her trademark, and that the name we had chosen for her, Indy, was really short for Independent.

During veterinary school, we learned how to perform spay and neuter surgeries on animals from a local shelter, who were then adopted by the general public. Needless to say, more than a few of these surgery patients went home with the veterinary student who performed their surgery. Knowing my living space was limited and my husband’s patience was wearing thin, I resisted adopting the dog on whom I performed my very first canine spay. However, the day I was to perform my first feline spay, I arrived at the school to find a tiny calico kitten staring at me from her cage. She sat quietly next to a larger white kitten, waiting her turn to have her vital signs checked. When I took her temperature, it was terribly high, around 106 degrees. Obviously, she was too sick to undergo surgery. Unfortunately, the shelter did not have the means to treat her, so her only option would be euthanasia. I took her home that day. Later that week, I found out that the shelter was experiencing an outbreak of feline panleukopenia, a debilitating and often fatal disease. The white kitten who had shared her cage, and who had been adopted by a classmate, subsequently died of the disease. I was thankful I had spared my first cat, Suvi, this fate.

Next came an Uromastyx lizard, also a rescue. A family gave him up after he became severely burned from a heat rock. Completely healed from his injuries, Stan now rules over the living room, keeping a close eye on all the happenings.

The latest addition is a special AWLA graduate. As a veterinarian at a local veterinary hospital, I often help with the Shelter animals that come to us for various medical needs. Summer, a beautiful grey domestic medium hair cat, was rescued after being seen thrown from a car window. She had rubber bands wrapped tightly around several paws and was thin. One of the emergency doctors at the hospital removed the rubber bands, but the left rear paw had been wrapped so tightly and for so long, it lost circulation. The paw was tremendously swollen and painful. Over the course of the next few days, it was obvious that the skin was dying, and would require a tremendous amount of care and pain management. Amputation was the quicker option, but fortunately, the wonderful staff at the AWLA were game for my attempt to save her leg. Over the course of the next 2 months, Summer was brought to the hospital three times a week, for bandage replacement and a hydrotherapy session. Over time, her amazing patience wore thin, and it became a constant struggle to keep the bandages on her leg. Each time she removed the bandage, she would go to work on the wound, opening it up again, worse than before. In this manner, we hobbled along, taking two steps forward and one step back. Finally, I knew we would never see the wound fully healed unless Summer could be monitored around-the-clock. I offered to take her home to “foster”, until her leg was better and she could be adopted. She never went back to the Shelter and, aside from some funny nails that never really grew back and a hairless patch on the top of her paw, she shows no sign of her ordeal.

In recent years, I have seen the passing of Dante, the Dalmatian, and Anya, the perfect companion. Indy is in her sunset years, struggling gamely with several illnesses. The cats have settled comfortably into a regular routine and the lizard munches his way through his long years. All the four-legged children have warmly welcomed their new two-legged sister, a baby girl born in August. I am still not looking for any more pets to join the family, but when the time comes, I know they will find us. And we will welcome them with open arms.

During these tough times, people as well as their pets are feeling the effects of the economic downturn.

Sunny and Luna are delightful dogs who found themselves at the Shelter because not just their first owner, but also their second owner, faced significant financial hardship. After five years with Sunny and Luna, their original owner lost her job and was forced to move in with family members living in Arizona. Knowing her financial difficulties, a friend offered to take in the two dogs. Three months later, Sunny and Luna’s new owner realized that even with strict budgeting, vaccinations and vet care were beyond his means, and he surrendered the pair to the AWLA.

Unfortunately, Sunny and Luna are not the only animals brought to the AWLA due to financial difficulties in recent months. Another local resident recently told Shelter staff, “This is the first week I’ve had to choose between feeding my dog and putting gas in my car,” while surrendering his dog with hope that a more affluent family could afford pet care that he no longer could.

Last week alone, Shelter staff members listened to seven different pet owners explain that they could no longer keep their pets, strictly for financial reasons. People have told us, “Our house is in foreclosure and we have to move in with family members,” “I’ve lost my job and am going to lose my house,” and “We can’t afford to stay in our house and have to move to a small apartment that doesn’t allow pets.”

While the League cannot resolve families’ financial troubles, we’re trying to help in other ways, as many struggle to make ends meet during difficult times. The AWLA currently offers low-cost spay/neuter certificates to local residents. We’re also investigating ways to provide pet food and basic pet necessities for distribution through local relief organizations.

Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org to view more animals available for adoption or stop by the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, located at 4101 Eisenhower Ave., for a personal visit with our adoptable animal friends.

November 28-29
and December 13-14
Visit Our Furry Friends at Landmark Mall
While out doing your holiday shopping, be sure and stop by the AWLA’s storefront at Landmark Mall in Alexandria. The League is happy to partner with the Humane Society of the United States and other rescue agencies in support of pet adoptions this holiday season. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 28th & 29th and December 13th & 14th, the League will bring adoptable animals to a storefront opposite Santa’s visiting area on the lower level of Landmark Mall. We’ll have plenty of pet stocking stuffers for sale as well. Come visit our adoptable animals and Shelter elves on these four days for an extra dose of holiday cheer!

December 6, 13, 20
Caroling for Cats at the AWLA
Help the AWLA ring in the holidays during the month of December. For three Saturdays (December 6, 13 and 20), the League will stay open until midnight (!) to promote adoptions and celebrate the season. Each night, Shelter elves will host craft activities, join sing-alongs with carolers, and even stage a canine version of “A Christmas Carol!”

Adoptions staff will be available to assist potential adopters with the adoptions process. Holiday refreshments will be served and pet stocking stuffers will be available for sale. Come and spend a Saturday evening celebrating the holidays and helping our furry friends find homes during this special time of year! What could be more fun this December?

December 5-7
Pet Photos with Santa
Santa comes to town again this year for the League’s Pet Photos with Santa. Take your pet and family to the Olde Towne School for Dogs for professional photographs and capture a holiday memory. New this year – the Olde Towne School for Dogs will provide a special 10% discount shopping coupon for Santa Photo participants. Remember, this is the only Santa Photo event where the proceeds benefit the animals at Alexandria’s Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and the many programs the League provides to area residents! Make your appointment right away by calling the Olde Towne School for Dogs at 703/836-7643.

February 14
5th Annual Black Tie & Tails Gala
Save the date! Our 5th Annual Black Tie & Tails Gala will be held February 14, 2009. This year, you don’t have to choose between your dog and a fabulous evening out. Spend this Valentine’s Day with the League and with those you love (sorry kitties, this one is just for the dogs!), by joining us for a glamorous night featuring terrific food, auction items and other activities. More details about this exciting gala are yet to come so check out our website often!

Please visit the Special Events section of our website for more details on these and other exciting events.

The League would like to honor or remember six special pets with birthdays in November.

Annie – November 8th
Clio – November 11th
Nina – November 15th
Gracie – November 21st
Sowa – November 25th
Angel – November 29th

Any pet can join our Birthday Club! To help celebrate that special day, each Birthday Club pet receives a birthday card, recognition in our E-Newsletter and in the Shelter's display case. Best of all, lifetime membership is only $10 and proceeds help the League find homes for Shelter animals so that they can also enjoy the good life with a family that cares. To enroll, click here.

To be added to our email list, please send an email to staff@alexandriaanimals.org.

Over 300 guests enjoyed a special evening as we celebrated Somebody to Love at the 2008 Annual Dinner & Silent Auction. Competitive bidding on 200 auction items made for an auspicious beginning to the event.

Sandy Yamamoto, member of the Board of Directors and the Annual Dinner Committee welcomed the guests as dinner was served. Emcee John Harter of Harter Associates introduced a touching video of our supporters and their pets. Gordon Kromberg, our Board Chair, highlighted some of the League’s achievements from the past year, and Shelter staff members Carrie Drummond, Claire Moran, Allan Corman and Kim Wilson shared memories that gave insight into their sheltering experiences.

In addition, PAWSitive Impact Awards were given to those in the community who have made a significant impact to the League. This year’s winners included the Alexandria Times newspaper, Jay Hoffman, Yo & Larry Frommer and Nora Missell. For all those who entered our calendar contest this summer, the waiting finally ended as the winner was announced and the Animal Welfare League’s 2009 Pet Calendar was unveiled, with Robin Burkett of PawPrints Photography presenting calendar cover winners John and Laurie Mullett with a custom portrait of their cat, Torch. The evening ended, as tradition dictates, with Megan Brooks, Director of Shelter Operations, relaying the story of one memorable and heartwarming adoption from the past year, along with the introduction of that adopted dog, Georgia and her adopter Inge English.

Many thanks to our Sponsors who helped make this evening possible!

Best Friend Sponsors
Alexandria Animal Hospital
Gordon Kromberg
Nancy Lasley
Vola Lawson
Congressman Jim Moran
Olde Towne School for Dogs
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.
Katherine Ward

Cat’s Meow Sponsors
Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre, Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates, The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine, Ashley Kurth, Mount Vernon Voice, Tom Clark and Patty Penn of Morgan Stanley & John Mullet

Fine Feathered Friends Sponsors
Bernard and Sandra DiMuro, Jeff Lutton of Dogtopia, The Honorable William Euille, Lindsay Lexus, Christine Matthews and Tom Breitenbeck, Resa and Dan O’Flaherty, Vice Mayor Redella “Del” Pepper, Pet Portraits by Bruce Schmid, Renner and Company CPA, PC, Deidre Schexnayder, Sunset Pet Services, Lori Timan and Paul Stilp, & Sandy and Alan Yamamoto

In-Kind Sponsors
ABR Direct Mail Services, Anderson Photography, & Todd Allan Printing

Hotel Monaco hosted the Costume Contest as a benefit for the League with a suggested $10 donation at the door. We were able to raise $610 in just one night, thanks to the generosity of Hotel Monaco and the participants of the Costume Contest.

The League’s costume theme for the night was "Bee Kind to Animals." The AWLA entered the contest with three Shelter dogs all dressed as bees, as were their handlers. We also had our "beekeeper" with us to keep things in line.

Our dogs were Mitzy, a beautiful 8-year-old black Lab with a heart of gold who is going to her new home; Minnie, a funny, active 6-month-old Beagle puppy who stole the show; and Kora, a sweet, smart 4-month-old Lab puppy who kept chewing on her shelter buddies' costumes!

Approximately 80 dogs were registered for the costume contest and an additional 20 dogs & owners stopped by during the contest and enjoyed the festivities.

The AWLA always accepts adoption applications at these events so potential adopters can apply right away if they meet a dog they like. Throughout the course of the summer, we had quite a few dogs adopted as a direct result of people meeting them at Hotel Monaco’s Doggy Happy Hour! Now there's a happy ending.

This Halloween one special nine-year-old girl did something a little different, with an idea that she and her mother came up with last year after she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. In the days before Halloween she passed out a flyer throughout her neighborhood, asking for donations for the Shelter in lieu of candy for herself. Last year she collected a lot of supplies and brought them to the Shelter, and this year, the response from the neighborhood was overwhelming! The AWLA received an entire carload of donations from this family fundraising team. Thank you for the great work that you are doing in helping our Shelter’s animals!

Don’t wait until it’s too late to get your end of the year tax-deductible donations in!

Through the combined annual campaigns, employees in local businesses and government donate small portions of each paycheck to the United Way. These donations are the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's single largest source of donated funds. If you would like to make a donation to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria through the United Way, Combined Federal Campaign and/or the Combined Virginia Campaign please note our identification numbers, and look for these AWLA numbers when attending UW/CFC sponsored events:

United Way 8372
CFC 92767
CVC 8068

Please look for these AWLA numbers when attending UW/CFC sponsored events.

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