Landscaping (posted: April 21, 2010)
We're looking for volunteers who will help maintain the landscaping around the animal shelter with the goal of preserving the appearance of the Shelter. Duties will include watering and weeding the landscaping of the shelter,planting/trimming bushes/shrubs, and possibly planting a veggie garden for bunnies and small animals Volunteers must be physically able to do manual labor in the outdoors. The time requirement is one hour per week. Please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services at (703) 838-4774 ext. 225.

Building and Grounds Volunteers (posted: April 21, 2010)
We're looking for handypersons who can help with various projects around the shelter, e.g. hanging shelves, building sheds, constructing cat condos, painting interior walls, relocating signs/sign posts, etc. If you are interested, please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services at (703) 838-4774 ext. 225

General Information (posted: February 08, 2009)
We love our volunteers at the AWLA! Hundreds of volunteers spend thousands of hours a year helping our animals and our many shelter programs. Without these dedicated friends, we could not provide many extra services, and we encourage expressions of interest in our volunteer program. We have many volunteer opportunities available. Many people like to work directly with the animals, such as being a cat companion, dog walker, or small animal care provider. Others support special events and fundraising activities. A number of our volunteers serve on various committees that help run the shelter. Others foster animals in need of a short or long-term break from the shelter environment while awaiting adoption. To volunteer, you must be 18 years old, mature, reliable, and willing to make a long term commitment to the AWLA. Volunteers need to be able to schedule regular hours, work well on their own, be self-motivated and yet able to follow staff directions. Several steps are required to become a volunteer. First, new volunteers must attend a two hour volunteer orientation session, generally held once a month on a Monday evening. After the orientation, an interview will be scheduled to discuss which volunteer opportunity is the best match for you. This will be followed with training in the area in which you will be volunteering. A date and time will be agreed upon for you to try out the volunteer experience. After a trial period, if both you and the Manager of Volunteer Services feel the program is for you, a regular schedule will be set. We request a commitment of approximately 2 hours a week for a minimum of a year. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services, 703-838-4774, extension 225.

Other Ways to Help (posted: July 30, 2008)
If you are unable to make a long-term commitment, are not age 18 or older, or are not interested in the current volunteer opportunities, there are still many things you can do to help the animals at the shelter. Many shelter supporters make or collect animal toys, donate bedding or general supplies, or organize drives for these or other items in their community. We can always use washable blankets, washable dog and cat toys (i.e. tennis balls, Kong toys, ping pong balls), premium timothy hay for rabbits to eat, peanut butter and general supplies such as bleach, paper towels, toilet paper, tissues and copy paper. YOU CAN HELP TREMENDOUSLY BY EDUCATING your friends, neighbors and family about the importance of controlling the pet population by spaying and neutering pets and by choosing to adopt from a shelter when you are ready for a new companion for life! .

Foster Program (posted: July 30, 2008)
We are looking for dedicated, energetic and patient foster parents to care for underage and underweight puppies and kittens as well as animals recovering from illness, surgery or help with behavioral issues. We need foster parents to provide them with a warm, friendly place to live until they can be considered for adoption. Foster parents will care for animals in their own homes on a temporary basis. Parents will feed, socialize, administer medication, groom and train foster animals according to the guidelines set forth by the League. The time commitment may range from a few days to several weeks, from a few hours a day to round-the-clock care, depending upon the age and situation of each fosterling. The League will provide you with the training and supplies that you and your young charges require. You provide the tender loving care and attention these fosterlings crave. Fostering a young animal can be hard work. It can be difficult, frustrating, and sometimes heartbreaking. It is also one of the most rewarding experiences an animal lover can have. Fostering saves lives! The first step toward fostering is to attend a general volunteer orientation. This orientation is required for all volunteer positions. After the general volunteer orientation is completed, a fostering application & survey, background check, interview, training and home visit are done. After these steps are completed, you may be approved for fostering. If you would like more information about becoming a foster parent for the League, please contact Diann Hohenthaner, Foster Program Coordinator at 703/74605583 or dhohenthaner@alexandriaanimals.org.