PRESS RELEASE: AWLAs of Alexandria and Arlington Team Up to Offer Vaccines for Pets and People
Media Contact: Regina Hardter
(703) 746-5662
communications@alexandriaanimals.org
Animal Welfare Leagues of Alexandria and Arlington Team Up to Offer Vaccines for Pets and People
Sept. 25 Event in Chirilagua neighborhood was supported by Neighborhood Health and PetSmart Charities
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 27, 2021) — On Sept. 25, the Animal Welfare Leagues of Alexandria and Arlington (AWLA) joined forces to host a Community Care Clinic, serving both pets and people, in Four Mile Run Park. The clinic, which saw hundreds of attendees, followed the CDC’s One Health model, recognizing and utilizing the interconnection between people, animals and the environment to best serve the broader community.
This event was the first that the two animal welfare organizations had hosted in the Chirilagua neighborhood, serving attendees from both Alexandria and Arlington. Along with providing free vaccinations for cats and dogs against rabies, distemper and parvovirus by licensed veterinarians, the clinic also allowed human clients to receive free COVID-19 vaccinations, administered by the staff at Neighborhood Health. In total, nearly 20 people received vaccinations, and 209 vaccinations were provided to pets.
“Our goal is to be a resource to our community, and by connecting with people near where they live, we were able to better serve attendees, both human and animal,” said Stella Hanly, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
“People and the pets they love belong together. By providing resources directly in the community, we are able to provide support that extends beyond our brick-and-mortar facility,” said Amy Schindler, Chief Operating Officer of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Along with vaccinations, the Community Care Clinic offered a wide array of resources and information. Pet food, preventatives, dewormer and other animal supplies were available, as well as bags of shelf-stable groceries from ALIVE! Representatives of the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center; the Domestic Violence Intervention Program; Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation; Inova; InspireLit; Liberty’s Promise; Nueva Vida; Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities of Alexandria; Senior Services of Alexandria; and Virginia Cooperative Extension provided information about health and nutrition, support services, local recreational opportunities, free books and more.
“By connecting with people and their pets at the same time, we have the opportunity to make our community a healthier and safer place for all of its residents,” said the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Joanna Fortin, Director of Community Programs. “Today we worked with hundreds of our neighbors to ensure that they all received the care and support they deserve.”
“It is so wonderful to see pet families receive care and resources in this setting,” said Jennifer Davies, Community Care Coordinator at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. “The wags and smiles — even through masks — are an affirmation that we are making a difference.”
Support for this event was provided by PetSmart Charities and the Del Ray North/Mount Vernon Shopping Center.
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From left to right: A VCA veterinarian who volunteered their services at the Clinic performs a check-up on a client’s cat. A client and her dog pose for a photo at the Clinic. AWLAlexandria staff give a vaccine to a client’s dog. An AWLAlington volunteer draws a vaccine. High-resolution photos available upon request.