75 Years of Supporting Animals Across the Community
Seventy-five years ago, 26 Alexandrians came together at the old Chamber of Commerce building out of concern for animals in their community. A key concern was the city’s dog “pound” at Monroe and Route 1, where conditions were so deplorable that well-meaning residents occasionally broke in to free the dogs. The group voted to form the AWLA, one of the first nonprofit humane organizations in metropolitan Washington.
June 1946: A charter for the AWLA is drawn up and the organization is officially incorporated. The City of Alexandria permits the AWLA to use city records of dog tags for a large-scale membership drive.
1950: The City of Alexandria provides a desk and phone to the AWLA at the city recreation center. AWLA members begin to set up central files and launch a daily operation.
1950: Groundbreaking starts for the first AWLA shelter, located at 910 S. Payne Street in Old Town.
Jan. 1, 1951: The city turns over supervision of the shelter entirely to the AWLA, providing a budget of more than $9,000 a year. Soon the group is able to raise $3,000 to cover veterinarian fees and other shelter needs. Devoted friends donate an “electric refrigerator, inlaid linoleum and furniture” and build special cages for the dogs, cats and kittens set on raised wooden platforms to provide warmth.
Jan. 20, 1951: New shelter opens seven days a week. During the first six months, more than 1,000 animals are handled, and more than 250 are adopted.
1952: Local newspaper story proclaims that the new shelter can “take all animals but snakes and alligators.” The story describes the AWLA’s rescue of a pregnant deer drowning in the Potomac River and states that “few Alexandrians seem aware of the truly marvelous pets available at the shelter.”
January 1952: Minutes of an AWLA meeting summarize the progress made in the shelter’s first year, including the following anecdote, relayed by the chairman:
A few Sundays ago we were called to pick up an injured dog out Russell Road. The dog had been hit by a car and one leg almost completely broken off. He was taken immediately to the veterinarian, where a sedative was administered. Fortunately, he had a dog tag on. Our members in the area started efforts to locate the owner, and our shelter operator, Mrs. Mullitt, reached Mr. Sullivan, who through the city’s records, was able to give us the owner’s name. The owner was notified, and thus was able to save her pet’s life. The League is prepared to handle about anything that comes up.
1956: Construction of a new wing of the shelter is approved.
1957: The first edition of the AWLA’s newsletter is published.
1969: Edna Cooke is named the first Humane Officer at the AWLA, with authority to investigate and press charges in animal cruelty cases.
1970s: AWLA holds annual “canine games” events, featuring competitions for dogs that take place in Jones Point Park in Old Town Alexandria.
1977: Laws limiting the number of dogs and cats owned by Alexandria City residents take effect.
1983: An ordinance that mandates rabies vaccinations for all cats in the City of Alexandria is passed.
Sept. 1, 1989: City of Alexandria awards the AWLA a contract to oversee all aspects of its animal shelter, including animal care and control, on top of the AWLA’s previous responsibilities of animal adoptions, night emergency services, humane education, help for wildlife and other services.
1990: The AWLA presents a plaque to Alexandrian David Perriello after he rescued a sheltie from the frozen Potomac River. Perriello, a TWA employee, waded into the river to retrieve the dog, who had escaped when she was being unloaded from a plane at nearby National Airport.
1996: The AWLA launches its first summer “Animal Camp” for school children, designed to help them understand and appreciate animals. The camp endures today.
1996: The AWLA marks its 50th anniversary, noting that a half-century earlier, only five dogs were adopted from the shelter each month; by 1996, the number had soared to about 100 animals.
2000: Groundbreaking begins for the new Vola Lawson Animal Shelter on Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria.
May 18, 2002: The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter is dedicated, with former city manager Vola Lawson and other city officials in attendance. The shelter features more spacious and comfortable quarters for staff and, more importantly, the resident animals.
2003: Sarah’s Fund is established to help fund medical treatments for shelter animals with extensive veterinary needs.
2011: The AWLA hires its first staff veterinarian, expanding the organization’s capacity to help more animals on site in addition to partnering with local veterinary care providers.
May 2015: The AWLA signs a formal agreement with the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to create a working relationship on all animal-related matters in the city of Alexandria. Working with officials, the AWLA brings forward 25 criminal cases of animal abuse and neglect.
The AWLA has a long working relationship with the APD. In the 1950s and 1960s, the AWLA housed the APD’s K-9 dogs at the shelter.
May 5, 2018: The AWLA holds its first community Pet Care Fair, offering free pet medical services and supplies to a community in need.
2018: The AWLA exceeds its record for animals transferred in from other locations, more than 600 in total. The animals, who come from areas that lack animal shelters or other resources, find their homes across the metropolitan area.
August 2019: The AWLA launches its Community Programs department, formalizing and expanding several programs with the goal of preventing pets from being surrendered.
2020: The AWLA responds to the global pandemic in several innovative ways, including operating a Pet Pantry that provides 40,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to needy residents over the course of
the year.
2021: The AWLA celebrates 75 years of serving its community and looks forward to continued improvement of the lives of animals and people for the next 75!