“Dear Friends of the League: During this season of remembering the many kindnesses of the past year, we want to thank you for your help, through us, to animals…” This is the opening letter of the December 1961 edition of The Animal Welfarer, a publication by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. While so much has changed in the past 60 …
You Might Be a Paw Pal and Not Even Know
Who are Paw Pals? Generous friends of Alexandria’s Animals who help animals in need, and they might be younger than you think. Some Paw Pals ask for toys for shelter dogs and cats for their birthday parties instead of toys for themselves. Others host a lemonade stand and donate the profits to animals who need medical care. And now, Paw …
Stay! Long-term Foster Caregivers Ease the Way for Shelter Animals
It was about six months into foster caregiving for a puppy from the Animal Welfare League, and on this July day foster “parents” Jackie and Lloyd Graybill were expecting a visit from a potential adopter. They were full of hope that this encounter would translate into a new home for the shy but playful pup. The Graybills had grown very attached to Vixen, a …
Did You Resolve to Get Involved?
There are so many ways to help animals in your community. Volunteering, fostering, donating, adopting and now attending events at the AWLA! 2020 brings new ways to make the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter your place to help animals in need with events for people of all ages and interests – and new events always on the way. Family Fun Nights …
Finding Homes this Pawliday Season
For the second year in a row, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is waiving adoption fees for all adult animals thanks to Priority Automotive. During our Home for the Pawlidays adoption event, adoption fees for cats, dogs, rabbits, birds – everyone over the age of 6 months – are waived until Priority Automotive’s $20,000 sponsorship runs out. We’re halfway …
AWLA Alumni Leading Lives of Adventure and Service
The 2020 Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s photo calendar is now out, and the adorable face of a cattle dog named Abby adorns the cover. She was the top vote-getter in this year’s calendar contest and will be Alexandria’s Animal of the Year for 2020. Abby, Alexandria’s 2020 Animal of the Year (Photograph by Shelley Castle Photography) But Abby might as well …
Celebrate the Holidays Safely with Your Pets
We wish everyone a happy holiday season and hope your celebrations are filled with glad tidings, cheer and no upset stomachs for your pets. While gathering with friends and family, make sure your entire family, pets included, can enjoy the holidays safely. Foods Snowball Shouldn’t Eat If your pets like to join the party, don’t forget to remind guests about …
The Animals Helped Thanks to You
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is proud to operate the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, a shelter named after a former City Manager who was a champion for animals, just like so much of our animal-loving community is today. As part of our contract with the City of Alexandria, we offer this open-access shelter to help any animal that comes …
Howl-O-Ween 2019 Round-Up
In case you missed an afternoon of woofs on the waterfront or still can’t get enough costumed canines, here’s our Howl-O-Ween 2019 Round-Up of this year’s contestants. Howl-O-Ween took place on Saturday, October 26 at Riverside Taco Company with a full and festive crowd of people and pups. It was a beautiful fall day for corgis in cow costumes, a …
A Puppy’s First Day
Part of the AWLA’s role in operating the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter is taking in animals in need within the City of Alexandria. Some animals are brought to us when their family is no longer able to care for them; others are lost and stay safely with us while they wait to be reunited with their family; and in the …