‘Laundry List’ Does Include Laundry — and Hugging Bunnies How does the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) manage to show dozens of dogs and cats to potential adopters, create special treats for the animals, answer the phone, keep up with mountains of laundry and so many other tasks every week? The secret: Volunteers! A recent calculation determined that the …
Mars: Explorer, Art Lover, Adoptable Pup
Mars is a pup on the go! During his stay at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Mars has made many friends who love taking him out on field trips. Field trips with our volunteers are one of the ways dogs can take a break from their daily routine at the shelter. It gives them a chance to explore new …
Some Animal Shelter Workers Affected by ‘Compassion Fatigue’
When Tony Rankin hears the term “compassion fatigue,” he recalls a time working at an animal shelter in Arkansas when there weren’t enough resources to save a litter of puppies that had a deadly infection. “I can recall feeling that, because I cared so much, I suddenly felt very overwhelmed with the work,” said Rankin, who is now Chief Operating …
Petiquette: Being a Good Pet Neighbor to Animals and Humans
The ASPCA estimates that more than 23 million households added a pet to their family since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. That means a lot more new furry neighbors in our communities. Whether this is a family’s first time having a pet or their 40th, having a pet should be an experience that brings joy to your life and …
More Than Bad Breath: The Importance of Pet Dental Health
Have you ever wondered about the cause of your pet’s terrible breath? The scary truth is that bad breath is just one of the noticeable symptoms of dental disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), most pets will have some form of periodontal disease such as dental plaque and tartar by the time they are 3 years old. …
Junior Volunteers Now on Task at AWLA
December was a historic month for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA): The very first class of 12 Junior Volunteers graduated from training and embarked on volunteering activities throughout the shelter. Identifiable by their green aprons and T-shirts, the Junior Volunteers, ages 14 to 17, are now working side by side with the shelter’s adult volunteer corps. They help …
Staff Picks
Everyone is looking for something slightly different in a pet, and that includes the staff of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria as well. Hear from some of our staff about why their favorite adoptable animals are so amazing! Echo says Allie snuffles like a little piggy and gives the best kisses! Learn more about Allie. Stella says Arnold is …
75 Years a Beacon for Alexandria
An eight-year-old gray and white cat named Biscuit blazed a trail at the AWLA this year: She underwent oral surgery in the shelter’s new Mobile Veterinary and Event vehicle, the first time such a medical procedure was conducted on site in the organization’s 75-year history. Biscuit was only the first of several animals to be operated on by the AWLA’s …
Celebrating the Pawlidays
The “Pawliday Season” is nearing an end, and over the month, we’ve seen more than a hundred adoptions: Dogs, cats, rabbits and even guinea pigs finding their families before the new year, thanks to support of Priority Automotive and generous donors across our community. Who’s gone home so far this month? Here are just a few of animals who’ve been …
Guinea Pigs, A to Z (Almost!)
A is for Adoption! We have so many wonderful guinea pigs looking for a new family at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. B is for Breed. There are many different breeds of guinea pigs, which give them a wide variety of features, such as hair color, patterns, lengths, body size and even ear shape! The most popular breeds are …