It took only one photo of a little Chihuahua named Smokey for Megan Hess to make her choice. Yes, the dog had chronic kidney disease, heart problems and arthritis. And, yes, Hess’s family already included three children and two senior dogs. “The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) posting on Instagram said his kidney failure might mean a prognosis of …
AWLA’s Fall Pets & People Community Wellness Event
Cold temperatures and rain didn’t stop pet parents from making sure their dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies, distemper and parvovirus. This past weekend, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) hosted its fall Pets & People Community Wellness Event, offering free vaccinations at John Adams Elementary School for the first time. Attendees lined up as early as 9 …
Celebrating Senior Pets All Month Long!
November is Adopt a Senior Pet month, and at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, we can’t sing (or howl or chirp) the praises of senior animals enough. Most senior animals have had experience living in households, which means they are often house-trained and understand how to live in a home environment. Unlike youngsters, seniors tend to be calmer, though …
Foster Homes Set Shelter Animals Up for Success
Let’s say you’re a 60-pound dog who is finding the kennel at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) friendly and nurturing but a bit confining. And let’s say that one day a kind person comes along and takes you to their house for a little vacation. That’s what happens regularly to some dogs, cats and other animals at the …
Alexandria Loves Pets!
On Sunday, Oct. 3, our city hosted its fourth Alexandria Love Your Pet Day Festival, held in the new Old Town location of Oronoco Bay Park. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s Festival brought together animal lovers, local artisans, performers and so many members of our community to celebrate Alexandria’s love of animals of all kind. The day opened …
SPECIAL EDITION: Today is World Rabies Day
Today, Sept. 28, is World Rabies Day, a day observed globally to raise awareness about rabies and how this disease, which is 100% preventable, impacts communities across the world. According to the CDC, “Rabies is still present in many parts of the United States where it is often found in wildlife…The best way to protect you, your family and your …
Senior Pets: The Fun’s Just Beginning
From the looks of her Instagram page, the beige terrier mix dog named Macy is doing all right. Macy frolics in the yard, snoozes on the couch, cuddles with her people, listens to a little girl read her a story. No matter that she has only three legs and is a bit on the “senior” side. “She’s just a peaceful …
UPDATED: Emergency Preparedness for Your Pets
With the remnants of Hurricane Ida hitting Northern Virginia today, the first day of National Preparedness Month, we wanted to re-share our blog about how to ensure you are planning ahead for your entire family – including your pets! Learn more from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on how hurricanes and other storms may affect our region and how …
AWLA Summer Camp Comes to a Close
It was another eight jam-packed weeks of animal education and fun at the AWLA, as our popular summer camp came to a close last week! For health and safety reasons, we once again offered half-day camps this year, so we could reach as many campers while allowing room for safe physical distancing, but that didn’t decrease the animal interactions and …
Keeping Cool During the Dog Days of Summer
We all feel it when the summer weather heats up, especially those of us with built-in fur coats. As you’re looking for ways to cool off during the warmer weather, consider trying to make a tasty treat for your canine companion(s) as well! *Please check with your veterinarian to ensure that treats and flavorings suggested below are safe for …