AWLA Update Regarding COVID-19
In light of the announcement that both Alexandria City Public Schools and Virginia public schools will be suspended in the coming weeks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria wants to make sure we are addressing the concerns of our community. For this reason, we will be suspending all public events for the period that ACPS schools remain closed, which is currently scheduled to be through Monday, April 13.
If you have pre-registered for an event that takes place during that period, we will be following up with you to let you know if the event will be canceled and refunded, or rescheduled for a later date.
While there is no evidence that anyone at the AWLA has been affected by COVID-19, we recognize that our community is working hard to prevent “community spread,” and we want to assist with those efforts, which is why we have chosen to cancel these upcoming events.
As we noted earlier this week, the AWLA is still open for business and adoptions, and we have increased our efforts to make the shelter as safe and healthy as possible. These measures include increased decontamination of public areas, especially doorknobs and counter surfaces; hand sanitizing and washing stations throughout the building for staff and guests; and meticulous self-monitoring by staff to make sure no one is exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
While we anticipate decreased visits in the coming weeks, we will continue to provide the best care to the animals in our custody. Because we may see a lower number of adoptions than normal for this time of year, we are also asking that Alexandria residents only consider surrendering a pet for the next two weeks if it is an emergency, so we can make sure we have enough room for all the animals in our care. If we can provide assistance with behavior concerns or pet supplies during this time, please contact us at info@alexandriaanimals.org to see how we can help!
If you’d like to help us prepare for the changes we are seeing and may be still to come, please consider making a donation at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Donate, which helps us continue to provide food, enrichment and in- or out-of-shelter care for homeless animals while they wait to find families of their own.
As a reminder, the CDC says there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted to companion animals, but it is important to follow best practices for hygiene around your pets at all times, and especially if you are worried you might be sick, such as limiting contact and not sharing food. You can read more from the CDC HERE.
We will continue to monitor the situation locally and keep our community updated of any changes. For the safety of our human and animal guests, if you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or have had potential exposure to the virus, we ask that you please do not come to the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, though you can always contact us at info@alexandriaanimals.org or 703-746-4774 with any questions. Thank you for your continued support, and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.