Alexandria Animals

CANCELLED: Paws in the Park 2025
2025-10-12 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Old Town’s Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA, VA, 22314, United States
We are devastated to announce that we’ve made the EXTREMELY hard decision to cancel Paws in the Park. While we were prepared to hold the event in the rain, the predicted high winds and flooding in the park on Sunday can’t be ignored. Just our luck that a Nor’easter (first time in 46 years) decides this Sunday is the day to hit.
Beyond our own concerns surrounding safety for event attendees, volunteers, and staff, our logistical vendors (tents, A/V, and more) were also not comfortable setting up their equipment.
We are absolutely crushed that this has happened. We were looking forward to a day of fun and community with YOU – our animal-loving friends.
We have decided to extend the deadline to bid in the Paws in the Park Silent Auction until Sunday, October 19 at 5 p.m. We encourage you to take a look and participate. All funds raised from the auction will benefit the pets and people we serve. You can find it at https://pawsintheparkva.com/silent-auction
We look forward to getting together with you all soon. Stay tuned and stay safe this weekend!
Paws in the Park Silent Auction

Pets & People Community Wellness Event
2025-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 | John Adams Elementary School, 5651 Rayburn Ave., Alexandria, VA, 22311, United States
FREE Vaccinations for Pets AND Services & Supplies for Humans
Join the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at John Adams Elementary School, 5651 Rayburn Ave., Alexandria, VA 22311 at for our September Pets & People Community Wellness Event.
Attendees can receive free vaccinations for cats and dogs against rabies, FVRCP, distemper and parvovirus, as well as microchipping, dewormer, preventatives, basic exams, pet supplies and more.
Additional services and goods for humans will also be available.
Click Here to Complete the Event Forms Advance!

All cats will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination. Dogs with a current rabies vaccination are eligible for a 3-year rabies vaccination. If requesting a 3-year rabies vaccination for your dog or a 3-year distemper vaccine for your dog or cat, please bring a copy of vet records/current rabies certificate to the event.
Thank you to Petco Love, the City of Alexandria, and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority for sponsoring this event!

SOLD OUT Holiday Pet Photos: Registration Opens Oct. 5
2025-10-25 - 2025-10-26 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Thank you for joining us and our fantastic volunteer photographer for our annual Holiday Pet Photos fundraiser! The photos are scheduled for Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Registration for photos will open Sunday, October 5 at noon! Text “AWLA” to 833-360-5466 to get a reminder the day before!
You can register for one (or two) 10-minute session. Each session is $50.
Before registering, please read everything below:
There are two backdrops to choose from. The “Camping in the Snow” backdrop will be used on Saturday, October 25. The “Old Town Snow Day” backdrop will be used Sunday, October 26. See below for images of the backdrops.
All species are welcome to come. Adults and children are welcome to sit in the photo, however the space will allow for 5 individuals (either human or animal) maximum. People must be seated or kneeling.
As part of your registration, you will receive one complimentary digital image. You may also have the option to purchase additional digital images depending your animal’s cooperation during the shoot. You will also have the option to purchase prints and other items, like ornaments, blankets, mugs and more.
Photos will be available for download and purchase no later than Sunday, November 16. You will be emailed when the photos are ready. Photos will be accessible in a photo gallery to all participants. If you would like your photos to be made private (not viewed by other participants) please contact us at Connect@AlexandriaAnimals.org.
Thank you to Happy Paws Photography for generously donating his time and talents to our Holiday Pet Photos!
Registration for photos will open Sunday, October 5 at noon! Text “AWLA” to 833-360-5466 to get a reminder the day before!
Click Here to Register Your Pet!

Saturday, October 25 Backdrop – “Camping in the Snow”

Sunday, October 26 Backdrop – “Old Town Snow Day”

Click Here to Register Your Pet!

Doggy Trick or Treat
2025-10-26 12:00 - 16:00 | Penny Post, 1201 King St., Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join us, The Dog Park, the Old Town Business Association, and lots of Old Town shops for Doggy Trick or Treat on Sunday, October 26 from noon until 4 p.m.
Bring your costume-clad four-legged friends to historic Old Town Alexandria for tricks and treats from your favorite boutiques. It’s FREE to join in the fun. Simply pick up your goodie bag and map from The Dog Park at 705 King Street.
The AWLA will be set up next to Penny Post (1201 King St.) passing out the AMAZING Paws in the Park swag bags we sadly didn’t get to distribute due to the event being cancelled. The bags are filled with some top-notch items from local businesses and sponsors!
Items in the bag include:

Tennis balls from Alexandria Toyota
Discount cards and miscellaneous items from Fur-Get Me Not Pet Care
Lint rollers from MetLife Pet Insurance
Discount cards from The Royal Restaurant
Dog bone chip clips from United States Senate Federal Credit Union
Mousepads from GEICO NOVA
Pens and lip balm from Kingstowne Cat Clinic
Magnets from VEG ER
Luggage tags for pet carriers from The Happy Cat Hotel in Alexandria
Bandanas from ALX Community
Miscellaneous swag items from CubeSmart Storage
Koozies from CityVet
Pet wipes from PetMedic Urgent Care Alexandria
Pens and free exam coupons from VCA Animal Hospital

Howl-o-Ween Party & Pet Costume Contest
2025-10-30 17:30 - 19:00 | The Alexandrian, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join us Thursday, October 30 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Alexandrian Hotel (480 King St., Alexandria) for a Howl-o-Ween Party & Pet Costume Contest! Registration to participate in the contest is just $25 and we’ll be awarding prizes for Most Creative Costume, Funniest Costume and Spookiest Costume!
Contest begins promptly at 6 p.m. in the Alexandrian’s courtyard.
If you would like to register more than one pet, please do one registration at a time.
Don’t wait! Space is limited. Contestants MUST register ahead of time using this form. All contestants must be present and checked in by the time to contest starts at 6 p.m. Humans are welcome to dress up with their animals, but it’s not required.
For safety of all attendees, all pets must be on non-extendable leashes that are 6 feet or shorter (or other species appropriate equipment). While we love all animals, this event is only appropriate for pets that are comfortable in crowds and with other pets. We look forward to seeing your wonderful costumes!
This event is free and open to the public. You do not need to have a pet in the contest to attend and watch. We encourage anyone who wants to see cute animals in costumes to drop by!
Thank you to Bobby Mahoney, Corcoran McEnearney and The Alexandrian Hotel for sponsoring this event!

Good Pet, Great Life! Behavior 101 for Cats, Dogs, and Their Humans
2025-11-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
AWLA’s Senior Manager of Behavior and Training Joe Miench will provide tips for living harmoniously with your dog or cat at home, answer specific questions about your pet, and chat about AWLA’s Alexandria Animal Academy.
Learn about how positive reinforcement is the key to living harmoniously with your dog or cat! Joe, CPDT-KA, ABCDT, will provide some general guidance and then be on hand for brief one-on-one chats to discuss specific challenges you might be having at home. He can even help you decide if your dog might be a good candidate for their upcoming Alexandria Animal Academy.
Please leave furry friends at home for this program. RSVP for this free program here!
Learn more about the Alexandria Animal Academy here.
Want to submit a question for the behavior trainer ahead of time? Send your questions in advanced to kthorp@alexlibraryva.org.

Behavior & Training at the Del Ray Farmers Market
2025-11-15 08:00 - 12:00 | Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Oxford St. and Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA, 22301, United States
Living harmoniously with your beloved companion animals is one of life’s greatest joys! Almost always though, you have to do a little work to get there. Do you have questions about your dog or cat’s behavior? We’ve got answers (and solutions)!
Get free animal behavior and training help from the AWLA’s Behavior and Training Manager Joe Miench, CPDT-KA, ABCDT at the Del Ray Farmers Market on Saturday, November 15 from 8 a.m. until noon at Pat Miller Square.
At the AWLA, we use and teach positive reinforcement training or relationship-based training only (compared to punishment or “balanced” training). We also encourage animal lovers in our community to only seek out positive reinforcement trainers for their own animals.

No Place Like Home Adoption Event
2025-11-22 - 2025-11-23 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
There really is no place like home, especially around the holidays. To bring more animals to their new homes for the holidays, we are excited to partner with MetLife Pet Insurance to offer waived adoption fees this weekend only!
This Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23, MetLife Pet Insurance will be covering the adoption fees for all animals 6 months and older.
Stop by any time during adoption hours (noon to 5 p.m. both days) to visit with our adoption counselors and meet animals who could be the perfect fit for your family.
Meet Our Animals

Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
2025-12-06 11:00 - 13:00 | Old Town Alexandria, Alexandria, United States
AWLA is thrilled to join this Alexandria holiday tradition and kick-off celebrations for our 80th anniversary in 2026!
We will feature how AWLA has grown and evolved since 1946 to offer programs that support families, keep animals in loving homes, and provide holistic care that recognizes the deep bond between humans and their furry companions.
Stay tuned for more information on how you can participate with us!

Alexandria Animal Academy: Winter Session
2025-12-07 - 2026-01-18 | Online Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Cost-Effective Canine Behavior and Training for the Community
We are now enrolling for all 2025 cohorts of our Alexandria Animal Academy – a cost-efficient option for dog behavior and training courses for our community! However, the course is open to anyone in need – you do NOT have to be an Alexandria resident.
The Winter cohort begins Sunday, December 7, 2025 and runs through January 18, 2026.
2025 Alexandria Animal Academy Sessions
The canine courses have been crafted to teach pets and people to live better together.
The 7-week virtual course features group and individual instruction, plus personalized training plans, and offers three different learning tracks for you to choose from. You can choose one, multiple, or all of the educational tracks. We use a positive reinforcement approach only. The learning tracks include Confidence Building (great for puppies and new dogs to your home), Chill Out (perfect for dogs lacking manners or impulse control) and Leash Reactivity (ideal for dogs with big feelings on walks). Read more about each track here.
Class cost begins at $200 for one track. Opportunities to audit the class for a reduced cost are available. A limited number of scholarships are also available. Email behavior@AlexandriaAnimals.org to inquire.
The courses will be taught by our on-staff behavior and training coordinator Beth Tumlin, CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed).
Find out more about Alexandria Animal Academy and enroll here.

ALX Dog Walk
2026-04-18 07:00 - 11:00 | Old Town’s Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA, VA, 22314, United States
The beloved ALX Dog Walk event returns on April 18, 2026 with an exciting new collaboration and an expanded mission. The ALX Dog Walk is partnering with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria to unite two powerful causes – sustainable living and animal welfare – for one joyful celebration of pets and the planet.
HERE’S THE SCOOP!
When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7 AM-11 AM; the Walk starts at 8:15 AM.
Where: Oronoco Bay Park, Alexandria, VA.
The Walk: Join 2,000+ dog lovers and their adorable pups for a scenic 2-mile walk through historic Old Town Alexandria. The route follows down Union Street, loops back along the breathtaking Waterfront Walk, and ends with a celebration waterside at Oronoco Bay Park. Along the way, walkers enjoy fun surprises—including pop-up performances by The Alexandria Singers and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra!
Sustainable Goodie Bags: Walkers receive a drawstring backpack filled with eco-friendly treats, including a sustainably sourced t-shirt, a dog bandana, and other plastic-free goodies.
Adoptable Dogs & Park Activities: Enjoy a wide range of fun including adoptable dogs, a dog obstacle course, DJ music, kids’ play stations, park games, and even a puppy tattoo artist and puppy portrait artist!
The Dog Show: Three lucky winners take home a prize in our Dog Show – theme to be announced soon!
Sustainability Festival: Explore a bustling festival with vendors showcasing and selling eco-goods and services for everyday living.
Plastic Art Show Competition: In partnership with The Art League and The Alexandria Arts Alliance, the first 30 local artists to register will be invited to create and display works made primarily from plastic — cash awards to three winners. Register Here!
Nonprofit Village: Meet incredible local nonprofits making a difference, just ahead of ACT for Alexandria’s annual Spring2ACTion Giving Day.
Free Coffee for Reusables: The first 500 walkers with a mug receive a free cup of Hypergoat Coffee Roaster’s ethically sourced coffee.
Registration: Opens 1/1/26! NEW… form a team and join the fun! We love providing complimentary participation to the first 150 active/retired military who register. Students and groups of 6 or more receive discounts, and kids 12 and under walk for free!
Find more information at the ALX Dog Walk website!
