Junior PAWS: Junior Trainers - Clicker-Train Your Dog
2020-06-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is excited to share our new virtual humane education program, Junior Pet Advocacy and Wildlife Series (PAWS), with your family! Junior PAWS is a series of humane education lessons ranging from crafts to careers. Lessons utilize Zoom and Google Classroom to bring fun and learning directly to kids and their families at home! Families who register will be emailed the Zoom meeting link and password along with any digital resources needed for their lesson (such as access to the Junior PAWS Google Classroom).
This class is one of our PAID 60 minute sessions, and registration is required. You can view all of our Junior PAWS virtual events HERE.

Junior Trainers: Clicker-Train Your Dog
Ideal for MIDDLE SCHOOL students, but open to all ages who want to learn more. This is a hands-on class for students with dogs to learn how to clicker train their dog at home. Students without dogs are also welcome to join to learn new skills.
Please note: All youth participants must have parent/guardian permission in order to participate. Children in elementary school or younger should have a parent/guardian with during the zoom meeting in case their child needs assistance, especially with craft time.
Register

SOLD OUT - Watercolor Portraits of Your Best Friend
2020-06-08 08:00 - 23:30 | VA
Thank you for your interest but all portraits have been sold for this event.
Celebrate National Best Friends day with a custom watercolor portrait of your best (animal) friend by local artist Alexandra Schmeling, all while supporting animals in need. A limited number of 50 portraits will be available for order TODAY ONLY! Portraits will be mailed to donors next week. Click HERE to order your portrait.
Portrait with One Pet – 4 in. x 6 in. size – $25
Portrait with Two Pets – 5 in. x 7 in. size – $40
All proceeds from this event benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Instructions for submitting your photo will be emailed to you after you complete the order form. Photos must be submitted by Tuesday, June 9. Portraits will be mailed to the address you provide and should begin arriving in mailboxes after Wednesday, June 17.

Thank you to Alexandra Schmeling for donating her time and talent to help animals in our community. To learn more about her work, visit AlexandraSchmeling.com.

Facebook/Instagram Live Event: Learn about Budgies LIVE
2020-06-10 12:00 - 12:15 | VA
AWLA team member Elena introduces you to adoptable bonded budgie duo Alto and Nimbus* and discusses what you need to know if you’re thinking about bringing a small bird or birds into your life. Join us at noon for this live event on our Facebook page or our Instagram Story page.

*Unless they are adopted before then

Virtual Kitten Happy Hour
2020-06-12 17:30 - 18:00 | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
Friday, June 12
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Join the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria for a family-friendly virtual kitten happy hour, and unwind from your day with kitten crew Corwin, Cousteau, Fossey, Irwin and Murie. While not experts like their namesakes, they still look forward to having a lively discussion about the latest in catnip, give their opinions on wand toys and a reminisce about recent naps. They’re back at the AWLA and ready to meet their future families but not before having one more adorable gathering together first. They hope to see you there!
AWLA staff will be available during the virtual event to answer any questions and show individual kittens, but attending this kitten happy hour does not constitute a Virtual Meet-and-Greet as part of our virtual adoption process. If you are interested in adopting one of these kittens, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/VirtualAdoptions to make your Virtual Meet-and-Greet appointment. Meetings are made available up to three days in advance, so if you don’t see available times, please check back the next day.
Our virtual kitten happy hour will be hosted through Zoom, and information about how to join the party will be sent in a confirmation email in advance of the party.
Your registration fee of $10 for this event supports animals in need!
Register

Lunchtime with Priscilla
2020-06-17 12:00 - 12:15 | VA
Whether she’s practicing her meditation or itching for some interaction, Miss Priscilla is the highlight of any office space. Spend your lunchtime checking out her antics or enjoying some zen, live on our Facebook page or our Instagram Story page.

Junior PAWS: Crafts with Carly - Toilet Paper Roll Dogs
2020-06-19 13:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is excited to share our new virtual humane education program, Junior Pet Advocacy and Wildlife Series (PAWS), with your family! Junior PAWS is a series of humane education lessons ranging from crafts to careers. Lessons utilize Zoom and Google Classroom to bring fun and learning directly to kids and their families at home! Families who register will be emailed the Zoom meeting link and password along with any digital resources needed for their lesson (such as access to the Junior PAWS Google Classroom).
This class is one of our FREE 30 minute sessions, and registration is required. You can view all of our Junior PAWS virtual events HERE.

Crafts with Carly: Toilet Paper Roll Dogs
Ideal for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Pre-K & 1st Graders needing help), but open to all! Join us to make cute toilet paper roll dogs. Materials: toilet paper roll (or 2), thin cardboard (like cereal boxes), scissors, paint (or markers), paper, glue
Please note: All youth participants must have parent/guardian permission in order to participate. Children in elementary school or younger should have a parent/guardian with during the zoom meeting in case their child needs assistance, especially with craft time.
Register

VIRTUAL PAC Meeting: Neonate Animals - Caring for Baby Animals
2020-06-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
We will be offering our upcoming PAC meetings online to continue to provide your middle schooler with outstanding humane education while promoting safe physical distancing. Read more and sign up below.

A club for students currently enrolled in Middle School, designed to allow students to become familiar with the shelter and how to instill animal compassion and advocacy in their everyday lives. Our Spring Semester Session runs from February to June, meeting on the third Friday of each month. PAC members who attend at least 4 meetings will also be eligible to apply to be summer camp counselors in 2020!
Our club meetings will consist of:

Creating a button/logo for our club
Conducting activities benefiting the shelter and our animals
Discussing literature on animal care, welfare, and compassion
Learning how to become animal advocates in our community
Learning about different roles involved in shelter management

Requirements:

Student is currently enrolled in Middle School
Student must be dropped off and picked up by parent/guardian (Parent must sign in/out)
Student has a signed Liability form on arrival of first meeting (Students without a form will not be able to stay and attend the meeting. See form on sign-up page.)
Student is comfortable being around dogs, cats, and other small companion animals
Student does not have allergies to animals (dogs, cats, and other small companion animals) *Our community room where meetings are held is used for a variety of purposes and we cannot guarantee animal hair and dander will not be present*

Sign Up Today!

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding PAC, please do not hesitate to reach out to youthprograms@alexandriaanimals.org.

CANCELED: Pet Loss Grief Support Group
2020-07-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
In light of local news about COVID-19, we will be canceling this event. If you have any questions, please email Kathy Reiter.

Our pets are important members of the family. They are devoted companions who give us their unconditional love and acceptance. For a pet caregiver, the loss of a companion animal can be one of life’s most difficult experiences. When we lose a beloved friend, it often helps by sharing our feelings with others who have also experienced a similar loss.
For more than 25 years, Kathy Reiter has helped pet owners cope with their loss through the Pet Loss Support Group meetings at the shelter.
Kathy is recognized as the area’s leading authority on pet loss. By training, Kathy is a psychiatric social worker with a specialty in grief and bereavement. She has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News and PBS stations. Kathy has also been featured in The Washington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and other widely-circulated magazines.
Kathy was instrumental in establishing the hospice movement in the United States and was directly responsible for the construction of the first hospice in Arlington, VA. While the Arlington hospice was being built, Kathy’s beloved cat, Prince, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. While being experienced in human loss, Kathy was now faced with impending pet loss of her animal friend. Kathy turned for help, for resources, and yet found none. Through her own personal experience, Kathy came to realize the need for pet loss support, and generously offers her gentle support to anyone who is grappling with such a loss.
The support group meets at 7:00pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the shelter’s Community Room. There is no charge to attend these meetings and all are welcome.
Please come a few minutes early or ring the doorbell when arriving as we are closed to the public starting at 7:00pm.

FULL: AWLA Summer Camp - Ages 6 to 7
2020-07-06 08:30 - 2020-07-10 12:00, 2020-07-13 08:30 - 2020-07-17 12:00 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
This week of AWLA’s summer camp has been filled!
This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more! The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Early Drop-Off and Aftercare options are also available for an additional fee.
Please email camp@alexandriaanimals.org with any questions.
* Please note that peanut butter is used throughout the shelter and may be present on cages, handles and other surfaces. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about this.
Learn more about our expanded COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols.
Read More

FULL: AWLA Summer Camp - Ages 8 to 10
2020-07-20 08:30 - 2020-07-24 12:00, 2020-07-20 13:00 - 2020-07-24 16:30, 2020-07-27 08:30 - 2020-07-31 12:00, 2020-07-27 13:00 - 2020-07-31 16:30 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
This week of AWLA’s summer camp has been filled!
This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more! The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Early Drop-Off and Aftercare options are also available for an additional fee.
Please email camp@alexandriaanimals.org with any questions.
* Please note that peanut butter is used throughout the shelter and may be present on cages, handles and other surfaces. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about this.
Read more about our expanded COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols and register at AlexandriaAnimals.org/SummerCamp!
Read More

The Great Kitten Games
2020-07-30 18:00 - 18:30 | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
Fill your need for summer sports and adorable kittens with The Great Kitten Games! Hosted virtually through Zoom, adoptable kittens from the AWLA will compete in sporting events with the goal of taking home the gold and stealing your heart! This is a family-friendly event and attendees from a single household can register in a single slot.
AWLA staff will be available during the virtual event to answer any questions and show individual kittens, but attending the kitten games does not constitute an animal visit as part of our adopt-by-appointment process. If you are interested in adopting one of these kittens, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-By-Appointment to make your animal visiting appointment. Meetings are made available up to three days in advance, so if you don’t see available times, please check back the next day.
The Great Kitten Games will be hosted through Zoom, and information about how to join the party will be sent in a confirmation email in advance of the party.
Your registration fee of $10 for this event supports animals in need!
Register

AWLA Summer Camp - Ages 11 to 13
2020-08-03 08:30 - 2020-08-07 12:00, 2020-08-03 13:00 - 2020-08-07 16:30, 2020-08-17 08:30 - 2020-08-21 12:00, 2020-08-17 13:00 - 2020-08-21 12:30 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Join the AWLA team and a lot of adorable adoptables for our 2020 Summer Camp!
This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more! The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Early Drop-Off and Aftercare options are also available for an additional fee.
Please email camp@alexandriaanimals.org with any questions.
* Please note that peanut butter is used throughout the shelter and may be present on cages, handles and other surfaces. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about this.
Learn more about our expanded COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols.
Learn More

CANCELED: Pet Loss Grief Support Group
2020-08-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
In light of the current health climate, this month’s event will be canceled . If you have any questions, please email Kathy Reiter.

Our pets are important members of the family. They are devoted companions who give us their unconditional love and acceptance. For a pet caregiver, the loss of a companion animal can be one of life’s most difficult experiences. When we lose a beloved friend, it often helps by sharing our feelings with others who have also experienced a similar loss.
For more than 25 years, Kathy Reiter has helped pet owners cope with their loss through the Pet Loss Support Group meetings at the shelter.
Kathy is recognized as the area’s leading authority on pet loss. By training, Kathy is a psychiatric social worker with a specialty in grief and bereavement. She has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News and PBS stations. Kathy has also been featured in The Washington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and other widely-circulated magazines.
Kathy was instrumental in establishing the hospice movement in the United States and was directly responsible for the construction of the first hospice in Arlington, VA. While the Arlington hospice was being built, Kathy’s beloved cat, Prince, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. While being experienced in human loss, Kathy was now faced with impending pet loss of her animal friend. Kathy turned for help, for resources, and yet found none. Through her own personal experience, Kathy came to realize the need for pet loss support, and generously offers her gentle support to anyone who is grappling with such a loss.
The support group meets at 7:00pm on the first Wednesday of the month in the shelter’s Community Room. There is no charge to attend these meetings and all are welcome.
Please come a few minutes early or ring the doorbell when arriving as we are closed to the public starting at 7:00pm.

Virtual Na-meow-ste Yoga...with Kittens!
2020-08-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
It’s Kitten Season, and our cutest kitties are raring to show off their best Downward Dog!
Join certified LEAP therapist Angie Lord and some of the AWLA’s friendliest felines on Zoom for Virtual Na-Meow-ste yoga on Sunday, August 9, beginning at 10:30. Get your flex on from the comfort of your home while Angie and some of our adorable feline friends show off their moves at the AWLA. Your $15 registration will include a 45-minute yoga session as well as a short kitten meet-and-greet following the cool-down.
Zoom registration information will be sent via separate email in the days in advance of August 9, but space is limited, so sign up today to enjoy Na-meow-ste Yoga with some of the AWLA’s friendliest and most flexible felines.

Register Today

AWLA Summer Camp - Ages 11 to 13
2020-08-10 08:30 - 2020-08-14 12:00, 2020-08-10 13:00 - 2020-08-14 16:30 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
Join the AWLA team and a lot of adorable adoptables for our 2020 Summer Camp!
This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more! The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Early Drop-Off and Aftercare options are also available for an additional fee.
Please email camp@alexandriaanimals.org with any questions.
* Please note that peanut butter is used throughout the shelter and may be present on cages, handles and other surfaces. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about this.
Read more about our expanded COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols and register at AlexandriaAnimals.org/SummerCamp!
Learn More

Clicker Training for All Ages
2020-08-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Meeting, 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexanndria, VA, 22304, United States
Have you ever wondered how the experts teach their pets to Sit, Stay and Roll Over?
Clicker training uses positive reinforcement methods to teach pets of all kinds a variety of tricks, from basics like Sit and Stay to more specialized commands. Learn the essentials of clicker training from the AWLA team over Zoom and how you can use those skills to teach dogs, cats and rabbits and more, and learn more about how to connect with your pet in the process.
If you have your own clicker, you can practice with it during this virtual training, or we can suggest other good audio cues you can use in a similar fashion. An email with instructions on how to log into the Zoom training will be sent to you a few days before the class takes place.
Sign Up Today

Watercolor Portraits to Help Homeless Animals
2020-08-15 08:00 - 10:00 | VA
Help animals at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria on International Homeless Animals’ Day with a custom watercolor portrait of your pet by local artist Alexandra Schmeling. A limited number of 50 portraits will be available for order August 15 ONLY beginning at 8 a.m. Portraits will be mailed to donors within three weeks.
Small Portrait with One Pet* – 4 in. x 6 in. size – $25
Small Portrait with Two Pets** – 5 in. x 7 in. size – $40
Large Portrait with One Pet – 8 in. x 10 in. size – $75
Large Portrait with Two Pets** – 8 in. x 10 in. size – $100
*You are welcome to order multiple portraits of individual pets. You can change the quantity after clicking “Submit and Sign Up”
*To order a Portrait with Two Pets with the form, select the Portrait with One Pet in your preferred size and select the Second Pet Add-On for the same size to reach the total.
All proceeds from this event benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. If you would like to add an additional donation to help even more homeless animals, edit the price for your small or large portrait in the checkout page.

Instructions for submitting your photo will be emailed to you after you complete this form. Photos must be submitted by Monday, August 17. Portraits will be mailed to the address you provide in this form and should begin arriving in mailboxes within three weeks.
Thank you to Alexandria Schmeling for generously donating her time and talent to help animals in our community. To learn more about her work, visit AlexandraSchmeling.com.
For any questions, please email connect@alexandriaanimals.org, and thank you for your support!
Order Your Portrait

FULL: AWLA Summer Camp - Ages 8 to 10
2020-08-24 08:30 - 2020-08-28 12:00, 2020-08-24 13:00 - 2020-08-28 16:30 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
This week of summer camp has been filled!
This year’s camp experience will include lessons on cats, dogs and small animals, as well as the operation of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, veterinary care, dog training and more! Campers will make crafts for use at home in addition to projects for the enrichment of shelter pets. Attendees will also meet special guests such as Animal Services Officers, Vet Techs, animal foster caregivers and more! The AWLA Summer Camp offers exciting, hands-on fun to young animal lovers, while providing a structured learning experience tailored to your child’s learning level. Early Drop-Off and Aftercare options are also available for an additional fee.
Please email camp@alexandriaanimals.org with any questions.
* Please note that peanut butter is used throughout the shelter and may be present on cages, handles and other surfaces. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about this.
Learn more about our expanded COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols.
Read More

Barks and Bingo - ONLINE
2020-08-28 18:30 - 19:30 | VA
What could be more fun than bingo to help animals? Bingo with animals to help animals! Join some of the AWLA’s most social pups and purrs ONLINE for Barks and Bingo. We’re training our animals to be expert bingo callers, and we’d love for you to join us and see the results*.
Your donation gets you one digital bingo card file, and we will play up to five games (time allowing) to give you the chance to win great AWLA-themed prizes, including tours, branded gear and more. Space is limited, so sign up today to guarantee your spot!
* Please note that animals will be picking the numbers in each game, and this evening of bingo is meant solely for fun. If you like your bingo game to be sedate and silly…well then, this might just be the bingo for you!
Sign Up!

CANCELED - Clear the Shelters
2020-08-29 11:00 - 17:00 | VA
To exercise an abundance of caution and keep our visitors and our staff safe, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will not be participating in this year’s Clear the Shelters event. However, we have amazing animals available for adoption everyday, and we invite you to schedule time to meet with them virtually or in-person at the shelter BY APPOINTMENT. Check out all our currently adoptable animals and learn how to schedule your meet-and-greet to find your new best friend.

FULL - Low-Cost Rabies and Distemper Clinic
2020-09-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304, United States
All appointments for this Rabies & Distemper Clinic are currently full, but we plan to hold more clinics in the future. New times and dates will be published on our Facebook page and at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Events. If you would like to learn more about the ways we assist pet owners in our community, email community@alexandriaanimals.org.
The AWLA is excited to be hosting our very first Drive-Up Rabies & Distemper Clinic for dogs and cats at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter! The clinic will be BY RESERVATION ONLY. Vaccinations will be $15 per pet, and the clinic will run from 5:30pm-7:30pm on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Up to two pets can receive vaccines during a 5-minute appointment.
To make sure we are observing the best safety protocols for our human and animal visitors, all attendees will be required to comply with the following guidelines:

We will not serve walk-ins at this clinic.
All humans must wear a mask at all times.
You must arrive by your scheduled time, or we will not be able to serve you.
Owners will not be permitted to enter the building.
All Dogs must be on leashes; cats must be in carriers. If you need a leash or carrier please contact us prior to the event.

All pets will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination. If requesting a 3-year vaccination please send a copy of vet records/certificate with form or bring an up-to-date vet record/certificate during your time-slot. 3-year Rabies vaccination WILL NOT be provided for cats. Dogs must be over 5 months to receive a Distemper vaccine.
Once you have registered, the AWLA will contact you via email to complete the necessary paperwork ahead of the clinic. Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card on the day of the event.
The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter is located at 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304.
A limited number of appointment times are available. Learn more and sign up HERE.
Sign Up
