Shelter Tours

AWLA Tours

Thank you for your interest in the Vola Lawson Shelter, operated by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The AWLA welcomes small groups interested in taking a shelter tour and learning more about animal care and animal welfare issues. Shelter tours include an overview of the shelter and the companion animals in our care as well as a tour of all adoption areas. Most tours include a visit with one or more shelter Animal Ambassadors and a discussion of how to help our furred, finned and feathered residents. School groups, scout troops, after-school clubs, and more are all welcome and encouraged to pay us a scheduled visit!

Shelter tours last between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the age of the participants.  Tours are most appropriate for children aged six and older. These tours can take place in-person or virtually via Zoom. Please note that we clean our animal enclosures in the morning, so 11:30 a.m. is the earliest that any tour can begin. 

How to Schedule Your Tour

Group tours are offered based on availability and must be scheduled. Unscheduled groups cannot be accommodated. There is a $50 tour fee that is due upon scheduling. Tours include meeting adoptable animals and a question and answer session for attendees. These tours can be personalized, based on the group’s interests.

For Youth Groups:

Contact our Youth Program team at youthprograms@AlexandriaAnimals.org.

For Adult Groups:

Contact our Development team at development@AlexandriaAnimals.org.

Other Ways to Help Shelter Animals

Visitors often ask if they can bring donations for the animals. If your group would like to bring in-kind donations for the shelter animals, please click here to find instructions on how to make toys and treats at home. If you’d prefer to purchase items, please check out our Amazon wishlist.