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.
How to Schedule Your Tour
Group tours are offered based on availability; please note that unscheduled groups cannot be accommodated! The reservation fee to schedule a shelter tour is $50, and includes both the virtual shelter tour, meeting adoptable animals, and a question and answer session for attendees. These tours can be personalized, based on the group’s interests.
To book a virtual tour, please contact visit@alexandriaanimals.org and we will do our best to accommodate your preferred time, based on staffing. Please note that we clean our animal enclosures in the morning, so 11:30 a.m. is the earliest that any tour can begin.
Scout Programs
Our Scout Program is one hour long and intended for scouts ages 6 and up. There is a $10 fee for each badge-seeking scout to cover the cost of supplies and the badge/certificate, with a minimum reservation fee of $100 per troop.
This program satisfies the Brownie Pet Badge requirements, including finding out what care different pets need; keeping a pet comfy; helping a pet stay healthy and safe; making a pet feel loved; and feeding a pet. After the presentation, the troop will also be given a shelter tour. Badge requirements will be satisfied with short activities and lessons for each requirement. This program can also be adapted for older Scouts. If your troop has a request for a specific type of presentation, please let us know. At the conclusion of the program, each scout will receive a certificate and a badge, at the request of the troop leader.
To book a Scout Program, please contact youthprograms@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.