His name was Mister Miller, and he had lived in a shelter in Barbour County, W.Va., for at least four years when he arrived at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). The large gray senior cat had a chronic cough, labored breathing, diseased teeth and an eyelid malformation causing chronic irritation. After two surgeries, including one on his eyelids, …
Adopt A Senior Pet Month Wrap Up!
Today is the last day of Adopt A Senior Pet Month, and we’re happy to share that so far, seniors Callie, Juno, Polamalu, Dobby, Lola, Regina, Oscar, Sushi, Lula, Link, Pixie, Eli, Joy, Dexter, and Roxy have found someone to share their years of best friend experience with! Link, who was one of our longest residents, is already enjoying being …
Celebrating Senior Pets All Month Long!
November is Adopt a Senior Pet month, and at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, we can’t sing (or howl or chirp) the praises of senior animals enough. Most senior animals have had experience living in households, which means they are often house-trained and understand how to live in a home environment. Unlike youngsters, seniors tend to be calmer, though …
Two Dogs, One Family Add Up to Joy for Everyone
It’s never too late in life to find love. Even for senior dogs. Mary Carter and her family know all about it. Carter, her husband and their three children — Chloe, 12, Jackie, 10, and Hugo, 4 — had left their California home, traveled the world for most of 2019 and then settled in Baltimore. To keep a promise Carter …
Stories From Our Super Seniors
At the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, cats and dogs who are over the age of 8 years old are designated as seniors, meaning they receive special veterinary screenings to monitor their health as they progress through their later years. While an 8-year-old cat or dog is likely just as playful and active as their 4- or 5-year-old counterpart, some …
Anchors Aweigh: Sailing Senior Proves All Cats Don’t Hate Water
What kind of future does a 14-year-old cat who has been returned to the shelter by his adopters have? Just ask a soft-gray, short-haired cat named Jack. He’s now captain of a 34-foot catamaran sailboat docked in the Washington area, living there with his adopter, Abbey D.*, and her son, Greg, 15. Abbey had decided a senior cat would be …
