Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Inspiring compassion for all and providing shelter to animals in need since 1946. Offenders may be banned or posts may be blocked from the AWLA page.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is an independent, local, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Operating the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, an open-admission facility and Alexandria’s only animal shelter, the League touches the lives of more than 6000 animals every year, including strays, lost pets, local wildlife, rescue animals, and animals surrendered by their owners. The AWLA is committed to addressing animal homelessness, promoting animal welfare, and serving as an educational resource for the community. More information is at www.AlexandriaAnimals.org

DAILY ADOPTION HOURS: We open daily (except Wednesday) at noon for animal adoptions.
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Guidelines for Use of This page

Thank you so much for your interest in and support of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria! We’re so excited to share the stories of Alexandria’s animals, as well as our staff, volunteers and community. Commenting Policy:

AWLA reserves the right to delete all comments that contain

• Offensive language;
• Personal attacks;
• Inappropriate comments or posts about race, nationality, gender, orientation or religion;
• Spam or certain links to other sites, including content of a sales-oriented nature.

The Paws in the Park silent auction ends THIS Sunday, October 18 at 3:30 PM!Find neat items like a signed Taylor Swift g...
10/14/2026

The Paws in the Park silent auction ends THIS Sunday, October 18 at 3:30 PM!

Find neat items like a signed Taylor Swift guitar, cool experiences and trips, and everything in between.

Bid high and bid often because all funds raised benefit shelter animals like Storm! Can you help us meet our goal?

Start bidding 👉 https://www.32auctions.com/AWLAPawsinthePark2026

P.S. Paws in the Park has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 1 - same time, same place!

Shall we try this again? Paws in the Park is rescheduled to Sunday, November 1! 🐾🩵 All of the day's activities are a go...
10/14/2026

Shall we try this again? Paws in the Park is rescheduled to Sunday, November 1! 🐾🩵

All of the day's activities are a go, including live music, a b**r and w**e garden + food vendors, exhibitors, a pet costume contest, and adoptable animals.

The only difference ... the very important Silent Auction ends THIS Sunday, October 18 at 3:30 PM. Please bid high and often! All proceeds benefit the AWLA.

Please share this post and spread the word! Find event details, silent auction link, pet costume contest registration, and more at https://pawsintheparkva.com/.

We are incredibly proud of our Animal Services team for their professionalism and hard work on this animal cruelty case....
10/13/2026

We are incredibly proud of our Animal Services team for their professionalism and hard work on this animal cruelty case.

The videos included in this news story are graphic, and we encourage viewers to use discretion. Find the full story here: https://bit.ly/4hX3qk2.

However, they only begin to show the awful things our Animal Services team had to watch as they investigated this case and other abuses at this facility while they worked to secure a prosecution. Their commitment to seeking justice for animals is sincerely appreciated.

Thank you to WJLA for following up on this story and highlighting the significant lack of oversight and regulation surrounding dog grooming and boarding establishments. We want to remind pet parents to do their research and due diligence when choosing a groomer or boarding facility. Find helpful tips at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Boarding.

We're OPEN today with shortened operating hours! 🐾🩵 Adoption hours are from noon to 5 PM. Meet available dogs, cats, rab...
10/12/2026

We're OPEN today with shortened operating hours! 🐾🩵 Adoption hours are from noon to 5 PM.

Meet available dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs! Remember, all dogs 40+ lbs. have $0 adoption fees through the end of the month. This includes Stanz, pictured.

Some animals are in a foster home. If you're interested in meeting a fostered animal, email [email protected].

See all animals at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt.

We really didn't want to do this ... but we are cancelling Paws in the Park. 😭We tried to hold off and see if the foreca...
10/10/2026

We really didn't want to do this ... but we are cancelling Paws in the Park. 😭

We tried to hold off and see if the forecast might change for the better, but it has not. The day is predicted to be very wet, with downpours, threat of thunderstorms, flooding and high wind gusts.

We were prepared for rain, but this is set to be more than just showers ... and safety is now a real concern.

The silver lining? We're trying to reschedule. Please stay tuned.

And stay dry tomorrow. We're so sorry ...

Looking for the "pick of the patch?" 🎃🐾Throughout the month of October, adoption fees are waived for all dogs 40+ pounds...
10/08/2026

Looking for the "pick of the patch?" 🎃🐾

Throughout the month of October, adoption fees are waived for all dogs 40+ pounds during our Pick of the Patch adoption event!

Fall is the perfect time to welcome a dog into your family. Think crisp-air hikes, trips to fall festivals, cozy evenings at home, and plenty of new adventures to share.

Drop by the shelter anytime during adoption hours to meet our available dogs. If you see a dog in a foster home you'd like to meet, email us at [email protected].

Find all our adoptable animals at AlexandriaAnimals.org/adopt.

🧡 Thank you to our Adopt-It-Forward donors for making this event possible!

Coming to Paws in the Park THIS Sunday, October 11? 🐾👀 Read this! Here's our NUMBER ONE tip: Stay up to date about all t...
10/07/2026

Coming to Paws in the Park THIS Sunday, October 11? 🐾👀 Read this!

Here's our NUMBER ONE tip: Stay up to date about all things Paws in the Park by texting PAWS to 833-360-5466.

🌥 Weather Notice: Paws in the Park is a rain-or-shine event. At this time, high winds and/or flooding are not predicted, which were the reasons we had to cancel last year. Please plan to bring rain jackets and umbrellas (just in case) and visit the 120+ exhibitors onsite!

What did we miss? Anything you want to know in advance?

Find Costume Contest registration, Silent Auction items, and all event details at https://pawsintheparkva.com/.

Meet Aries Ann, a 1-year-old pup who just needs a little time to show her true colors. 🩵Aries Ann is currently enjoying ...
10/06/2026

Meet Aries Ann, a 1-year-old pup who just needs a little time to show her true colors. 🩵

Aries Ann is currently enjoying life in a foster home. She’s smart, housetrained, and knows some cues. She knows sit, down, come, and stay, has excellent manners when left home alone.

Once Aries Ann feels comfortable, her sweet personality really shines. She loves to cuddle, soak up belly rubs, and play with her favorite toys.

She can be a little fearful when meeting new people and seems to warm up a bit more quickly to women, but with a little patience and time, she becomes friendly and affectionate with everyone. Because of this, she’d likely thrive in a quieter home where she can settle in at her own pace.

Aries Ann doesn’t need to be the life of the party. She just needs someone willing to give her a little time, a little patience, and a whole lot of love.

Interested in meeting Aries Ann? Email [email protected] to set up a meet!

When 8-year-old Harley suddenly stopped putting weight on his back leg, his mom knew he needed help. His vet confirmed H...
10/05/2026

When 8-year-old Harley suddenly stopped putting weight on his back leg, his mom knew he needed help. His vet confirmed Harley had an injury requiring surgery, but the cost was a major concern for his family.

They reached out to AWLA, and thanks to a grant from the Grey Muzzle Organization, we were able to ease the financial burden and get Harley the care he needed. Today, he’s happy and healthy, and his family is incredibly relieved.

Harley’s story highlights why access to resources matters. Grants like this help, but support from donors like you allows us to pursue funding, respond quickly, and be there for the next Harley and his family.

Join the AWLA family and help us support animals and the people who love them. 🐶 Make a tax-deductible gift here: https://gcld.co/gbDkvDZ.

Address

4101 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA
22304

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+17037464774

Website

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