Animal Welfare League of Arlington

A huge THANK YOU to Girl Scout Troops #4001 and #45054 for their generous donation of bird toys, cat toys, pet blankets, and small carriers! Your kindness and generosity will make a big difference for the animals in our care, keeping them happy, cozy, and entertained while they wait for their forever homes. We are so grateful for your support and for showing what it means to be true animal advocates!

This past weekend, thanks to your support, we provided low-cost vaccines and microchips to 156 pets in our community! 💙 Every pet vaccinated and microchipped means more happy, healthy animals and peace of mind for their families. A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers, veterinarians, and LVTs from Clarendon Animal Care and Shirlington Animal Hospital for donating their time and expertise, and a special shoutout to PetCo Love for donating distemper vaccines, making this impact possible! Your support makes events like this happen - thank you for helping us keep pets in the community safe and healthy!

Meet Shadow and her new person, Renee. ❤️ When Renee Jackson started a new caregiving job, she had no idea she would soon be rescuing a beloved pet. After only a short time working with her patient, she arrived one day to find they had sadly passed away. In the midst of the heartbreaking situation, Renee discovered their pet cockatoo, Shadow, with nowhere to go. Renee couldn’t bear the thought of Shadow being left behind - so she stepped up. Despite never having had a bird before, Renee was determined to give Shadow a loving home. Thanks to Renee’s kindness - and the support of our community that allows us to help in situations like this - Shadow has a second chance at love. These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do, and why you are there to support us. 💕 Please join us in wishing Shadow and Renee a wonderful new beginning together!

This weekend we got a lovely letter from Edmond, and AWLA alum, and we thought you might enjoy reading it too! "Hi guys! It’s me, Edmond! I wanted to let you know that I’m soooo happy in my furever home with! There are FIVE humans here, so I get so many belly rubs and ear scratches all day long, and I always show how thankful I am by giving kisses to everyone. You wouldn’t believe how many toys I have! Sometimes the mailman brings four or five boxes at a time from BarkBox, and I get so excited because I love chewing on toys! You’d be so proud of me, though, because I only chew on toys that the humans give me. Even though the one human has fuzzy slippers that look like dog toys, I’ve never nibbled on them because I’m a well trained, polite boy who knows that they don’t belong to me...We worked together on this thing they call “trading up,” where they offer me something even more exciting than the chewy snacks and say “drop it,” which I’m happy to do! And now I’m pretty good at the “drop it” command, which makes playing fetch so much more fun! Who knew? I’m such a good boy! I know that because they tell me all the time! They also are always saying how I’m so perfect, and how I make every day better because I’m here. How cool is that? Make sure you check out my new rock and roll hoodie in the picture I’m sending you! I feel so cool when I wear it, just like a rock star. I miss you all, but I’ve been so happy since the day my new family adopted me. From the second I walked in, I felt right at home and knew this was the place for me. Thank you so much for finding me such a wonderful foster home until I met my new family. You all saved my life! I’m so grateful and I know [my family is], too. I gotta go now. Someone wants to give me belly rubs! Xoxo, Edmond"

When Keanu arrived at our shelter last week, he was having seizures - he even had one right after he got here. But thanks to the incredible support of our donors (that's YOU), Keanu is now receiving the medical care he needs, along with plenty of love and comfort while our team works to find a diagnosis. Just look at him soaking up the love from our Animal Control Officers who brought him in - safe, cared for, and on the road to recovery. This is the impact you make possible!

Happy #NationalLoveYourPetDay! There’s no better way to celebrate the love we have for our pets than by capturing their cuteness or creating a work of art in their honor! We need to send a big thank to everyone who attended our February fundraising events, showing love to their pets AND the animals in our care! We also need to thank Bright Eyes Photos and Alexandra Schmeling for donating their time and talents. Thank you for celebrating your pets with us! ❤️

Over the past few days, AWLA has been hard at work supporting pet families across the county! On Friday, our Community Outreach team provided food and resources to 109 pets in the Buckingham neighborhood. Then on Saturday, our free Community Care Clinic provided vital care to 71 pets, including 107 essential vaccines, 44 microchips, and 213 doses of flea and tick prevention. We are sending a big shout-out to Clarendon Animal Care, the Petco Love grant program, and all of YOU for making these lifesaving services possible!

Summer Job Alert! Are you a college student or recent high school grad who loves animals and working with kids? AWLA is hiring two Youth Programs Assistants to help lead our 2025 summer camps! As a paid intern, you’ll: ✅ Teach kids about empathy for animals ✅ Lead fun games, crafts, and activities ✅ Gain leadership and public speaking experience ✅ Work hands-on with animals and guest speakers Join us for a summer of learning, leadership, and animal fun! Apply now ➡️ https://loom.ly/9Nca0e8

Over the weekend, we welcomed 21 animals from our transfer partners in West Virginia and Tennessee! These adorable animals are getting ready to start their new lives here in Arlington County, but first, they need medical check-ups, vaccines, and spay/neuter surgeries to get them ready for adoption. It's thanks to our community, donors, volunteers, and organizations like Bissell Pet Foundation that these life-saving transfers are possible!

Today, we are deeply honored to have been recognized by the Virginia General Assembly with a Commending Resolution in celebration of our 80th anniversary! A special thank you to Delegate Alfonso Lopez and his team for introducing this resolution and for being such a steadfast supporter of AWLA and animal welfare in our community. Your commitment to our mission means the world to us! Since 1944, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington has been committed to improving the lives of animals and strengthening the bond between people and their pets. From opening one of the first animal shelters in the Commonwealth to pioneering programs like spay/neuter initiatives, vaccine clinics, and emergency housing for pets, we’ve worked tirelessly to make a difference in our community. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters who have made these 80 years possible. Thank you for being part of our journey and helping us create a brighter future for animals in Northern Virginia!