Animal Welfare League

Vote for Shelter Pooches in Virtual Dog Show

By Katie Pyzyk

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) has entered a wacky video into a virtual dog show contest.

The Best in Shelter contest highlights dogs that have had a hard time being adopted. Four area shelters were chosen to participate, and must submit a video submission for each canine entrant. Visitors to the website vote for their favorite dog based on the video, photos and listed information.

In addition to fulfilling the goal of finding homes for the featured dogs, the shelter with the winning pooch will receive a $50,000 donation. The second and third place winners will receive $25,000 and $15,000, respectively.

Longtime D.C. area resident and New York Times bestselling author Martha Grimes started Best in Shelter last year to bring attention to animal shelters. She is providing the prize money.

“I’m happy that the four animal shelters participating in Best in Shelter will help demonstrate that shelter dogs are the equal to purebred dogs when it comes to looks, love, and loyalty and would be a happy addition to any family,” Grimes said. “We hope this will encourage people who have not considered adopting a pet from a shelter to visit their local shelter to look at the dogs.”

AWLA made the special video (above) for Gaston, a four-year-old American Bulldog mix, because he has been there for so long. Shelter officials hope the publicity from this contest might help to find Gaston a good home. AWLA’s other entrants are Molly, Pooh Bear and Rumor.

Another Arlington-based organization, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation is also a contender for the prize money. It entered Daphne, Harley, Cowboy and Pepper.

Voting takes place from now until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. Anyone may vote, but there is a limit of one vote per day. Winners will be announced sometime next week.

Dogs and Humans Welcome at Fundraising Walk

By Katie Pyzyk

The pitter patter of many little feet will be filling the air on Saturday, during the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s 17th Annual Walk for the Animals.

AWLA considers this one of its most important fundraisers of the year. Money raised will help care for all the homeless animals brought to AWLA every day, from dogs to hamsters to birds.

The three mile walk or one mile stroll will start and finish at Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street). Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. In addition to sponsor booths, there will be demonstrations by WOOFS! Dog Training Center of Shirlington, and by the Arlington County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit.

Humans are encouraged to bring any canine walking partners older than four months. Dogs must be on a flat leash, not a flexible leash. Cats and other pets must stay at home. All pre-registered human walkers will receive a t-shirt, and dogs will receive a bandana.

You can register for the race on AWLA’s website. The cost for the walk is $25 in advance and $40 the day of the event. Special prizes will be awarded to participants who raise the most money.

AWLA to Offer Low-Cost Microchips, Rabies Shots

By ARLnow.com

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington will be holding a low-cost microchip and rabies clinic tomorrow (Thursday).

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the AWLA offices (2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive), the organization will be offering $30 microchipping and $10 rabies shots.

AWLA recommends microchips for dogs and cats to help with identification should they ever become lost.

“Each year thousands of lost and abandoned animals are taken in by shelters and humane societies across the country. Some of these animals never make it home because they can’t be identified,” the AWLA notes. “Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you, the owner.”

Six other rabies and microchip clinics are planned through the end of 2012.

File photo

AWLA Warns Against ‘Unsupervised Doggie Doors’

By ARLnow.com

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington recently responded to a lost dog call that, they say, is a cautionary tale against “unsupervised doggie doors.”

From the AWLA’s animal control blotter:

A woman called the shelter to report a dog loose in her neighborhood. An animal control officer responded and found a lactating black Labrador mix sitting in front of a house. Searching around, the officer found no puppies. There was no answer when the officer knocked on the door so she left a note saying that the dog was taken to the shelter. Later that afternoon, the owner called and explained that the dog escaped through their doggie door. The lab was picked and reunited with her 4 week old puppies. The League discourages the use of unsupervised doggie doors not only due to the risk of losing their pet but because the door allows wildlife into the house.

AWLA Seeks Volunteers for ‘Kitten Season’

By ARLnow.com

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is seeking volunteers to help it handle a seasonal surge in orphaned kittens.

“Kitten season,” as it’s called, begins in the spring. The League is specifically looking for foster parents who can help care for orphaned kittens until they’re old enough to be adopted.

From the AWLA:

Each spring and summer our shelter receives orphaned kittens that are too young to survive on their own. They require round- the-clock feeding and nurturing for several weeks before they are old enough to be adopted. Once the kittens are ready for adoption, the foster parent returns them to the shelter for adoption into permanent homes. The League desperately needs foster parents with very flexible schedules who can care for these unweaned animals.

We are holding an Foster Volunteer Recruitment meeting on Monday, March 5th from 7:00-8:00 PM at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, 2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr. Arlington, VA 22206.  At our informational meeting, experienced foster volunteers will give personal accounts of the time and commitment required. They will also share pictures and heartwarming stories of their experiences and what motivates them to foster our most vulnerable shelter animals.

Volunteer foster parents must be able to take the foster animals into their homes and provide a clean safe environment for them, as well as a lot of love and patience. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington will provide foster parents with the training they need to properly care for their kittens.  The League also provides food, supplies, and veterinary care for foster animals.

The first step to become a foster parent is to complete our online volunteer application here at www.awla.org/volunteer.shtml, attend a volunteer orientation/training, and complete a home visit with the foster coordinator.

AWLA To Offer Discounted Spay and Neuter Service

By ARLnow.com

 The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is offering discounted spay and neuter service for low-income pet owners during the month of February.

In recognition of World Spay Day, AWLA will be offering low-cost spays and neuters on four days: Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24. Participants must bring proof that their annual household income is $40,000 or less. The service will cost $25 for male cats and $50 for female cats and all dogs.

“Spaying cats and dogs eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer, while neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer,” AWLA noted in a press release. “Spaying and neutering reduces the potential for territorial marking, especially in your home, makes pets less likely to run away, and helps to reduce aggressive behavior, especially in dogs.”

“We do have limited space for this event, so if you qualify and would like to register your pet, please send an e-mail to Kimberly Harman at [email protected] or call her at (703) 931-9241 x246,” the AWLA added.

World Spay Day, promoted by the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, is Feb. 28.

Christmas Tree Came With Unwelcome Visitor

By ARLnow.com

This week’s Arlington Animal Watch blotter includes a belated but somewhat amusing holiday-related item from December.

A Westover resident got more than she bargained for when her Christmas tree came with an unwelcome visitor. From the Animal Welfare League of Arlington:

12/2/11 — 1400 block N. Kenilworth St. — A resident purchased a Christmas tree and when she brought it in the house, a wild animal, thought to be a squirrel came out of the tree. Animal control set a trap for the squirrel overnight, and the resident propped her front door open so the animal could exit. The animal did not go into the trap and is no longer in the home so it is believed it ran through the open door.

AWLA Handles Richmond Stray Dog Case

By ARLnow.com

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington recently handled a case involving a stray dog picked up near Richmond and turned in to the AWLA in Arlington.

From the League’s Arlington Animal Watch blotter:

12/26/11 — An Arlington resident driving through Henrico County, VA picked up a stray beagle wearing a collar with ID tags and a tracking collar and brought the dog home with her to Arlington County where she turned it in to AWLA. The shelter found the owner from the information on the ID tag who said he was hunting with his dog and the finder must have picked it up while they were out. The shelter verified the current status of a rabies vaccine  and released the dog to a friend of the owner who agreed to drive it back to Henrico County. If you find a stray dog, it’s best to turn it in to a shelter in the jurisdiction where you found it.

AWLA: Please Keep Cats Indoors

By ARLnow.com

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is advising cat owners to keep kitty indoors, due to the hazards presented by Arlington’s urban environment.

A recent case handled by the AWLA’s animal control unit is cited as a case in point. From AWLA:

12-10-11 — 2800 block N. 25th St.

A woman came into the shelter with a young gray cat she found near her home. The kitten, adopted from the League in June, had a microchip and the owner was located and called. There had been no lost report filed. The woman who came for the cat said she lost it over a week before and that it gets out because her other cat is indoor/outdoor. The League advises the public to keep their cats as indoor only due to the many dangers in an urban area.

AWLA Warns About Out-Of-Date Microchip Info

By ARLnow.com

A stray dog was captured and returned to his owner in Arlington this week, but not without a bit of drama.

The large, black German Shepherd had an embedded microchip that’s supposed to tell animal control officers how to contact its owner. But the chip’s information was out of date — leading back to a registered owner in South Carolina who was no longer there.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) consulted a local directory and eventually found the owner living in Arlington. The man and his dog were then, at last, reunited.

The incident prompted the AWLA to issue to a reminder for pet owners.

“The League would like to remind owners to notify the microchip company that holds the database when their information has changed,” the organization said.

Fire Truck Kitten Ready for Adoption

By Katie Pyzyk

Here’s your chance to give a semi-famous animal a good home. Axel, the kitten rescued from an Arlington County fire truck’s engine compartment last month, is ready to be adopted.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington cleaned him up at their Shirlington shelter following the incident. He’s an orange tabby estimated to be about three months old, and has been neutered and vaccinated.

Axel has been hanging out in a foster home with some other kittens, but is now ready to find a permanent residence. Anyone interested in adopting Axel, or any other kitten, can check out the AWLA website for adoption procedures.

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