Animal Welfare League of Alexandria to offer FREE rabies vaccines and other assistance to Alexandria pet owners
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) will hold a pet care fair on Saturday, May 5, to provide free rabies vaccinations and other services to the pets of Alexandria’s underserved community. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the courtyard in front of the Ruby Tucker Family Center at 322 Tancil Court in Old Town, Alexandria, and will also offer basic grooming and nail trims, pet food, toys and behavioral advice, as part of the AWLA’s continued efforts to support animals and citizens across the city. Dogs who attend must be on leash, and cats must be transported in carriers; both items will be available to those who don’t have them.
The AWLA is coordinating the event with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Virginia Department of Health. While previous pet care events have been held at the AWLA’s Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, this will be the second event hosted in the community to make it easier for residents to attend with their pets. The location was pinpointed as an area of high need, based on calls to AWLA’s Animal Services and animal surrenders to the shelter. This most recent pet care fair is another way that the AWLA is expanding upon its mission to find new ways to keep pets with their families.
At the first such event at that location last September, 32 pets received rabies vaccines, and 40 went home with newly clipped nails and pet supplies.
“We had an excellent turnout at the first event, and we hope to build on that this time,” said AWLA Chief Operating Officer Stella Hanly. “Our main goal is to provide needed care and resources to Alexandria’s pets and their owners — before a crisis occurs.”
How You Can Help
Support for this event will come in part from donations made through the city-wide Spring2Action fundraising campaign, running from April 11-25. Information about these efforts can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Spring2Action.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which operates the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter on contract with the City of Alexandria, is an independent, local, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The AWLA is committed to ending animal homelessness, promoting animal welfare, and serving as an educational resource for the City of Alexandria community. More information is at AlexandriaAnimals.org.
