Animal Welfare Leagues of Alexandria and Arlington Team Up to Vaccinate Pets and People
ALEXANDRIA, VA–On Sept. 25, the Animal Welfare Leagues of Alexandria and Arlington teamed up to vaccinate both pets and people.
“By connecting with people and their pets at the same time, we have the opportunity to make our community a healthier and safer place for all of its residents,” says the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Joanna Fortin, Director of Community Programs. “Today we worked with hundreds of our neighbors to ensure that they all received the care and support they deserve.”
During a Community Care Clinic at Four Mile Run Park, the Leagues offered COVID-19 vaccinations for humans, and rabies, parvovirus, and distemper vaccinations for cats and dogs. All vaccinations were distributed by Neighborhood Health staff and licensed veterinarians.
The first event of its kind in the Chirilagua neighborhood, the Community Care Clinic was able to distribute nearly 20 vaccinations to humans and 209 vaccinations to animals.
“Our goal is to be a resource to our community, and by connecting with people near where they live, we were able to better serve attendees, both human and animal,” states Stella Hanly, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
The dynamic duo of welfare leagues even went above and beyond vaccinations, offering a variety of pet and human resources from pet food, preventatives, dewormer, and other animal supplies, to human groceries from ALIVE!
A plethora of important information on health and nutrition, support services, local recreational opportunities, free books, and more was also provided by representatives of the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center; the Domestic Violence Intervention Program; Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation; Inova; InspireLit; Liberty’s Promise; Nueva Vida; Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities of Alexandria; Senior Services of Alexandria; and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
“It is so wonderful to see pet families receive care and resources in this setting,” concludes Jennifer Davies, Community Care Coordinator at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. “The wags and smiles — even through masks — are an affirmation that we are making a difference.”
This event could not have made such a difference without the help and support provided by all these wonderful organizations, as well as PetSmart Charities and the Del Ray North/Mount Vernon Shopping Center.
