Alexandria’s AWLA Awarded $100,000 PetSmart Charities Grant
Grant will Expand Veterinary Access in Underserved Alexandria Communities
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from PetSmart Charities® to help break down barriers to veterinary care in historically underserved neighborhoods near the Mark Center off North Beauregard Street.
While more than 70% of American households include pets, the ability to access basic veterinary care has not kept pace—especially in communities where rising costs, geographic limitations, and systemic inequities make services inaccessible. Pets are universally considered important family members and keeping them together requires resources that are often missing. This grant marks a significant step forward for pet families in Alexandria who have been disproportionately affected by these challenges.
“Equitable access to veterinary care is a foundational need for healthy pets and families,” said Joanna Fortin, AWLA Director of Community Programs. “Together with community members, we will create and shape pathways for accessing veterinary care that don’t currently exist in these neighborhoods. These solutions will help foster healthy pets, empower and support families, and strengthen the community by providing services that meet the needs of those who live here.”
The funding comes as part of PetSmart Charities’ Incubator Grant Program, which supports innovative, culturally relevant approaches to veterinary care in communities that have traditionally been excluded from consistent access. As one of the Incubator grantees, AWLA will spend the next year deepening relationships with local residents, collaborating with community changemakers, and co-creating sustainable models of care that reflect the needs of the neighborhoods they serve.
“Most people today consider pets to be family, yet we now know more than half of pet parents have skipped or declined veterinary care, with many more who haven’t been able to access it at all,” said Kate Atema, Director of Community Grants & Initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “This issue affects families in nearly every community across the U.S. — but becomes even more challenging for families living in places where other resources are also difficult to access. We’re proud to support partners that work hard to overcome obstacles to veterinary care and collaborate with local communities to co-create unique solutions for their pets.”
PetSmart Charities, the nation’s leading funder of animal welfare, has pledged $100 million over the next five years to improve veterinary care access nationwide. Through this grant, AWLA is empowered to create long-term, community-driven solutions that ensure all pets and their families can stay healthy—and stay together.
For more information about AWLA’s community programs and veterinary support services, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org, email [email protected], or call 703-746-6001.
