ALEXANDRIA, VA–On Saturday, March 13, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria transported 50 cats from 8 animal shelters in Texas affected by the recent winter storm.
Overwhelmed by the influx of homeless animals, these shelters sent requests for help from others across the country. AWLA volunteered to help save these helpless animals and relieve these desperate shelters.
In a recent AWLA press release, AWLA Executive Director Stella Hanly says, “We knew the plans were still coming together, but we also knew we had to help.”
So the AWLA went to work on logistics. One AWLA volunteer, a retired naval engineer, invented a removable rig to place in an AWLA van that would accommodate up to 50 cats. Two other volunteers drove the newly equipped van to Tennessee, to meet a Human Animal Support Services (HASS) representative and pick up the cats.
AWLA Director of Operations, and the liaison for this mission, Katie DeMent says in the press release, “We asked a lot of our team, but they all worked together so that we’ll be able to help these Texas facilities and all of these homeless cats.”
Now, the AWLA is sheltering 20 of the cats, from 6 months to 5 years of age. They will undergo general veterinary care procedures and be made ready for adoption. The other 30 cats have been transported to other local shelters and rescues including the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Loudoun County Animal Services, Four Paws Rescue, and Helping Homeless Felines.
Kerin Ord, a transport volunteer for this mission, remarks, “Seeing cats in their condos at the AWLA, kittens playing with toys, many cats just reaching out for pats and attention… They seemed to realize that all was good from here on, and with the resilience of animals, had quickly gotten over their long journey.”
The AWLA also rescued 40 dogs, working with True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission to assist under-resourced shelters in Florida and Texas.
To see the cats and dogs newly available for adoption, visit https://alexandriaanimals.org/animals-for-adoption/.
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