In Paw-son Voting at Riverside Taco Company
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In Paw-son Voting at Riverside
Taco Company
Stars needs to be seen at all the hottest new locations, whether in paw-son or by
proxy. On June 25, your pet can decorate a voting box with their name and image
which will be seen at the AWLA booth at Riverside Taco Company. From 6 to 8
p.m. only, votes can be purchased at Riverside Taco Company TWO FOR $1 so
you can double your votes. Well-mannered, leashed dogs are also welcome to
come by to share their star quality, and all diners who mention the AWLA will
have 15% of their bill donated to the AWLA.
Please note that you (or your pet) do NOT need to be present to include a voting
box. Voting boxes should be no bigger than a shoebox. Decorated boxes can be
dropped off at the AWLA on June 23 or 24 during business hours or at the AWLA
booth of Riverside Taco Company beginning 5:30 on June 25. Votes will be tallied
and attributed on June 26.
Riverside Taco Company is a unique, outdoor dining experience by ARP
(Alexandria Restaurant Partners). Influenced by the varied cultures, cuisine
influences and cooking experiences of ARP’s Executive Chefs, Riverside Taco
Company provides a unique, yet approachable menu, offering tasty tacos, sides,
bowls, margaritas, and beer out of a sleek airstream trailer.
1916 Coffee Porter Collaboration
Beer Release Party in Support of
the AWLA
For the first time ever, Gordon Biersch and Swings’ Coffee Roasters have collaborated to created a DELICIOUS pre-prohibition style porter. They will be tapping the keg and serving snacks, provided by Buzz Bakeshop of Alexandria and Gordon Biersch. Join us Thursday, June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at pin Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (100 M St SE, Washington) for this event in support of animals in need! There is no charge to attend, but we do suggest a $5 donation; 100% off our donations collected will be given back to animals in need at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Pups will be on site to show their support on the Gordon Biersch patio, so come hang out with us for a night of fun and furry friends!
Barks, Brews & Bites – AWLA Adoption Happy Hour Bring your Best Friend, or Meet your New One … At our Adoption Happy Hour for pups & their people. Join us at The Alexandrian, 480 King Street, Thursday, June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. Our adoptable pups hope to see you there! Volunteer Photographers Put Shelter Animals in Best Light The challenge: Capture the stories of each dog, cat, rabbit and any other animal at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA).
The solution: A corps of professionally
trained photographers volunteering their
time to take individualized portraits of
each animal in need.
Suggested strategy: Bring treats, props…and lots of patience.
Above: Sean shows off his personality for the camera. (Photo by Alison Lane
Photography)
Luckily for the AWLA, several professional photographers have answered the
call, stopping by weekly with gear in tow to capture photographs of the shelter’s
latest residents. Each has her own style and approach, but all share a goal: to
provide a positive experience for each animal and create photographs that put
them in their best light as they prepare for adoption. Along with their work in the
shelter, the volunteer photographers also capture memorable moments at AWLA-
related events, such as the Fun Dog Show, held around St. Patrick’s Day, and the
annual Howl-O-Ween costume competition.
Photographer Alison Satinoff occasionally
spices up her photo portrait sessions with
props — flowers, bowties for the animals
to wear and beads and ornaments to strew
around kittens and rabbits. But it’s a
session with group of eight pet rats she
recalls most vividly. “We placed them in a
Barbie doll bathtub, about three at a
time,” she said. “Fortunately, the rats’
foster caregiver was there to help, and the
rats cooperated well. It actually looked super cute.”
Above: Meelo flaunts his best angles. (Photo by Shelley Castle Photography)
These portraits, which are featured on the shelter website and on social media as well as in other shelter materials, require the assistance of specially trained shelter volunteers, who bring animals one by one into the shelter’s community room, where the photographers have set up professional lighting equipment. Each animal is posed in front of a 12-foot-tall white board, which can be intimidating until the photographer starts her song and dance. “I’ll make weird noises or hold a hot dog over the camera to get their attention,” says photographer Sabrina Moore, owner of Dirty Paw Photography, who has offered her services to the shelter for the past four years. Photographer Alison DeSilva, owner of DeSilva Studios, also uses treats to ignite action shots, sometimes throwing a hot dog into the air to get a dog to jump up and grab it. But the cats, she said, can be a bit more challenging to coax, and sometimes the biggest challenge is getting them to stay on the backdrop long enough to get a photo. Right: Olaf captured in action (Photo by DeSilva Studios LLC) Each photographer brings her own individual style as well as expertise to her sessions. Moore will shoot animals in front of colored and patterned backdrops to help the shelter denote animals who have met certain milestones. Photographer Shelley Castle and DeSilva excel at photo sessions outdoors as well as inside, when the shelter is telling a specific story or trying to capture a special moment. And with her use of creative props, Satinoff has captured some of the shelter’s most unique shots, used not only to highlight an adoptable animal but in other materials and media to show how fun and engaging the shelter can be. Shooting with shelter animals is much harder than photographing people’s pets, says Castle, who helped develop the AWLA’s photography program and has captured hundreds of the shelter’s animals with her camera over the years.
Castle, who grew up on a Virginia horse farm and now runs Shelley Castle
Photography, which specializes in outdoor pet photography, says understanding
animal behavior is critical to making them feel secure in a photo shoot. “The most
important thing about photography is patience. I have to wait for animals who are
scared to regain their composure and get comfortable…And then I might bark or
whistle to get them to stop and look at me.” But the photographers also
understand that posed photos are not ideal for all animals and have captured
turtles, shy cats and even fish in their own enclosures and tanks as well.
The photography team says the rewards outweigh
the struggle of capturing the sometimes-fidgety
animals in action. Satinoff recalls a day when she
stopped by the shelter and was asked by a
member of the public if she was one of the
shelter’s photographers. The woman then
proceeded to show her a picture of the dog she
had adopted on seeing his photograph — and it
was one that Satinoff had shot. “It makes it all
worthwhile because that’s why I’m there,” she
said.
Left: Butterfly basks in the camera’s light. (Photo by Dirty Paw Photography)
“Some of the animals you fall in love with so much,” Castle said. “I feel the most
rewarded when I can help a cat or dog who’s completely scared by being part of
their learning experience for adoption. If I can stay calm and teach them that
we’re here to help, it can prepare them for the kindness of a future family.”
Say “Cheese” (or “Hot Dog”)
You don’t have to be a professional photographer for your pet to be famous!
Enter the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s 2020 photo calendar contest in
June to make your pet a star and win fun prizes, including a photo session with an
AWLA pet photographer. Learn more at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Calendar. The
AWLA’s skilled group of volunteer photographers offers these tips for capturing
the best photographs of your pet:
Exercise your pet before the session to eliminate counterproductive
energy.
Get down on the floor or on your pet’s eye level to view life from their
perspective.
For outdoor photographs, early morning and dusk provide the best
lighting.
Keep an eye out for objects in the background such as cars, road signs
and trash on the ground that might detract from the photo’s center of
attention — your pet.
Avoid using flash — it turns pets’ eyes red or green.
Dangle a toy from a stick above the camera so that the pet will look at the
camera. Making noises, like barking or whistling, also captures pets’
attention.
Patience is key — you may not get a great photograph the first time. Keep
the photo session a short and positive experience, and your pet will
eventually come around.
Treats, treats and more treats!
This story was originally printed in the Alexandria Gazette on May 20.
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Youth Programs
To exercise an abundance of caution, we are currently offering a mix of virtual
and in-person youth programs to ensure we can keep all of our community safe.
Read more about these opportunities below.
The AWLA believes it is important to instill a knowledge about and a compassion
for animals from the earliest ages. With our community and in-shelter humane
education programs, we offer a variety of opportunities to engage with — and
often learn from — Alexandria’s youngest animal-lovers. Read more about our
Humane Education program for students aged 18 and younger below.
To learn more about all our latest programs, continue to check this page or email
youthprograms@alexandriaanimals.org to be added to our contact list.
At the AWLA
Junior Volunteers
Our Junior Volunteer program offers 14- and 17-year-olds the chance to learn
more about animal care, sheltering, training and more. Participants start with an
8-session training course to learn more about animal safety, body language,
handling and other AWLA operations, and upon completion, are able to volunteer
at the AWLA in a variety of roles.
Virtual Activities
Shelter Tours
The AWLA welcomes small groups interested in taking a virtual shelter tour and
learning more about animal care and animal welfare issues. Shelter tours include
an overview of the shelter and the companion animals in our care as well as a tour
of all adoption areas. Most tours include a virtual visit with one or more shelter
Animal Ambassadors and a discussion of how to help our furred, finned and
feathered residents.
Scout Programs
Now offered virtually, our Scout Program is 1 hour long and intended for scouts
ages 6 and up. These Pet Badge programs are for groups of eight to 15 scouts,
including siblings; groups of 16 scouts or more should split up and schedule for
two separate trainings, as we cannot accommodate larger groups in our facility.
There is a $10 fee for each badge-seeking scout to cover the cost of supplies and
the badge/certificate.
Pawsitive Action Club
Join our Pawsitive Action Club, a group for students currently enrolled in Middle
School, with the goal of helping students to become familiar with the shelter and
instilling animal compassion and advocacy in their everyday lives. Our Fall
Semester is taking place online now, and PAC members will also be eligible to
apply to be summer camp counselors in 2022!
Birthday Parties
A virtual celebration with animals is a unique party experience that also supports
pets in our community. We’ve found that a party at the AWLA is most enjoyable
for children aged 8 and older, who have a greater understanding of animal
welfare and the goals of the shelter.School Programs
If your class is interested in learning more from our Humane Education experts,
contact us to schedule a virtual visit to talk with your students. *Please note that
at this time, we are only able to visit schools in the Alexandria School District.
At-Home Activities
At-Home Volunteering
There are a number of volunteer project that can be completed at home. View the
full list HERE. Projects can be placed in the donation bin in front of our shelter
any day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please notify our front desk staff if you are dropping off
hotdogs. Drawn or written projects along with any forms to earn volunteer hours
can be sent to youth@alexandriaanimals.org.
Junior PAWS Online Humane Education ProgramThe AWLA’s Junior Pet Advocacy and Wildlife Series (PAWS) is a series of
humane education lessons ranging from crafts to careers. Lessons utilize Zoom
and Google Classroom to bring fun and learning directly to kids and their families
at home! Attendees must pre-register for each class, so learn more about
individual courses and register today.
Paw Pals
Become a Paw Pal to animals in need! So many of our youth volunteers already
host fundraising drives and collections of toys and food for Alexandria’s Animals,
that we now have a toolkit to help them help even more animals with their work.
At this time, we have temporarily suspended our in-shelter Book Buddies, Teen
Service Night and Family Fun Night programs.
For more information on our Youth Programs or to schedule an event, please call
us at 703-746-4774 or email us. If you’d like to receive emails about our latest
youth volunteering opportunities, click below to sign up for notifications.
Email Sign-UpFirst Thursday: Dog Days in Del Ray Due to last week’s weather, this event will now take place on Thursday, May 9. Del Ray, one of the most dog-friendly neighborhoods in the region, highlights “Dog Days in Del Ray” during its May First Thursday on Thursday, May 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The monthly street festival takes place on May 9 from 6 p.m. to dusk along Mount Vernon Avenue. Bring your favorite four-legged friend out to the Avenue for a wide variety of canine-themed activities for dogs (and their humans!). The event is free and open to all. Participants are encouraged to bring dry and wet food for dogs and cats, or durable pet toys such as Kongs for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Donations will be collected at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, located at Mt. Vernon & Oxford Avenues. Held the first Thursday from April to September along Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, First Thursday is a series of free outdoor
street festivals that bring the community together around a fun theme, benefiting
a local nonprofit. This month’s event is sponsored by the Del Ray Business
Association and Your Dog’s Best Friends.
New Dog Adoption Information
[en español]
Congratulations on adopting your new dog, and thank you for providing a
home to an animal in need. As you acclimate your new furry friend to your
home and family, here are some tips and guides to help you — and your
pup — find your footing on your new adventure!
Training Tips
Bringing Home a New Dog
Housetraining
SocializationCozy Confinement Crate Training (and don’t forget about the Kong treat!) Separation Anxiety Introducing Your New Dog to your Cat Introducing Your New Dog to Other Dog(s) Dog Park Information and Misconceptions Enrichment Activities Feeding Feeding Guide
Veterinary Care
Preparing for a Happy, Healthy Pet
Vets in AWLA’s Well Pet Exam Program
Other Information
Your Dog’s Microchip
Pet Licensing
Helpful Training Cartoons
How to Greet a Dog
The Learn-to-Earn Program
Four Categories of Operant Conditioning
Body Language of Fear in Dogs
Did you adopt a puppy? READ MORE to find out what you should know about
preparing for your newest addition.TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. AWLA’s Terms and Conditions – The terms and conditions herein written shall supersede all previous communications, agreements or
contracts, written or verbal, and no understanding, term, condition or trade custom in conflict or inconsistent herewith shall be binding on the
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Virginia, Incorporated (“AWLA”). No waiver or modification of the terms and conditions hereof shall be
effective unless in writing and signed by both parties.
2. Survival; Assignment. The obligations of the Adopter under this agreement shall remain in full force and effect for the life of the animal, and the
Adopter shall not assign its rights or obligations under this agreement without the express, prior written consent of the AWLA.
3. Enforcement. The AWLA reserves all rights and remedies available at law and in equity to enforce the obligations contained herein, including,
but not limited to, the right to seek injunctive relief. The Adopter shall be responsible for payment of the AWLA’s actual and reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs incurred in the event that the AWLA engages legal counsel for the purpose of enforcing the rights and obligations contained in this
agreement.
4. Applicable Law. This agreement shall be construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the invalidity of any provision of
this agreement under the laws applicable hereto shall not invalidate the remaining provisions of this agreement. The parties submit to the
jurisdiction of all state and federal courts sitting in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the venue of the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria.
You Can Still Spring2Action!
Today is the final day of Spring2Action, and over the past two weeks our
volunteers have been busy, like always, helping Alexandria’s Animals. From
working with animals with special behavioral needs to taking animals out on the
town with the hopes of meeting their future family, our volunteers do so much for
our organization, and it’s not too late for you to join them. Check our blog HERE
as we update it throughout the day to see just how much our volunteers act for
animals in need and show your support at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Spring2Action.
Donate Today
The littlest thing you can do can make a huge difference to an animal in need.
Volunteer Sherri
It’s all about making the animals happy.Volunteer Photographer Alison DeSilva
No matter how much I give, I always get back so much more.
Volunteer Karin
If you’re helping animals, you’re helping the community.
Volunteer Carol
8:30 am – Volunteer Sherri comes in
every Wednesday to do “Cat Scrub,”
feeding our adoptable cats and cleaning
their enclosures. She gets to know each of
the cats as she works with them and likes
to know that her efforts make each cat a
little more comfortable while they are at
the shelter. Some of the cats prefer to stay
out of the way during “scrub” but others
like to help, pawing at the dustpan and leaping from bed to bed as she changes
out their linens. On weekends, she takes on “Dog Scrub” and she also works to
socialize the dogs and cats, helping them get their exercise and enrichment for
the day. “I love the opportunities the AWLA provides to volunteers,” she says,
“and I definitely get as much out of my time as I give.”
12:00 pm – One of our professional
volunteer photographers, Alison DeSilva of
DeSilva Studios, LLC. gives her time to
help show Alexandria’s Animals at their
smiley-est, goofy-est and happiest
moments. She came to the shelter to take
photos with Steele, one of our 100 Day
Stay Club members who is learning to take
on the world with a smile thanks to the
help of one of his favorite volunteers.Whether Alison is outside capturing a happy scene or at one of our community events like Howl-O-Ween taking photos in the crowd, the hours she donates every month help animals like Steele find their future families. 2:00 pm – Part of how our volunteers Spring2Action includes hitting the town with our adoptable pups! Volunteers Karin and Connie took Rascal on a field trip as just some of the many hours they donate each month. They walked around old town, stopped by the waterfront and took lots of pictures of course. When pups like Rascal get to explore new places with our amazing volunteers, they get exercise and enrichment and might even meet their future family while strolling around town. Our volunteers are always thinking of ways to keep our animals happy and read for adoption, just one of the many ways they help animals in need!
Carol began volunteering because she
found her two best friends at the AWLA
and wanted to help other people do the
same. Now she comes in each week to
help with cleaning, enrichment, care and
everything else you could think of for our
felines. By helping care for Alexandria’s
Animals, Carol can help loving families
find their match, which makes for happy
people, happy pets and a community that supports animals in need.
Our volunteers only have a few more hours to contribute before they reach their
goal of 1,250 hours and they show no sign of stopping! Not everyone can
volunteer, but you can still make a difference in the lives of animals in need with
your contribution at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Spring2Action.
Donate Today
PRESS RELEASE: March 2 Is for
the Dogs!
Media Contact: Regina Hardter
(703) 746-5662
communications@alexandriaanimals.orgMARCH 2 IS FOR THE DOGS
AWLA’s and Ballyshaners’ Fun Dog Show to Precede St. Patrick’s Day
Parade
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — (Feb. 1, 2019) — The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
(AWLA) and the Ballyshaners will once again make King Street the most festive
place to be on Saturday, March 2, with the annual Fun Dog Show and St. Patrick’s
Day Parade. Beginning at 11 a.m., the Fun Dog Show brings together
Alexandria’s most festive animals to vie for the titles of “Most St. Paddy’s Spirit,”
“Best Human/Canine Look-Alike” and “Most Creative Costume,” which will be
determined by audience applause.
The Fun Dog Show precedes the Ballyshaners’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade, an
annual event that marches dozens of celebratory groups down King Street and
into the heart of Old Town. The AWLA will kick off the parade, and all friends,
followers and former adopters are welcome to join the group to march, without or
without their canine companions. March participants will meet at the
intersection of King St. and Pitt St. at 12:00 p.m. to kick off the parade!
“The Fun Dog Show is our first major event of the year,” said AWLA’s Executive
Director Megan Webb. “The weather can sometimes be unpredictable, but that
doesn’t stop our canine contestants from strutting their St. Paddy’s spirit for all of
Alexandria to see.”
“The Ballyshaners are proud to annually kick off the St. Patrick’s Parade with
AWLA’s Fun Dog Show,” said a spokesperson for the Ballyshaners (which means“Old Towners” in Gaelic, the Irish language).
Registration is $30 per entrant per category, and pet parents may register their
pet for any or all of the three event categories. Registration is open now at
AlexandriaAnimals.org/DogShow2019 and will also be available on-site on Mar. 2
as long as registration spots are still available. For the safety of all attendees,
both human and canine, the AWLA requires that all dogs must be on non-
extendable leashes that are six feet or shorter. Dogs will not be allowed on
Market Square until 10:30, once the Old Town Farmers’ Market has ended. While
the AWLA loves all animals, the Fun Dog Show is only appropriate for dogs who
are comfortable with crowds and other dogs.
The Fun Dog Show will also feature tents and information from AWLA sponsors,
including ALX Community, Becky’s Pet Care Inc., Capital One, Caring Hands
Animal Hospital, Dirty Paw Photography, Doggywalker.com, Dogtopia, Frolick
Dogs, the VCA Animal Hospitals of both Alexandria and Old Town, Whole Dogz
and the Zebra. To learn more about becoming an event sponsor, please contact
Stella Hanly at sponsorship@alexandriaanimals.org.
For more information about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit ballyshaners.org.
The Fun Dog Show will be held rain or shine. If you would like high-resolution
promotional photos for the Fun Dog Show, please contact the AWLA at
connect@alexandriaanimals.org. All photos courtesy of Shelley Castle
Photography.
###
About the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is a local 501(c)(3) organization.
Operating the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, which is Alexandria’s only open-
access animal shelter, the AWLA touches the lives of more than 6,000 animals
every year, including strays, lost pets, local wildlife, rescued animals and animals
surrendered by their owners. The AWLA is committed to addressing animal
homelessness, promoting animal welfare and serving as an educational resourcefor the community. More information can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org.
PRESS RELEASE: AWLA Will Be
Represented in Animal Planets’s
Puppy Bowl XV, Airing Sunday,
February 3!
Media Contact: Regina Hardter
(703) 746-5662
communications@alexandriaanimals.org
ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF ALEXANDRIA WILL BE REPRESENTED IN
ANIMAL PLANET’S PUPPY BOWL XV AIRING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd!
Over 90 Adoptable Puppies Compete for Most Valuable Puppy (MVP) Title
(January 4, 2018) – The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is doggone
thrilled to announce we have a canine competitor in this year’s PUPPY BOWL
XV. Everyone’s favorite pup-to-pup competition airs Sunday, February 3rd, at
3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT on Animal Planet.
Pirate storms the GEICO gridiron and makes the cutest ear pulls and tail tugs as
part of Team Ruff as they compete to win the CHEWY.COM Lombarky Trophy.
Pirate came to the AWLA in August 2018, already demonstrating the heart of a
champion. While in foster care, he rallied a team of adolescent boys for
adventures and some rough-and-tumble fun, and he never missed out on an
opportunity to run a few laps around the yard…or to the bus stop at school pick-up time. Pirate was adopted in October and now goes by the name Min-Guk. His adopter says, “He is a truly lovely, happy puppy who loves playing fetch and going on runs. Maybe his fetching and running skills came from his Puppy Bowl training sessions!” He now shares his adventures on Instagram as @min_guk_ee and encourages others to visit his first “home team,” the AWLA to find their future canine companions (or even feline friends)! He looks forward to watching his Puppy Bowl premiere on February 3rd. Pirate, along with the rest of the 93 adoptable puppies from 51 shelters and rescues across the country, go paw to paw and nose to nose for the ultimate match up: “Team Ruff” vs. “Team Fluff.” Join the AWLA on February 3 rd for a Puppy Bowl Watch Party at Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap to cheer on Pirate and his teammates. Read more and register to attend at AlexandriaAnimals.org/PuppyBowlParty. For the last 14 years, Animal Planet’s PUPPY BOWL has owned the world’s cutest sporting event on television. Every Super Bowl Sunday, two teams of the fluffiest and cuddliest line barkers and wide retrievers take to the gridiron for a playful game of terrier touchdown, puppy penalties and furry fumbles. Representing rescues and shelters from across the country, these adoptable four-legged players that make up #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff are serious when it comes to winning the Most Valuable Puppy title and more importantly…their furever homes. From left to right:
Pirate lives up to his name; Pirate enjoys a break from the rough-and-tumble of Puppy Bowl prep; Pirate poses for his Puppy Bowl debut. All photos courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography. About the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is a local 501(c)(3) organization. Operating the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, which is Alexandria’s only open- access animal shelter, the AWLA touches the lives of more than 6,000 animals every year, including strays, lost pets, local wildlife, rescued animals and animals surrendered by their owners. The AWLA is committed to addressing animal homelessness, promoting animal welfare and serving as an educational resource for the community. More information can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org. About Animal Planet Animal Planet, one of Discovery, Inc.’s great global brands, is dedicated to creating high quality content with global appeal delivering on its mission to keep the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way. Available to 360 million homes in more than 205 countries and territories, Animal Planet combines content that explores the undeniable bonds forged between animals and humans, optimized across all screens around the world. In the U.S., Animal Planet audiences can enjoy their favorite programming anytime, anywhere through the Animal Planet Go app which features live and on- demand access. For more information, please visit www.animalplanet.com.
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