Picture This: Your 'Working-From- Home' Pet

Picture This: Your ‘Working-From-
Home’ Pet
Shelter’s Annual Calendar Contest Launches June 1
It’s been an unforgettable year for Abby, a
six-year-old cattle dog/coonhound mix
adopted in 2014 from the AWLA. First,
Abby was named Alexandria’s 2020 Animal
of the Year after earning the most votes of
all pets entered in the shelter’s annual
photo calendar contest. Then, she and her
family moved to Lexington, Ky., where for
the first time in her life she had a
backyard to roam — one that spans a
whole acre.

It was a fitting reward. “When Abby became Alexandria Animal of the Year, she
demanded better accommodations,” said her “mom,” Diana Gritti. “It warms my
heart to see a rescue dog enjoy something like that.”

A therapy dog named Abby graced the cover of the 2020 Animal Welfare League
of Alexandria calendar. Abby garnered the most votes in last year’s photo contest;
this year’s competition launches June 1. (Photograph by Shelley Castle
Photography)

Abby was outstanding before she earned her AWLA title. Certified as a therapy
dog by the American Kennel Club, she had completed nearly 100 visits to nursing
homes, where she thrived on getting to know the senior residents. Abby is a very
smart, sensitive dog, Gritti said, and is eager to don her official work bandana and
start visiting the nursing homes of Lexington as soon as it is safe to do so.

Abby was the first animal to receive a vote in last
                              year’s calendar contest and reached the head of the
                              pack in the contest’s nail-biting final hours. This
                              year’s contest, which launches Monday, June 1,
                              should inspire similar drama. The theme, Work-
                              From-Home Helpers, highlights the pets who have
                              provided love and support through the long months
                              at home this spring. Photographs of pets in action
                              — whether “helping out” in the home office or
                              offering moral support by napping nearby — can be
                              submitted at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Calendar
                              beginning June 1. The top vote-earners will receive
prizes, such as photos sessions with a professional pet photographer, and the
animal with the most votes will also be named Alexandria’s Animal of the Year.

“Mug shot:” The cover of the AWLA’s 2020 calendar, adorning a coffee mug,
featured the calendar contest’s top voter-getter, a therapy dog named
Abby. Voting starts online June 1 to choose Alexandria’s 2021 Animal of
the Year. (Photograph by Diana Gritti)

The contest is the AWLA’s largest fundraiser of the year, and this financial
support is more critical than ever to providing vital services to the community.
Every registration or vote is a donation to help animals, and all registrants
receive a complimentary calendar. The contest is not limited to AWLA alumni or
Alexandria residents. And, every animal entered will be pictured in the calendar,
which is printed in full color and designed for hanging on the wall.

Gritti says that despite their new location, she stays in touch with the AWLA and
will continue to support the shelter. “I feel very strongly I’d like to get another
dog from there,” she said. What advice does Abby have for the next Animal of the
Year? “She would say to milk the title for all it’s worth,” Gritti said. “Get as many
treats out of it as you can.”

The AWLA’s 2021 Photo Calendar Contest is running through June 30.
Click HERE to learn more and enter your pet.

Abby, a cattle dog/coonhound mix who is Alexandria’s 2020 Animal of the
 Year, makes a splash. Abby is a therapy dog who enjoys visiting nursing homes.
                  (Photograph by Shelley Castle Photography)

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Irish Spirit for People and Pups
The annual Fun Dog Show hosted by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
and the Ballyshaners was full of Irish Spirit and smiles for people and pups on
Saturday, March 7. Contestants and audience members gathered on Old Town’s
Market Square to see who had the winning looks to walk off the stage as top dogs
of the day. Dogs in sweaters, tutus, costumes, cloaks, wagons, strollers and more
vied for the top titles of their categories, and the winners were:

                         Most St. Paddy’s Spirit
                         Pickles dressed as a pot of gold

Best Human/Canine Combo Costume
Kayla and pup Cholata dressed as students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
                               and Wizardry

                      Most Creative Costume
                           Zoey the bagpipes pup

The Fun Dog Show concluded just before the start of the Ballyshaner’s Old Town
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was led by a procession of people and pups from
the stage and from the crowd. Thank you to the Ballyshaners, to everyone who
attended, to our Premiere Sponsor McEnearney Associates and to our vendor
sponsors ALX Community, Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Dogtopia, Fort Hunt
Animal Hospital, Pet Valu, Whole Dogz and The Zebra.

                   Photos courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography.

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Did You Resolve to Get Involved?
There are so many ways to help animals in your community. Volunteering,
fostering, donating, adopting and now attending events at the AWLA! 2020 brings
new ways to make the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter your place to help animals in
need with events for people of all ages and interests – and new events always on
the way.

Family Fun Nights
From movie nights (this Friday being the
first!) to Valentine’s Day crafts, Family
Fun Nights at the AWLA are a great way
for animal lovers of all ages to enjoy a fun
evening out with the family, all while
supporting animals in need. View all of our
currently scheduled Family Fun Nights
HERE, and keep an eye out for when we
announce more for spring and summer
months.

Teen Service Nights
If your high school student is looking to grow their knowledge of animal welfare
while earning service hours for school, sign them up for our Teen Service Nights.
These workshops are each Thursday for four consecutive weeks, giving students
and in-depth animal sheltering experience. Our first workshop series begins this
January, so register HERE.

Adult Nights Out

Your Fridays just got more fun at the
AWLA! Our Adult Nights Out Social Series
offers ways to unwind, energize and enjoy
all while supporting – and spending time
with – animals at our shelter. Whether you
prefer to meditate on the past week with
mindful felines by your side or have pets at
home just begging for portraits painted by
you, our Adult Nights Out have something
for everyone. Learn more and register HERE.

What’s the best way to keep up with all of our latest events and news? Sign up for
 email updates and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. That way you’ll
   never miss the latest, and more adorable, news from Alexandria’s Animals.

Finding Homes this Pawliday
Season
For the second year in a row, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is waiving
adoption fees for all adult animals thanks to Priority Automotive. During our
Home for the Pawlidays adoption event, adoption fees for cats, dogs, rabbits,
birds – everyone over the age of 6 months – are waived until Priority Automotive’s
$20,000 sponsorship runs out.

We’re halfway through the month, and we’ve already seen some big names at the
AWLA head home with their future families. 100 Day Stay Club member and
senior feline Maganda, charmed her new best friends with her beautiful name
(Maganda means beautiful in Tagalog) and lap-cuddling sweetness. She headed
home with her family in early December and since then has been busy starting

her own Instagram account (@maganda_malakas) and finding all of her favorite
new bird watching spots.

Not long after, Cooper’s signature smile won the hearts of his new family. With
his constantly wagging tail and love of every toy, you’d never guess that this
handsome pup was 10 years old. But age is only a number to Cooper and to his
new family, who eagerly welcomed him into their hearts. Cooper’s smile was as
big as his jackets was adorable when he walked out the doors with a family to call
his own.

Good things come to those who wait, and for Phoebe that holds true! Known of
her distinctive Hotot markings and quick learning during clicker training, Phoebe
has been with us since March, after traveling all the way from Texas with the
hopes of meeting her new best friend. Phoebe’s patience paid off when she
headed home with her family last week, who she is sure to wow with her big

bunny personality.

Our Home for the Pawlidays adoption event continues until December 31st or
until Priority Automotive’s generous sponsorship runs out. View our animals still
waiting to meet their new best friends HERE and view our holiday hours HERE. If
you’re looking to grow your family this holiday season, we might have just the pet
for you, so stop by to meet our adoptable animals!

 Why do waived adoption fees help more animals find loving homes? Learn more
                                     HERE.

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Clear the Shelters 2019 Cheat
Sheet

Clear the Shelters is this Saturday, and we wanted to share some tips for
everyone who wants to be an adoption superhero by joining us on August 17 to
find their newest family member. During Clear the Shelters, adoption fees will be
waived on all adoptable animals, which makes this one of our busiest days of the
year, so we will be opening early at 11:00 a.m. to accommodate all of our extra
visitors.

We’ve been asked if “Adoption Fee-Waived” events like Clear the Shelters are a
safe way to find homes for animals, and it’s a question we take very seriously. As
dedicated animal lovers, we want to make sure that we’re doing the best for the
animals in our care, during Clear the Shelters and every day of the year. Read
more about Why We Waive.

Please note that while adoption fees are waived, standard adoption policies and
procedures still apply; click HERE to learn more.

About Clear the Shelters

In 2018, over 50 animals were adopted,
and we hope to find homes for even more
animals this year. Even if you aren’t
adopting a pet on August 17, you can still
be part of the success of Clear the
Shelters. We will be waiving adoption
fees, but we recognize that the care and
treatment of our adoptable animals has
costs, like medical exams and
vaccinations, food, microchipping and more. Please consider pledging to Clear It
Forward to help us defray some of these expenses, so we can help adoptable
animals not only on August 17 but every day of the year. Whether you choose to
donate an amount per animal adopted or pledge a fixed amount, your donation
will help us continue to support our adoptable animals all year long.

How It Works on Saturday
If you are planning to join us on Saturday, please read below for
more information on how Clear the Shelters will work:
We will be hosting a yard sale beginning
at 9:00 a.m. with all types of supplies you
might want for your new pet, so stop by
early for crates, carriers and more.

We will also be hosting a bake sale, so if you are planning to stake out your spot
in line, you can get cold drinks and tasty goodies for your wait.

Please keep in mind that it might be hot and/or rainy that day, so come
prepared to wait outside, including supplies you might need to stay cool and/or
dry. For safety reasons, we may only allow a certain number of visitors in the
shelter at one time, meaning new arrivals will need to wait for others to leave
before they can enter.

Due to the number of visitors expected, our parking lot may be full when you
arrive. Additional parking will be available at Joseph Hensley Park (4200
Eisenhower Avenue, across the street and slightly west of the shelter), and you
can park there in the event the shelter lot is full.

When you arrive, you will be given a form with your number in line and an
Adopter Survey to complete. This will speed up the process of meeting your new
best friend once you’re in the shelter. If you have animals you are interested in
meeting, you can note them on the form at that time.

Check out our website before you arrive and while you’re waiting in line to
see who will be available for adoption during Clear the Shelters. Otherwise, you
can add the names of the animals you’d like to meet/adopt as you see them in the
building.

If you are waiting in line, we will have a board outside that lists where you can
find animals in the shelter, animals who are in meetings with potential adopters
and animals who have been adopted. You can also see the progress of who is
being adopted on our home page.

Adoptions (and in the case of dogs, visits with potential adoptees) will occur
based on the order of the sign-in sheet at the adoptions desk by the cat area, not
your place in line. We will schedule visits with dogs and adoptions consultations
as the names are listed on the sign-in sheet, rather than the order of arrival.

If you already have a dog at home that you want to introduce to your newest
family member, they do not need to wait in line with you. Dog-to-dog meetings
will take place between 12:30-1:30 p.m., 2-3 p.m., and 3:30-4:30 p.m. and you will
receive your dog meeting time slot after you first meet with an adoptable dog, so
you can bring your current dog later in the day. A hold will be placed on that dog
until the meeting can occur. Given the summer temperatures, we strongly
encourage you to keep your current pups at home until your arranged dog
meeting time!

Not all of our adoptable animals are at the shelter! Don’t forget to check out
our foster feature at the front desk to see if your new best friend might be with
one of our foster families. The adoption fees for animals in foster care are also
waived as part of Clear the Shelters, and some of our fosters are available for
home visits that day!

After you have selected an animal you
want to adopt, sign in for an Adoption
Consultation at the adoptions desk. Our
staff will be meeting with many potential
adopters all day, so stay close to hear your
name when it’s called. If everything goes
well with your Adoption Consultation and
your chosen pet is spayed/neutered, then he/she will be ready to leave with you
today.

All of our Adoption Forms take just a few minutes to complete, and you will
receive yours to complete while you’re waiting in line. You can see our Adoption
Surveys for our Dogs, Cats and Small Animals so you know what types of
questions we’ll be asking.

If the pet is not yet spayed/neutered, we will hold him/her at no cost to you until
the surgery can take place, and you can pick up your pet after the surgery is
complete.

All dogs will need a flat (not extendable) leash before they leave us on Saturday,
and all cats and small animals will need to travel home in a carrier. You can bring
your own carrier with you or purchase them from us onsite on Saturday. Used
carriers will also be available as part of our yard sale.

Track Adoptions Live August 17
You can follow our Clear the Shelters adoptions live on August 17 on our home
page, beginning at 11:00 a.m., so whether you join us in person or online, thank
you for helping us Clear the Shelters!

Please note that in anticipation of Clearing Our Shelter, we will be CLOSED FOR
ADOPTIONS and ANIMAL VISITING from Sunday, August 18, through
Wednesday, August 21. We will be open for business like licensing, stray animals
and surrenders during regular business hours over those days.

A Message from Alexandria’s 2019
Animal of the Year: Crandon
Is your pet vying to be Alexandria’s Animal Idol? Before our 2020 photo calendar
contest kicks off THIS SATURDAY at 8 a.m., we checked in with Alexandria’s
Animal of 2019, calendar winner Crandon (and his mom Kay), on what is has been
like to be the Animal of the Year:

Below: Crandon’s winning 2019 Calendar Contest photo

Q: How did you feel when you knew Crandon was going to
be Alexandria’s Animal of 2019?
Kay: I was thrilled! I knew Crandon would make a great ambassador. He is a
sweet dog who loves people and other animals including cats, plus he is incredibly
gentle with children. He also loves the attention, so a whole year of being top
dog…we were in!

Q: What kind of things has Crandon been up to as the
Animal of the Year?

Kay: Crandon has been very busy. This year, he’s
had to increase his work schedule from 1 day a
week to 2, so he now comes to greet visitors at
Tyler Business Services on both Tuesdays and
Thursdays.

He’s also attended every big AWLA event this year! He went to Howl-O-Ween,
where he was officially announced as Animal of the Year and then to First Night,
where he spent nearly 3 hours serving as an artist’s model and letting the kids
love all over him. He went to the Fun Dog Show in March and helped to lead the
AWLA during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And he’s looking forward to more fun
events in the future!

Right: Crandon welcoming contestants at Howl-O-Ween

Q: How did Crandon feel about seeing his image on a bus?
Crandon: I was really excited! We were driving along and there I was on the back
of the bus! My mommy said, “Crandon, there you are!” pointing to the bus. I
looked and started barking. I think that dog was even bigger than me in real life!

Q: What’s Crandon’s favorite part of being the Animal of
the Year?

Crandon: I love all the attention and I
especially love all the treats I’ve been
getting. I may have gained a pound or two
this year, which my mommy says I will be
working hard to lose in 2020!

Right: A photo from Crandon’s professional photo shoot prize

Q: What would Crandon want other pets to know about
being the Animal of the Year?
Crandon: It is truly an honor to be the
Animal of the Year, but you have got to
take it seriously. You are representing all
the animals who are in need of a safe and
loving home. I was lucky to find mine, and
I want every animal to have one!

It can be overwhelming having everyone pay so much attention to you, but you
will get used to it. The great bonus is all the love and treats I get. It’s also very
rewarding and exciting to be the Animal of the Year, and being on the front and
back of the calendar (and on a bus!) is really cool too!

I highly recommend running for the 2020 Animal of the Year!

If your pet wants to follow in Crandon’s pawprints, register for our 2020 photo
   calendar contest at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Calendar beginning this Saturday,
 June 1 starting at 8 a.m. The first 15 entrants will receive a bonus 100 votes to
start them on the path to stardom (please note that votes are added manually and
   may take a few minutes to appear). From the calendar cover to buses around
   Alexandria, your pet could be the most famous face of 2020. Are you ready to
                            make your pet an Animal Idol?

              Learn more now at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Calendar!

Fun Dogs for a Fun Day!
                           Festive pups, St. Paddy’s Day Spirit, galactic
                           Chihuahuas and more! On March 2, the AWLA’s
                           annual Fun Dog Show was leaps and bounds of fun,
                           and that excitement continued through the
                           Ballyshaners‘ St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Pups and their people filled Old Town’s Market Square to compete in the show or
root and woof for contestants on stage. Creativity was not restricted by size, as
Duke the Rocket Dog, winner of Most Creative Costume, showed us with his
astronaut outfit complete with a cozy rocket ship for the early spring day. Most
St. Paddy’s Day Spirit winner Winslow navigated a crowded field with grace,
pulling a cart full of spirit on stage with the help of his handler. And however
much you may resemble your pet, a little face paint can help complete the look, as

Best Human/Canine Look-Alike winners Emily and pup Lucy showed the crowd!

Thank you to all of our participants and attendees and a special congratulations to
our winners!

Most Creative Costume: Duke the Rocket
Dog
Best Human/Canine Look-Alike: Emily and
Lucy (dog)
Most St. Paddy’s Spirit: Winslow (the
Newfoundland)

The fun didn’t stop with the end of the show! Our contestants and audience
members helped the AWLA kick off the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to show off our
holiday spirit. Thank you to our Fun Dog Show sponsors ALX Community, Becky’s
Pet Care Inc., Capital One Spark Business, Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Dirty
Paw Photography, DoggyWalker.com, Dogtopia, Frolick Dogs, Fur-Get Me Not,
Getaround, Izalia, The Liz Luke Team, Alexandria and Old Town VCA Animal
Hospitals, Whole Dogz and Zebra!

If you weren’t able to join us this weekend or are ready to reminisce on the fun,
check out our gallery with photos courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography and Shelley
Castle Photography as well as guest photographers Brianna Stimpson, Connie
McCabe and Denise Hollywood.

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Pirate: Puppy Bowl Champion in
the Making
Pirate’s story began in rural Virginia, in
one of the shelters AWLA works with to
transfer animals who might not be adopted
locally. At two months old, he made the
journey to Alexandria where his big smile,
playful spirit and outgoing nature set him
apart from the pack. Even then we knew
he had the right stuff to become a Puppy
Bowl Champion. Photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography.

                                       Woof Matey!

Too young to find a family to call his own yet, Pirate spent his first month in the
care of a foster family, taking part in all kinds of pre-Puppy Bowl adventures. He
felt right at home on a Potomac Riverboat Company Canine Cruise, where he had
the opportunity to wow his Puppy Bowl friends – people and dogs alike – with his
smile and charm. True to his name, Pirate became first mate with everyone he
met, on land and at sea. Photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography.

Training is More Than “Sit”

To prepare for Puppy Bowl XV, Pirate had the help of his foster family. He
needed to be in tip-top shape, so he’d follow his youngest foster on his bike where
ever he went. Those little bikes sure are fast, but thankfully, Pirate was growing
bigger by the day! When he wasn’t practicing his running, pouncing, chewing
and playing, Pirate also practiced posing for the camera, a skill he still uses to
this day. Pirate’s foster family helped him achieve his full champion potential!
Photo courtesy of Pirate’s Awesome Fosters.

                                       Let the Games Begin

After two months of training, with lots of breaks for belly rubs, Pirate was headed
to the Puppy Bowl! He traveled all the way to New York City where he joined
Team Ruff to compete for the Chewy.com Lombarky Trophy. Even after a full day
of making new puppy friends, Pirate still had his signature spunk for game time; if
there’s a “Best Team Spirit” award, we think Pirate would definitely be in the
running.

Touchdown!

In October, Pirate scored big when he met his new best friend! Since then, Pirate
has continued to grow and is learning all about bow ties, haircuts and, most
recently, snow. He goes by Min-Guk now and you can follow his puppy antics on
his Instragram @min_guk_ee. Pirate encourages others to visit his first “home
team” at the AWLA to find their future canine companions (or even feline friends)!

 Tune in on Sunday, February 3rd, at 3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT on
   Animal Planet to watch Pirate in action at Puppy Bowl XV.
                        Go Team Ruff!

Finding Homes for the Pawlidays
So many of Alexandria’s Animals have already found Homes for the Pawlidays this
month. Former strays are spending their first holiday season with a family of
their own and animals who have struggles in their pasts are looking towards a
merry and bright future. This year we are finding even more Homes for the
Pawlidays thanks to Priority Automotive, who has been pre-paying the adoption
fees of all of our adult animals! Here are some of Alexandria’s Animals who are

already enjoying the holidays with their new families:

Hamlet the hound found his people after just a few days of being at the shelter.
His journey all the way from West Virginia had a happy ending when his new
family stopped by the shelter and couldn’t resist his goofy personality.

Another of Alexandria’s Animals with a silly side, Finn found his family on
December 24. Finn came to the AWLA from the streets of Alexandria, looking like
he’d been on his own for quite a while, but this lovable stray won the hearts of

staff and volunteers who visited him in his shelter office. This #100DayStay Club
member decided it was finally time to say goodbye to his office life and settle
down with a family to call his own.

Allora also came to the AWLA as a stray. She was very shy about meeting new
people, but her new best friends saw right through her timid demeanor to the
sweetheart she is. Now she’s getting her first experience of life in a home and
just in time for the holiday season!

And Nobu, best known to his foster caregiver for his love of cuddles, who started
his days in his foster home hiding under anything he could find, also found his
Home for the Pawlidays. Here he is enjoying his very own scratcher, already out
of hiding and making friends with his new adoptive brother.

131 animals have already found their families this month, but as the clock ticks
down to 2019 we still have animals who are waiting for that special someone to
stop by their kennel. Adoption fees are waived for all adult animals until we close
at 2 p.m. on New Years Eve, so stop by the shelter or visit our website to see who
is still waiting to meet their future family!

                              Adoptable Animals
     Add Alexandria’s Animals to your “Mew” Year’s resolutions and get the
             latest animal news right to your inbox! Sign up HERE.

Pups in the Spooky Spirit at Howl-
O-Ween
It may have been windy, but we had a howling good time at this year’s Howl-O-
Ween canine costume contest, which took place this past Saturday, October 27.
The rain cleared up just in time to give us the chance to meet several superheros,
two pups found guilty of stealing hearts (and maybe a few appetizers) and our
first place winner, Dakota, an adorable Bantha, complete with Tusken raider!

The winners were

Howl-O-Ween also marked the release of our photo calendar, featuring
Alexandria’s Animal of 2019 Crandon and more than 150 of Alexandria’s cutest
animals. Calendars are now available for purchase at the Animal Welfare League
of Alexandria, and you can stop by during business hours to pick one up for
yourself as well as all the friends and family on your shopping list. Calendars are
$15 each or 2 for $20, and all proceeds support the AWLA.

Thank you to Lena’s Wood-fired Pizza & Tap for hosting this year’s Howl-O-Ween
event , as well as and to our canine guests and everyone else who joined us on
Saturday! Check out photos of contestants and attendees courtesy of DeSilva
Studios, LLC. If you’d like to purchase prints of your pup (or other goodies with
their images), view available photos HERE.

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