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The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's original facility.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
For dogs like Nicky, trust can take a long time.
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Domino the climbing cat.
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A dog from a South Korean meat farm gets his first chance to play in the snow with Demetrius Jackson.
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Maya Papaya helps invent ride-sharing after refusing to take another step on her walk.
In 1946, a group of Alexandrians came together partly out of concern for the City’s “dog pound,” located on Route 1. Conditions were rumored to be so deplorable that residents would actually break in to the facility to free the dogs.
To help improve the plight of animals — and ultimately, people — in their community, this group formed the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). Seventy-five years later, our efforts continue, stronger than ever, to help Alexandria remain a top-tier home for animals of all kinds. What’s happened in the intervening years?
June 28, 1946
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is officially incorporated. Using citywide pet ownership records, residents are invited to join the cause of helping animals in need.
1950
The AWLA lends support against an order that would evict people living in some Alexandria “housing projects” unless they gave up their dogs.
1950s-1960s
Working closely with Alexandria’s Police Department, K9 officers are housed at the AWLA when they are not on duty in the community.
Jan. 20, 1951
The “dog pound” is replaced by the new animal shelter on Payne Street, allowing more room to keep animals on their way to finding new homes.
A local newspaper story proclaims that the new facility can “take all animals but snakes and alligators,” stating that “few Alexandrians seem aware of the truly marvelous pets available at the shelter.”
1969
Edna Cooke is named the first Humane Officer at the AWLA, whose role would ultimately grow to become the AWLA’s Animal Services division.
1979
The AWLA confiscates several dogs and puppies at the National Airport that were coming from Iowa puppy mills, providing them with better and safer living conditions than the cramped breeding facility from which they came.
1988
Volunteer Linda Clark remembers, “The Payne Street Shelter was a very small place. I will never forget the day a stray, long-haired cat was brought to the facility. She was a mess! Her fur was matted, and she smelled awful. I asked a staff member how I could help. They showed me how to remove the mats and give her a bath. It took such a long time, and the staff member showed such love and care. While the resources in those days were limited, the dedication and love for the animals was limitless. Since 1988, that dedication has only grown as resources have increased.”
Sept. 1, 1989
The city awards the AWLA a contract to supervise all aspects of the shelter, including animal control, care for the pets in the facility, adoptions, emergency services, wildlife support and more.
1990
TWA employee David Perriello receives commendation from the AWLA after rescuing an escaped sheltie from the frozen Potomac River.
1996
The AWLA launches its first “Animal Camp,” kicking off a 25+-year tradition of summertime humane education to help raise the next generation of animal lovers.
May 18, 2002
The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter opens, named after former city manager Vola Lawson who fought to build a more spacious, state-of-the-art facility for homeless animals in the community.
2012
Volunteer Dan Bernstein remembers Nicky:
“I remember working with an extremely fearful yet beautiful German Shepard named Nicky. She refused to exit her kennel and would not come out of the kennel, even if you had offered her a T-bone steak. I was chosen to work with Nicky, and for the next three weeks, I spent countless hours trying to get Nicky to trust me. At first she would allow me to walk her, but she would stay at the end of the 6-foot leash and would move away if I tried to get closer. Over time, she allowed me to get closer, and one day while I was sitting on a park bench with her nearby, she moved towards me and put her paws on my knees and leaned into me and gave me a big wet kiss on the face. She soon lost her fear of other volunteers who worked with her and was eventually adopted into a loving family.”
Summer 2014
Director of Community Programs Joanna Fortin recalls Domino:
“At the AWLA, we always do everything possible to keep animals happy and entertained during their stay with us. One of the perks of working here is being able to share our office spaces with animals who may need some extra attention or additional space to be comfortable. Domino was one of those cats who needed some extra space to move around, play, and enjoy enrichment activities. He moved into my office and his antics began! He would greet me enthusiastically when I came in each morning. He loved to play with and sit on my keyboard as I was typing, and made sure to check each email for any typos. But his most entertaining mannerism was climbing the screen door attached to my office. He would run around, doing full zoomies, then jump halfway up the screen door, climb to the top for a good view, then climb back down. Many staff and volunteers got a good laugh when they walked by and caught him mid-door, and it always put a smile on my face as well.”
May 2015
As part of a newly established agreement with the Alexandria Police Department, the AWLA and APD work together to bring 25 cases of animal abuse and neglect to trial.
January 2016
Community Programs Coordinator Demetrius Jackson remembers:
“When we had that large blizzard of 2016, another Animal Care staff member and I stayed at the shelter for three days and three nights. Everyone in the city was basically on lockdown, but they wanted to get involved, so they pledged a ‘Snow-A-Thon’ donation for each hour that we stayed at the shelter. During this time, we also had some dogs who had come to us from a South Korean dog meat farm, and we were able to take them out to let them experience the snow, probably for the first time ever!”
May 2017
Executive Director Stella Hanly recalls:
“Mya Papaya was a canine of ‘grander’ proportions who went on a walk...and then decided it was far too hot to walk back to shelter. We had to wheel out a donation cart to pick her up and bring her back! Perhaps we invented the ride-on-demand service?”
Sept. 23, 2017
The AWLA offers its first community Pet Care Fair at the Ruby Tucker Family Center, offering free pet vaccinations, supplies and advice to local residents.
June 28, 2021
On its 75th anniversary, the City of Alexandria issues a proclamation commending the impact that the nonprofit organization has had on its community:
WHEREAS, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its incorporation on June 28th, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the AWLA has helped tens of thousands of animals find homes and reconnect with their families during that time; and
WHEREAS, the AWLA has worked alongside the City and its community to make Alexandria a better and more welcoming place for animals; and
WHEREAS, the AWLA strives to help not only animals but people in our city, providing thousands of pounds of pet supplies, veterinary assistance, emergency boarding and more; and
WHEREAS, the AWLA has been an integral part of the services that the City of Alexandria provides to its residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JUSTIN M. WILSON, Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, do hereby recognize on Monday, June 28th, 2021:
“THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF the ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE of ALEXANDRIA”
In the City of Alexandria and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens, all the while asking that citizens acknowledge the contributions that the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has made to improve our fair city for pets AND for people.
And beyond!
The AWLA strives to be a resource for the people and animals of our community. From improving the plight of animals at the “dog pound” in 1946 to providing more than 50,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to owners in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AWLA reflects upon our past and looks forward toward the future of better serving our community!
