The eviction moratorium due to the pandemic remains in place in Alexandria, but at some point in the coming months it will end, putting thousands of Alexandria residents — and their pets — at risk of losing their homes.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is making plans now to help residents keep their pets if they are evicted or temporarily in crisis.
“I think that both in Alexandria and nationally that is what a lot of shelters are worrying about in terms of animal intake," said AWLA's Gina Hardter.
If everyone at risk of eviction in the City of Alexandria had to move when the moratorium expires, the number of pets affected could be 8,000.
"We want to reconnect people to their pet, so we have a program that wasn’t specifically designed for this level of potential crisis, but it is called Crisis Care," Hardter explained. It is typically designed for people facing eviction, a sudden illness that requires hospitalization or an incarceration — but not at the scale Alexandria could face if the eviction moratorium expires.
With this potential eviction crisis looming, AWLA is looking to create an expanded network of foster-based crisis care.
A foster-based crisis care program would ask community members who can keep a dog for a few weeks or a few months to open their homes. Interested residents can email at foster@alexandriaanimals.org for more information.
In addition, the Animal Welfare League is always looking for financial support, adopters and items from their wishlist.
Eviction Information
Here in Alexandria, the Office of Housing, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the Commonwealth of Virginia have programs and services that can help both tenants and landlords facing financial difficulty. This includes the Virginia Rent Relief Program as well as Alexandria's own rent assistance programs.
If you're a renter who has fallen behind on rent due to the pandemic, click here for more information and phone numbers to call for help.
This week, City of Alexandria officials announced "City staff and the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Program are collaborating to ensure that all efforts are made to access available sources of rental assistance; assist property owners and managers on behalf of residents; and coordinate state and local sources for unresolved applications. City staff will meet with renters at various City offices or at the rental property to review options. To arrange for this service or to check the status of rental assistance fund requests, landlords should contact the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Housing."
Separation Anxiety a Concern for Pet Parents
Hardter said she has not seen — or heard — of families giving up dogs they adopted during the pandemic due to work schedule changes. If a family is concerned that a return to work will make it difficult to keep their dog, the Animal Welfare League has a variety of resources in place.
"Even though your schedule may not look like your schedule what your normal is, you can get the animal adjusted to it," she said. The key is to prepare for this time by training the animal that humans can leave and come back it's no big deal. “That way, the first time you’re leaving them alone is not when you go back to work.”
For animals with separation anxiety, the Animal Welfare League offers a variety of tips and resources, including a behavioral help line residents can call for advice. Hardter also suggests pet puzzles, toys they can use themselves, and hiring a dog walker to visit (or having a friend or family member do this if hiring a walker isn't economically feasible).
“Give them something to do over the course of the day, they are must less likely to be anxious," Hardter said.
