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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
An adult beagle in the care of an AWA staffer.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Adoptable Beatrix experiencing the outdoors.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
A beagle puppy, Bixby, experiencing playing with toys.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
An adult beagle happy to be on her to way to Alexandria from Cumberland.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
A beagle receiving his first bath after arriving in Alexandria.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Pisco, an adoptable beagle mix at AWLA.
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Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
The howling it cute, but it's really the wagging tails that mean something.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is one of many animal rescue organizations that has taken in thousands of beagles and beagle mixes from the now-famous Cumberland breeding facility. The breeding center racked up dozens of violations from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture inspectors and closed in July.
Several male beagle puppies and 2-year-old females have been adopted already to local families through the AWLA, with varying levels of socialization and experience.
The two-year-old beagles aren't like other young dogs. Because of where and how they grew up, they don't know how to "be dogs," according to Gina Hardter of the AWLA. All the experiences the dogs are having are new, from being in a kennel alone to having their own food bowls to walking on grass. But, slowly, these dogs are starting to wag their tails and trust the few people who have interacted with them.
Representatives from the AWLA drove down to the facility to pick up the dogs in early August, being careful to keep non-littermates separated until they could be checked by a veterinarian. When the dogs were ready to be adopted, the AWLA made sure their future families understood that the dogs will be unique and require a lot of special care — and, unlike other beagles — they may even be picky eaters.
The AWLA made the determination not to send the dogs into foster homes to ensure that they are learning and having new experiences in what will hopefully be their permanent home, so they aren't further traumatized by an additional change in their living situation. The AWLA is not accepting adoption applications for Cumberland dogs at this time since they have all been adopted.
The AWLA does have two sweet beagle mixes — not from Cumberland — who are still available for adoption, Link and Pisco. There are also plenty of other dogs in the shelter and in the care of AWLA fosters who are also looking for forever homes.
Residents who are interested in helping can donate dry dog food, cat food and kitty litter to the AWLA by dropping it off at 4101 Eisenhower Ave.
