The League is looking for dedicated and patient volunteers to care for underage and underweight puppies and kittens as well as animals recovering from illness or surgery. Foster parents will provide these pets with a warm, friendly place to live until they can be considered for adoption.

After receiving training at the League, foster parents will care for animals in their own homes on a temporary basis. The time commitment may range from a few days to several weeks, from a few hours a day to round-the-clock care, depending upon the age and situation of each fosterling. Fostering a young animal can be difficult, but is also one of the most rewarding experiences an animal lover can have.

Those interested in becoming a foster parent for the League should contact Diann Hohenthaner, Foster Program Coordinator at (703) 838-4774 extension 216 or by email.

Eleven special pets are celebrating their birthday in May. Our warmest birthday wishes go out to:
Gracie Allen – May 1st
Maverick – May 1st
Cecil – May 5th
Spencer Tracy – May 9th
Pierre – May 11th
Jojo – May 11th
Sybil – May 15th
Nipper – May 17th
Perpetua – May 22nd
Mr. Bug – May 22nd
Dakota – May 31st

Any pet can join our Birthday Club! To help celebrate that special day, each Birthday Club pet receives a card from Chewie, the League mascot, recognition in our E-Newsletter and in the Shelter lobby. Best of all, lifetime membership is only $10 and proceeds help the League find homes for Shelter animals so that they can also enjoy the good life with a family that cares. To enroll, click here.

Special thanks to those who contributed to the Shelter Layette last month—donated items were immediately put to use. In one week, the League received five litters of kittens! Unfortunately, more babies appear here every day. Donations of the following items are greatly appreciated:

• Kitten and puppy nursing kits
• Washable fleece blankets
• Washable cat donut beds
• Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR)—we prefer canned over powdered
• Esbilac puppy milk replacement—again, canned over powdered
• SnuggleSafe heating disks
• The Grrreat Wall Pet Corral
• Digital kitchen scales
• Small, shallow stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls
• Top-loading pet carriers
• Cat and dog nail trimmers

Many of these items are available at larger pet supply stores. Our newborns thank you!

Say hello to Bo—one of the League’s Certified, Pre-Owned Cats. Bo is a “2008 model” cat—approximately one year old and gets great miles per gallon! This kitty can play for hours with wand toys and stuffed mice—but will gladly slow down for a chin scratch or a fly by the couch to give you a snuggle. This happy boy’s motor is always purring!

Bo arrived at the League in November when his former owners moved to housing that does not allow pets. He loves to talk and always tells us how much he would like to find a new home where he can entertain his adopters with all sorts of kitty antics.

Come by and meet Bo, and all our other feline friends on the “showroom floor.” We are sure you’ll find someone just your speed!

Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org to view more animals available for adoption or stop by the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, located at 4101 Eisenhower Ave., for a personal visit with our adoptable animal friends.

League staff and adoptable pets continue our summer tour. Come and visit us at the following locations:

Every Thursday evening for Doggie Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco (480 King Street, Alexandria)

June 4th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Barkley Square (2006 Mt. Vernon Avenue)

June 13th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cameron Station Festival in the Park (on Brenman Park Drive)

June 20th and 21st 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Red Cross Waterfront Festival (in Oronoco Bay Park).

The League will have an informational table in the store’s lobby, and Whole Foods will offer samples of different pet products at select times. Also, Dr. Katy Nelson from Alexandria Animal Hospital will be on hand to offer pet care advice.

Start making your list now, and be sure to do your shopping at Whole Foods on June 10th. Our animals thank you!

To be added to our email list, please send an email to staff@alexandriaanimals.org.

Celebrate national Adopt-A-Cat month by test-driving one of our “Certified, Pre-Owned Cats.” With help from our friends at Lindsay Lexus and Don Beyer Volvo, the AWLA is promoting cat adoptions with a variety of special incentives that will get our cats’ motors purring!

As part of our Adopt-A-Cat month activities starting June 1, the League will offer fun promotions for all cat adopters including reduced adoption fees, autographed copies of Go Home! (Libby Phillips Meggs’ story of her adopted cat James) and a drawing for a fantastic cat gift basket.

We will spotlight our cats’ winning characteristics including the number of Purrs Per Minute, their sleek styling and a provide adopters with a look “under the hood”—to ensure their cat’s general health.

During the month of June, adoption fees for our “older model” cats (those over one year of age) will be reduced from $50 to $20. Our “2009 model” kittens will be adoptable for our standard “list price” of $50. Sterilization fees are extra.

Although we cannot guarantee our feline companions for 100,000 miles, we do promise a lifetime of love for anyone who adopts one of our “Certified, Pre-Owned Cats.”

All current members of the Pawsitive Impact Circle are invited to an evening at the League on Wednesday June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. The reception will be held at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. Guests will have the opportunity to meet with members of the League’s staff and Board of Directors and share stories of some of our favorite shelter graduates.

For more information about the Pawsitive Impact Circle, please call (703) 838-4774.

The AWLA extends continuing thanks to our annual sponsors: Alexandria Animal Hospital, Olde Towne School for Dogs, the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites and Kingsview Animal Hospital.

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