I t's been 9 months since the Animal Welfare 

League of Alexandria received 23 dogs

Remember Snowball? He's all grown up (and goes by "Boomer" now)!

rescued by the Humane Society International (HSI) from a dog meat farm in South Korea. We agreed to coordinate the placement of these dogs to help shed light on the issue of dogs killed for food and to bring publicity to the many animals in need of homes in shelters throughout the region. 

Despite their tragic beginnings, many of these dogs are absolutely thriving in their new homes! We were proud to help give these wonderful dogs a second chance at life. 

Thank you for helping us help them. (Clockwise from top right: Minnow, Harper, Abi, Cocoa, Charlie, Jazz and Lily. Photos by Shelley Castle Photography.)

Click here to support the AWLA's work to help animals in need

The word "rescue" couldn't be more appropriate to describe this situation: 8 cats, left abandoned in a U-Haul truck for at least 5 days, without food or water. The cats were found in terrible condition by our Animal Control Officers. At the shelter, our veterinarian and staff took over, treating and monitoring them closely for many weeks. Animal Control was able to track down the person responsible for this sad situation and he was convicted of animal cruelty.

All but 1 of the cats involved in this case have been adopted. Malfoy (pictured above) is very shy in the shelter, but with a little patience and a lot of love, she thrived in foster care. We think she'll do great in home to call her own. She's available for adoption -- come visit her at 4101 Eisenhower Ave. in Alexandria or call (703) 746-4774. 

Adopt an animal from the AWLA

With summer coming to a close, many pools are hosting swim events for dogs. These events can be a ton of fun for your canine companion -- but only when safety is put first! Check out our tips for keeping your dog safe in the pool below. 

Keep your dog safe in the pool

Leah Mazar and Joe Gillmer of Franconia, Va.: "'Adopt it Forward' is so much more than just paying for someone else's adoption fees. The program can bring to the forefront pets who may have been overlooked or at the shelter for an extended period of time. We have found that when we participate in Adopt it Forward, often the pet we sponsor is adopted within days -- or even hours! 

We go out of our way to choose the longest-tenured residents, so that really does demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. It is a wonderful way to support the shelter and link pets to wonderful fur-ever homes."

There's still time to enter your pet or vote for your favorite pet! Our Calendar Photo Contest is the AWLA's biggest annual fundraiser, and your support goes toward helping animals in our community. 

Register today to support the AWLA!