Katrina Rescue Mission

by Katie MtCastle
Katie Mt.Castle
and Bonnie Wilson
with Katrina
rescue dog, Daisy.
The newsletter of the
Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Pawpourri
Details on Page %
Don’t Miss the th Annual Walk for the Animals on May 7th!
Katrina Rescue Mission
Spring /00%
Volume %/ Number /
inside this issue …
Katrina Rescue Misson The Scoop COG Awards Walk for the Animals %
Ask the ACO &
Funny( Friendly Ferrets )
Donors +
The Big Fix /00% 0
Kids’ Month Rabies & Microchip Clinics /
After a trek covering five days and
over 2,100 miles, a colleague and I
returned on February 5 to the Animal
Welfare League with 13 dogs and
three cats from the devastated animal
shelter in Gulfport, Mississippi. It
was an experience that I’ll never
forget and one I would gladly do
again.
Everyone at the League had
followed the terrible news from
hurricanes Katrina and Rita and their
catastrophic effects on people and
animals. The League sent supplies
with two groups who traveled to the
area and took in one dog that had been
brought back for adoption. Our fall
fundraiser contributed $5,500 to the
Humane Society of the United States
disaster relief fund. League staff
members went to HSUS headquarters
to enter information on rescued
animals into their database. But when
we had the chance to offer even more
help, there was no lack of volunteers.
A Joint Effort
Representatives from Loudoun
County, Fairfax, Prince William,
Manassas, Arlington, and Alexandria
shelters joined together to caravan
down to the Humane Society of
Southern Mississippi (HSSM) in
Gulfport, Mississippi.
Alexandria staff could
not make the trip; but
Loudoun County
personnel transported
animals back for them.
I was asked, along
with Bonnie Wilson
(the League’s Kennel
Manager) to represent
the League. As an
Animal Control
Officer, it had been
hard for me to watch
the immediate
aftermath of the
hurricanes and not be
able to go. I was glad to have a
chance to respond and help.
On February 1st we filled an animal
control van to the brim with supplies:
dog crates, blankets, towels, food,
water, medications, leashes, collars,
and animal control supplies. Although
we used some supplies for the animals
we brought back, most we donated to
the HSSM.
Thursday, February 2nd, Bonnie
and I met the caravan in New Market,
Virginia at 6:30 a.m. and started our
journey to Prattville, Alabama.
Unfortunately, neither Bonnie nor I
have very good singing voices, and
road trip games are fun for only so
long. We drove through Virginia,
Tennessee, Georgia, and finally ended
in Alabama after 12 1⁄2 long hours.
Katrina’s Effects
After getting a good night’s sleep,
we hit the road on February 3rd
around 7:00 a.m. and arrived at the
HSSM about four hours later. This
final stretch of our trip was an eyeopener. August 29, 2005, was a
devastating day for thousands of
people and animals along the Gulf
Coast, and we saw that the devastation
still remains. As we drove across
major bridges, we saw shrimp boats
2
tossed in the woods and bogs; blue
tarps everywhere in place of roofs;
hitch hikers along the interstate trying
to get out of the area; and other people
trying to survive with what little they
had left.
The ocean is five miles away from
the Gulfport shelter and the closest
river is one mile away. During
Hurricane Camille in 1969, only six
inches of water came into the shelter.
The HSSM didn’t get any help before
Katrina because no one expected that
much water to surge towards them.
Staff and volunteers cleared the bottom
row of cages prior to the storm as a
precaution. Shelter staff did not
anticipate the over four feet of water
that flooded the shelter. Of around 35
staff members, six made their way
back to the shelter the day after
Katrina. The Shelter Manager resigned a few days after Katrina hit.
The damage and devastation shelter
workers saw was breathtaking.
Amazingly, of the approximately 160
animals in the shelter prior to the
storm, 85% survived. Some puppies
and small dogs that couldn’t stay afloat
at the top of their cages perished.
The Humane Society of the United
Pawpourri
Spring 2006
States (HSUS)
arrived in
Gulfport three
days after the
storm to
evacuate the
animals that
survived and
begin a frantic
clean-up. The
shelter had no
electricity or
water for days
after the storm.
Staff and
volunteers had
to thoroughly
clean and repair
the building to
care for the
more than
15,000 animals
that began to
pour in. These
animals came
from owners
who couldn’t
care for their pets, people who were
bringing in strays, and Animal Control
Officials. Through the amazing
efforts of volunteers from around the
country, the repairs were made, the
doors quickly reopened, and shelter
life began again.
Upon arriving at the HSSM, it was
obvious that the shelter took a beating
during Katrina. The first thing we saw
as we pulled into the driveway was
“HSSM NOW HIRING” spraypainted on a piece of plywood.
Makeshift roofs and walls had been
made out of tarps for outside dog
kennels. Inside, the large kennels had
two or three dogs in each one.
Smaller cages held litters of puppies.
The Selection Process
Our Northern Virginia group toured
the repaired shelter and picked out the
dogs we thought would be good
matches at our shelters. Bonnie and I
wished we had space in our van to
take back even more animals. HSSM
has been inundated not only with dogs
that survived the hurricanes, but also
the offspring of all the unneutered
dogs that have been running loose
since losing their homes.
Top left: The Northern Virginia
Rescue Team; bottom left: The
shelter in Gulfport, Mississippi;
A Manassas Animal Control
Officer holds one of the dogs
brought back to the League.
There were several large litters of
puppies at the shelter, one of which we
took. After deciding which dogs we
were going take, we tested every dog
for parvovirus and heartworm. We
also did quick behavior evaluations to
make sure that none of the dogs were
aggressive. Bonnie and I also picked
out three cats to bring back. HSSM
didn’t have as many cats as dogs, but
we thought we had the room to bring a
few back home. All together, our
group brought out 55-60 dogs and
three cats from HSSM.
Back in Arlington
The drive home took about 20
hours. Bonnie and I arrived back at the
League around 9:30 a.m. on February
5th. Several staff members helped us
unpack the van and get our new
arrivals into the shelter. All the dogs
were walked and fed and all the
animals were seen by Dr. Jeff
Newman of Caring Hands Animal
Hospital. Later many of the dogs went
to foster families, and Bonnie and I
went home to sleep for two days.
During the next two weeks, a few of
the dogs and all three cats stayed at
the League. League staff did more
thorough behavior evaluations of the
3
League Services
Emergencies in Arlington
We respond to animal emergencies 24
hours a day.
Adoptions
We always have animals who need good
homes. If you live in Alexandria, Arlington, D.C., Fairfax County or Falls
Church, call us about adopting a
companion.
Animal Control & Cruelty Investigation
Animal control officers pick up stray dogs
and respond to citizen complaints about
animals in Arlington.
Community Services
The League sponsors community services
that help people and animals. Call
(703) 931-9241, ext. 200, for information.
Lost & Found
Call us to report all lost and found
animals. We can help find animals’
owners and return lost pets home again.
Wildlife Rescue & Problems
We’ll help get injured or abandoned wildlife to a licensed rehabilitator whenever
possible. We’ll also help you discourage
wildlife from moving into your home.
Rabies Control
See the calendar on the back cover for
dates and times.
Two views of the kennels at the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi
dogs and spent time socializing them.
All three of the cats had colds, and
they were seen by veterinarians and
put on medication. Nine puppies
stayed in volunteer foster homes. They
all thrived except for one of the
youngest. The second night after the
return from Mississippi, the foster
family had to rush one puppy to an
emergency veterinary clinic. The
puppy had stopped eating and become
extremely lethargic. Sadly, she could
not be saved. Although we worried
that the others from her litter might
also get sick, none did.
On Monday, February 20th, the
League held a special “Katrina
Adoption” day. All the puppies were
brought back from foster care ready
for adoption. It was my day off, but I
was not going to miss seeing the dogs
on view for the first time! Several TV
news stations and local papers sent
interviewers and camera crews. The
turn-out was amazing. Not only did
the Katrina animals get lots of
attention, but the other shelter animals
also got adoption applications. All of
the Katrina dogs and cats have now
gone to their new homes. The trip that
Bonnie and I took was truly aweinspiring. I would gladly jump back
into the van to take that trip again.
Speakers & Humane Education
If your neighborhood is having animal
problems or problems with irresponsible
animal owners, you might want a League
representative to address your civic
association. We also present educational
programs on many topics to schools and
clubs. Call (703) 931-9241, ext. 213.
Pawpourri, the newsletter of the Animal
Welfare League of Arlington, 2650 S.
Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington, VA 22206,
http://www.awla.org, is published quarterly and mailed to League supporters. If
you receive multiple copies, please
notify us and pass them along to friends.
A COPY OF THE LATEST FINANCIAL
REPORT AND REGISTRATION FILED
BY THE ANIMAL WELFARE
LEAGUE OF ARLINGTON MAY BE
OBTAINED BY CONTACTING the
State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA
23209. REGISTRATION DOES NOT
IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL,
OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE
STATE.
Spring 2006
Pawpourri
4
The Scoop Advice for the Furry Crowd
Dear Shelter Cat,
My new owners adopted me because
they loved my playfulness. Since I’ve
been in their home I’ve had a blast!
There’s lots of space, so I can zip all
over the place. They’ve got some
great furniture too. I just love stretching and scratching on their sofa and
their curtains are to die for! Lately
though I’ve noticed a change in their
tone with me. It used to be all sweet
and playful and now it’s more
terse….something about ruining their
furniture and scratching their daughter.
They’ve mentioned declawing. Can
you tell me what this is? It doesn’t
sound good.
Energetic
Dear Energetic,
You’re right to be concerned about
what your owners are considering.
Declawing is the
removal of the
claw and the
first bone of
the toe. The
operation
would
probably be
performed on
your front
paws and is
comparable to
the removal of
human fingertips
at the first
knuckle. When the end
digit, including the claw, is removed
the sensory and motor nerves are
destroyed and they do not repair
themselves or grow. Following surgery
you would have some lack of feeling
and then a tingling sensation. You
would have to use the stub end of your
second digit while you continue to
walk, jump, and use your litter box.
Your claws might even grow back
abnormally causing permanent pain or
infection.
It is not surprising that some
declawed cats become more “grumpy”
even to the point of biting their
owners. Others develop the bad habit
Pawpourri
Spring 2006
of eliminating outside the litter box to
avoid uncomfortable litter box material
and scratching. My friend Dr.
Lockwood of the Humane Society of
the United States believes that
declawed cats often exhibit problem
behavior before a declawing operation
– scratching the furniture being just
one manifestation. The scratching
stops after the surgery, but the reason
the cat misbehaves in the first place
hasn’t been addressed so other
behavior problems then surface! So
the owners still have issues to deal with.
Your family needs to understand that
scratching is a natural behavior for
cats; like barking is for dogs. Cats
scratch for several reasons: to remove
the dead outer layer of their claws, to
stretch and flex their bodies, to mark
territory, and to work off energy. Your
behavior is very normal; it just needs
to be redirected. Your family should
give you things you can scratch on and
encourage you to use them. Your
owners should also keep your nails
trimmed and schedule some hearty
play sessions with you to positively
channel all that energy you have. We
just need to get the word out to your
owners about the risks of declawing,
the alternatives available, and that
scratching may be only a symptom of a
deeper problem. Have them call the
League; we have great information to
share with them!
Dear Shelter Dog,
My wonderful family just got me
this great playmate Sophie! I just love
her! I’m actually writing for her.
She’s about two years old and really
timid in a lot of situations, including
meeting other dogs on walks and
meeting our people friends that come
to the house. She cringes and tries to
get away whenever people or other
dogs try to greet her. It’s just really
sad. I’ve been around dogs and people
since I was a puppy and can’t remember ever being afraid, so I don’t know
what she’s experiencing or how to
help. What’s wrong with my new
sister?
Friend of Sad Sophie
Dear Friend,
Sophie is so very lucky to have such
a helpful companion like you in her
life. What you’re seeing is a dog that
wasn’t socialized as a puppy. It is very
sad and so preventable! It sounds like
your owners were very responsible
with you and exposed you to a lot of
things when you were young.
Sophie may
have missed
out on getting
what she so
desperately
needed at that
important
time of her
life. The best
age for
socialization is
from 3-12
weeks old.
During this time puppies need
repeated opportunities to meet other
dogs, children, and adults, as well as to
experience a variety of situations.
Many people don’t know that dogs
don’t generalize well. That means one
positive interaction with a tall man at
home doesn’t mean that a dog won’t be
afraid of a short man or a man with a
mustache or one with a hat or one on
the sidewalk. Puppies need exposure
to a wide variety of ages, sexes, sizes,
shapes, gaits, handling, and movements. It is impossible to oversocialize a dog!
Socialization is critical to a dog’s
overall well being. Time alone will not
heal your companion, but a structured
desensitization/counter-conditioning
program may decrease Sophie’s fears
and help her enjoy her interactions
with people and dogs. Your family
will need to have time and patience
and maybe even some help from an
animal behaviorist. If your owners
love Sophie as much as you do, I’m
sure they’ll be willing to help. They
should call the League, and we’ll help
them with this problem. Pass the word
to any puppy owners you see to
socialize their puppy now so they don’t
have this problem.
League Staff Honored by
Council of Governments
5
Jennifer Gaines, CarolAnne Nargi, and Katie
Mt.Castle, award nominees, with shelter cat,
Sam. Jennifer Newman and Rebecca Gall,
award winners.
On March 3, 2006, the Metropolitan
Council of Governments (COG) held
the second annual Animal Services
Awards ceremony at COG headquarters in Washington, D.C. Five representatives of the League received
nominations for outstanding dedication, commitment, and spirit of service
to animal welfare. The nominees and
their categories were:
Domestic Animal Rescue Story of
the Year: Katie Mt.Castle and Jennifer
Gaines, Animal Control Officers, for
their rescue of a pregnant cat from a
truck engine.
Volunteer of the Year: CarolAnne
Nargi, League cat room volunteer.
Adoptions Team of the Year:
Rebecca Gall, League Adoptions
Manager
Humane Education Team of the
Year: Jennifer Newman, League
Manager of Education
and Community Services.
Rebecca and Jennifer
each won the award in
their categories. Rebecca
was cited for increasing
the League’s adoptions as a percent of
intakes, establishing relationships with
reputable rescue groups, and managing
the “head start” program in which
volunteer trainers work with dogs at
the League to make them more
adoptable. Jennifer was honored for
increasing enrollment and enhancing
the curriculum of the League’s
summer children’s camps and for
extending the League’s humane
education outreach to Spanish speakers.
The League also nominated Kent
Knowles of the Raptor Conservancy of
Virginia in the humane education
category for his work sharing his
knowledge of birds of prey by giving
200 educational demonstrations each
year. Kent has been one of the
favorite speakers at the League’s
children’s camps. The veterinarians
and staff of Caring Hands Animal
Hospital in Arlington were nominated
for Veterinary Team of 2005 for the
unusual, eye-saving surgery they
performed on a League cat named Tyler.
Animal welfare workers and
volunteers rarely receive any appreciation or reward. Please take the Council
of Government’s lead and thank those
you see who devote their time and
energy to helping animals in need.
Recently Adopted
Far left: Anna
with Samantha
and Tess,
adopted in
2005. Left:
Moji (adopted
in 2005) keeps
his new friend
Butkus in line.
Spring 2006
Pawpourri
6
th Annual Walk for the Animals
Saturday May 13 at Bluemont Park
Register on-line at
http://www.kintera.org/walk2006
Walk Details
When: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Sign-in: 8:30 am
Three-mile Walk: 9:30 am; One-mile Stroll: 9:45 am
Where: The Walk starts at the main picnic pavilion in
Bluemont Park at 601 N. Manchester Street.
Last year our loyal sponsors
and 540 walkers raised over
$60,000. Our goal this year is
$70,000, and you can help by
registering to walk and collecting pledges. Raising money is
fast, easy, and exciting through
our on-line registration page.
Each month we will award
prizes for raising the most
money, getting the most donors,
and sending out the most emails. If you are our 100th,
250th, 400th, and 500th on-line
registrant, you will win, too!
We challenge you to raise at
least $150 to win a stainless steel
travel mug and a drawstring
backpack. So register now and
start competing to win prizes and
raise money for the animals. See
you May 13th!
Pawpourri
Spring 2006
We challenge you to raise at least $150 to win
a stainless steel travel mug sponsored by
Java Shack and a drawstring backpack
sponsored by Bark Busters!
7
Adoption Stories
Left: Cashmere, adopted in 2001, (on right) with
brother camping in Kuwait. Above: Jumper
(adopted in 2005) gets comfy with the family dog.
Ask the ACO
by Alice Burton( Chief Animal Control Officer
entrance of each dog park.
You can find a list of these
rules at
http:www.arlingtonva.us.
Why are there so many
injured birds at this
time of year?
Does Arlington County offer
any areas where I can let my
dog run off leash?
With the weather beckoning us
outdoors, it is tempting to let our
canine companions run free. Please
remember, however, that it is
against the law (and very dangerous) to let your dog run off-leash
while off your property. But that
doesn’t mean dogs can’t have a
great off-leash experience. Arlington County has several off-leash
dog areas. They are known as
“Community Canine Areas” or
sometimes referred to as Dog
Exercise Areas. Dogs and their
people can interact with their
neighbors in a controlled environment. The Arlington County Parks
Department has posted rules at the
What you think is an
injured bird may actually
be a fledgling: a bird that is
not quite old enough to fly, but is too
old to stay in its nest. It hops around
on the ground, flaps its wings, and
may chirp loudly. If you look more
closely, you may see some down
feathers that stick up on top of its
head, near its leg area, or around its
tail section. These birds should be left
alone. It is important to remember that
even though you may not see them, the
parents are usually nearby and still
feeding and looking after the fledgling.
Interfering when a bird does not
really need to be saved may harm the
bird, and healthy fledglings overburden dedicated wildlife rehabilitators
who need to focus their energy on
animals that truly need their help. If
you think a fledgling is in imminent
danger, you can move it to a safer
location in the same area. Call the
League if you are unsure about what
to do.
Community Canine
Locations:
Benjamin Banneker Park,
1701 North Van Buren St.
Arlington, VA 22205
Fort Barnard
at the corner of South Pollard
St. & South Walter Reed Dr.
Arlington, VA 22206
Fort Ethan Allen Park
3829 North Stafford St.
Arlington, VA 22207
Glencarlyn Park
301 South Harrison St.
Arlington, VA 22204
Shirlington Park
2601 South Arlington Mill Dr.
Arlington, VA 22206
Towers Park
801 South Scott St.
Arlington, VA 22204
Utah Park
3191 South Utah St.
Arlington, VA 22206
Spring 2006 Pawpourri
8
Funny( Friendly Ferrets
Recliners and
sofa beds
Are you a nonconformist? Do you
march to the beat of a different
drummer? Then perhaps you want a
pet that expresses your individuality.
Consider adopting a ferret. Ferrets are
fun, fantastic pets! They are silly
scoundrels who are either sleeping or
clowning around. Life for a ferret is
all about playing, sleeping, and eating.
Ferrets are also very nosey. These little
guys get into everything, so it is
important to keep them safe from
potential household dangers and
provide them with appropriate toys
and activities to keep them busy and
out of trouble.
Off-limits
A ferret owner’s ferret-proofing job
is never done. These fearless critters
will get into everything and will go
places you would never imagine.
Ferrets will climb over baby gates,
open drawers and cabinets, crawl
under furniture, and explore every
nook and cranny they can find.
Anywhere a ferret's head can go, the
Pawpourri
Spring 2006
body can follow, so never underestimate your ferret's ability to squeeze
into small spaces. A ferret should
always be supervised when out of its
cage. Here are a few pointers that
identify common household dangers:
Kitchen
Exposed wires, pilot lights, and fans
that are found in and around appliances are very dangerous. Look for
holes inside cabinets or near the floor
that would allow your ferret to get
outside or lost inside walls. Some
ferrets will open the refrigerator and
hop right in. Cleaning solutions,
soaps, and detergents may also be
tasty to a ferret and should be kept in a
secure cabinet.
Laundry room
A recently used dryer is a warm
place to take a nap, so always check
before you turn it on. Also remember
to check clothes before you throw
them into the washing machine. Ferrets
enjoy taking naps in dirty laundry.
Ferrets can burrow into
the cushions of your couch
or bed, so look before you
fold them up or sit down.
Ferrets may crawl under
your furniture, digging
and scratching their way
into your cushions. Your
ferret may swallow pieces
of the cushion causing a
blockage and could also
be crushed if sat on.
Likewise, ferrets may
crawl under an area rug,
so watch before you step!
Foam rubber, Styrofoam,
insulation, sponges, rubber
bands, stuffing from
cushions, electrical
chords, and anything
spongy or rubbery are all
household items your
ferret may chew on. Any
of these can cause a
blockage.
Other hazards
Keep toilet lids down; your ferret
could drown in a toilet. If you take
baths, do not leave a filled tub
unattended. Do not give your ferret an
empty toilet paper or paper towel roll
as their heads may get stuck in these
and they could choke or suffocate.
Some plants are poisonous to ferrets
and should be kept out of reach.
Window screens and screened doors
should be securely latched; a ferret on
its own outside will not survive long.
These are a few of my
favorite things
Keeping your ferret happy means
providing the environment he needs
to fulfill his natural behavior.
Ferrets will adjust to work around
your schedule in terms of sleep and
play. Ferrets need about two or
three hours of supervised exercise
outside the cage every day, so don't
expect your ferrets to be happy
9
sitting in the cage all day.
The adopters of
Phoebe, a small
spaniel, and four
of her six puppies
met for a reunion
at the League on
March 18.
Phoebe is the
second dog on the
left surrounded by
three of her offspring.
Sleeping
Ferrets sleep about 15-20 hours a
day. Their motto is, “Play hard, sleep
hard.” Most ferrets prefer to sleep in a
hammock, which you can find in local
pet stores. You can also provide old
sweatshirts, t-shirts, or towels for
bedding.
Playing
Ferrets are very social and do best
in pairs; they enjoy having someone to
play with whether it is another ferret
or you. Toys are also an important
part of keeping them entertained:
plastic balls with bells, golf balls,
tennis balls, Kongs, squeaky toys
made for dogs, and the fishing pole
type of toys made for cats are fun for
ferrets to chase and bat at. Do not
give your ferret toys made from soft
latex or spongy foam rubber. A few
cardboard boxes with holes cut in
them for your ferret to climb in and on
can be entertaining. You should throw
away any toys that start to fall apart so
that your ferret doesn't swallow any
pieces.
You can buy a tunnel at a pet store
especially made for ferrets and other
critters, or you can make your own
from plastic pipe, dryer hose, or black
drainage tubing at least four inches in
diameter. You can even cut off the leg
of an old pair of jeans for your ferret
to crawl through.
Ferrets are not for everyone. They
need special care to keep them safe
and an owner that will enjoy their silly
antics. If you are thinking of adding a
ferret to your family, as with any other
pet you should first do your homework. Educate yourself so that you
can decide if a ferret is the right kind
of pet for you. Contact the league if
you would like more information on
these fabulous creatures.
For more information on ferrets,
see www.ferretsfirst.org,
www.ferretcentral.org, www.ddfl.org,
and The Ferret: An Owner's Guide to a
Happy Healthy Pet by Mary R.
Shefferman.
Thanks to Our Donors
Thank you to the League supporters who donated $200
or more in the last quarter of 2005.
James Ainsworth
Ronald and Jeanne Ashby
Louise Barbieri
Mary Barrick
Edward and Carole Bentz
Edd Braun
Camp Gone to the Dogs
Kate Coler
Deirdre Dessingue
Katherine A. Dey
Terrence Doyle
Estate of Anne Chamberlain
Estate of Lena "Dolly"
Courembis
Andrew and Jean Fleming
Patricia and Donald Gay
Elizabeth E. Graves
Tricia Harrison
Carol Hersey
Anna Marie Hicks
Roger Hornstein
Sandra Hull
Jean Keeting and Ed Barrese
Frank Klausman
Andy and Stephanie Kutler
Joan Lewis
Michelle and George Lutz
Charles Magyar
Warren and Diane Marton
Consuelo Medel
Gregory and Pamela Mitsoff
CarolAnne Nargi
Mark Nestler
Chris Persian
Jake Razem
Richard and Carolyn Blum
Charitable Foundation
Debra and David Rose
Chris Sarris
Steve and Nancy Silcox
Karen and Wesley Smith
Mark Stover
Bob Tetro
Tiff Advisory Services
Anita Vogt
Linda Warden
Howard Weissman
Nancy Williams
If your name is not included in the above list and it should be,
please contact the Development Manager at (703) 931-9241
x220 or e-mail Danielle@awla.org.
Spring 2006 Pawpourri
10
The Big Fix /00%: We Did It for Love
Left: Joanne
Bachner, League
volunteer, carries a
cat after surgery.
Right: Preparing a
cat for surgery
Every year in February, the Doris
Day Animal Foundation directs a
national campaign called Spay Day
USA to educate the public about the
importance of spaying and neutering
animals as a means to reduce the pet
overpopulation crisis in the United
States. The Foundation provides
educational materials and helps
promote spay and neuter events
nationwide. This year's theme was
“Do it For Love.”
In keeping with the love theme, the
League sold paper hearts in the front
office for $1.00 each and the money
collected went to our Hantke Memorial Spay/Neuter Fund to help “fix”
area pets. Friends of the League also
supported this effort. Woofs! Dog
Training, Fur Get Me Not Doggie
Daycare, and Caring Hands Animal
Hospital also sold hearts.
The League worked with several
area veterinarians to offer very lowcost spays/neuters to low-income cat
and dog owners in the area. On
Sunday, February 26, the League held
a spay/neuter event for cats at Capital
Cat Clinic in Arlington. Dr. Marcus
Brown, of Capital Cat Clinic, Dr.
Andrea Tasi, of Kingstowne Cat
Pawpourri
Spring 2006
Clinic, and Dr. Jeff
Newman, of Caring Hands
Animal Hospital worked
together on the Big Fix!
The three vets spayed and
neutered 15 cats in about
six hours. We sincerely
thank everyone who
participated in "Do It for
Love" this year. You are
all champions for animals!
Del Ray Animal
Hospital loaned four additional
surgery packs that helped the
multiple surgeries proceed
quickly and efficiently. In
addition to the spay/neuter
surgery, most of the animals
received microchips and rabies
vaccinations. Several League staff
members, Capital Cat Clinic employees, and League volunteers assisted in
the intake and care of the cats.
Only cats were altered on February
26, but dogs were not left out. The
League worked with Dr. Newman of
Caring Hands Animal Hospital to spay
and neuter up to 10 dogs during March.
February is not the only time of
year that the League promotes spay/
neuter. We have a year-round, lowcost program made possible by Dr.
Jerry Goldfarb at Fairfax Animal
Hospital. Low-income pet owners can
schedule surgeries for half the normal
cost, and the League subsidizes
examinations and tests.
We sincerely thank everyone who
participated in “Do it For Love” this
year. You are all champions for animals!
Dr. Newman in surgery at Capital Cat Clinic on Spay Day
July is Kids’ Month at the League
11
Starting on July 7th, guest speakers will visit our
shelter to talk with children about many animalrelated topics, such as being a responsible pet owner,
animal care, training your pets, and careers with
animals. Last year, two of the camps were sold out,
so we have set up two additional days. Space is
limited so register now to reserve your spot! Sessions are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants
should bring a bag lunch and drink. Suggested age
for each session is 6-13 years. Registration fee is $40
per child, per session. Please go to www.awla.org
and click on education to print a registration form or
e-mail jnewman@awla.org.
July 7th:
Working with Animals
Guest speakers may include a Veterinarian, an Animal Control Officer, an
Animal Care Technician and a Field
Service Technician. Children will learn
what kind of experience and preparation is needed for each job. They will
also have the chance to hear some “on
the job” stories and to see the tools
used by professionals.
July 12th:
Animals Can Learn Too!
Guest speakers will include professionals who train animals. Activities and
discussions will focus on why it is
important to train animals and the
methods involved in animal training.
There will be several demonstrations
by the guest animals.
Kids meet a ferret at last year’s Kids’ Month.
July 14th:
Animals Can Learn Too!
July 21st:
Dogs, Cats, & Critters 101
***Please Note*** This is a repeat of
the above session. Due to its popularity last summer, we are offering two
sessions so that no one is left out.
Activities and discussions will focus
on why it is important to train animals
and the methods involved in animal
training. There will be several demonstrations by the guest animals.
***Please Note*** This is a repeat of
the above session. Due to its popularity last summer, we are offering two
sessions so that no one is left out. The
day will be fun and informative as
children learn about companion
animals and the care and costs involved. Activities and discussions will
focus on how to be responsible pet
owners. Participants will meet several
shelter animals.
July 19th:
Dogs, Cats, & Critters 101
We will talk about cats and dogs and
many other animals that make good
pets. The day will be fun and informative as children learn about companion
animals and the care
and costs involved.
Activities and
discussions will
focus on how to be
responsible pet
owners. Participants
will meet several
shelter animals.
July 28th:
The Wild Things in
Your Back Yard
Where do the wild things live? Right in
our back yards! Activities and discussions will focus on the wild animals
that live in Arlington. Guest wildlife
rehabilitators will speak to participants
about their work rehabilitating wild
animals and releasing them into their
natural habitats. Children will learn
why wild animals should never be kept
as pets, how to enjoy wildlife without
disturbing it, and what they should do
if they encounter a sick or injured wild
animal.
Kent Knowles
introduces an
owl at last year's
Kids' Month.
Spring 2006 Pawpourri
The League’s Mission
League Hours
Visiting:
Since 1944, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington has been
committed to the humane treatment of animals and to the promotion of animal welfare. The League provides temporary care and
refuge for homeless and suffering animals; places animals in
loving, responsible homes; provides animal control services to
Arlington County; educates the public; and provides a wide
variety of community services.
Noon–&:00 pm Monday–Friday
:00 am–:00 pm Saturday
Receiving Incoming Animals:
):00 am–0:70 pm daily
Emergencies: / hours a day
Pawpourri
Editor
Susan Sherman
Don’t miss the 11th Annual
Walk for the Animals
Saturday, May 13, 2006!
Details on page 6
Rabies & Microchipping Clinics
Please bring dogs on leashes and cats and ferrets in carriers
Rabies Shot: 0
Microchip /
April /& • May / • July /& • Sept /) • Oct /% • Dec &
%:70 C ):70 pm
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington
2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 931-9241
e-mail: mail@awla.org
Web site: www.awla.org
Designer
Jennifer McFarland
Contributors
Alice Burton( Rebecca Gall(
Jane Grantman( Katie MtCastle(
Jennifer Newman
Board Officers
Jean Crawford( President
Debra Rose( Vice President
Nan Marks( Secretary
Carol Moylan( Treasurer
Board Members
Jennifer Barnes( Ellen Brown(
Toni Copeland( Joanne DelToro(
Kristen Edma( CarolAnne Nargi(
Elisa Rosman( Ryan Turpenoff(
Brenda Zurita
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Arlington, VA
Permit No. 1109