The dedication ceremony for the new Vola Lawson Alexandria Animal Shelter will be held on Saturday, May 18, at 8:30 a.m. The new Shelter is located at 4101 Eisenhower Ave, adjacent to Cameron Run Regional Park.
The ceremony will be hosted by the City of Alexandria and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Special guests will include former City Manager Vola Lawson, Mayor Kerry Donley, City Manager Phil Sunderland, and Kevin Byrne, president of the board of directors for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Refreshments and tours of the Shelter will follow the reception. The event is open to the public, however, attendees are asked to not bring pets to the ceremony.
The new facility is nearly three times large than the recently closed Payne St facility, which was built 50 years ago primarily as the City dog pound. The new Shelter features separate areas for animal adoptions, licensing, animal control and more space to help meet the needs of the 4,000 animals the League receives each year. A large Education Room will be used for classes on animal behavior, animal care and will also provide learning space for summer youth campers.
For additional information about the ceremony or the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, contact Mary Phelan of the Animal Welfare League at 703.838.4774 x215.