Washington Animal Rescue League

TO HONOR AND STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND BY PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY CARE FOR HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS, AND SUPPORTING COMPANION ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES THROUGH AFFORDABLE VETERINARY CARE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND SHELTERING FOR HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS, ADOPTION SERVICES, ANIMAL HOSPITAL SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY, DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING, HUMANE EDUCATION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

SHELTER OPERATIONSSHELTER AND INTAKE:SINCE 1914, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE (WARL) HAS BEEN CARING FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND HOMELESS ANIMALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ACROSS THE NATION AND, WHEN RESOURCES ALLOW, IN OTHER COUNTRIES. WARL IS SOMETIMES THE ONLY PLACE A DOG OR CAT WILL HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE TO LIVE THE KIND OF LIFE ALL ANIMALS SHOULD HAVE. THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE'S SHELTER PROVIDES A CALMING AND NURTURING TEMPORARY HOME FOR ANIMALS, WITH DOGS HOUSED IN CAGE-FREE DOGGY DENS AND CATS IN KITTY CONDOS. THEY ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND CARED FOR IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY DURING THEIR STAY BY DEDICATED STAFF, VETERINARIANS, BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING EXPERTS, AND EXPERIENCED ANIMAL CARETAKERS, ALONG WITH AN IMPRESSIVE ROSTER OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS.THE ANIMALS RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY FOOD TWICE OR MORE PER DAY, DEPENDING ON THEIR HEALTH REQUIREMENTS; HAVE CONSTANT ACCESS TO CLEAN, FRESH WATER; ARE GIVEN MEDICINE AS NEEDED; ARE WALKED AND/OR PLAYED WITH OUTSIDE AT LEAST 3 TIMES A DAY; AND ARE PROVIDED WITH TOYS AND OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL STIMULATION. CATS THAT GET ALONG SPEND SUPERVISED TIME PLAYING ON THE "TOWERS AND CLIMBING TREES IN THE CENTER OF "KITTY CITY." DOGS THAT ENJOY CANINE COMPANIONSHIP ENGAGE IN PLAY DATES IN ONE OF THE LEAGUE'S FENCED DOG PARKS AND ARE INCLUDED IN WEEKLY PACK WALKS. IN ADDITION, CATS MAY SHARE TWO ADJOINING CONDOS WITH A PASS-THROUGH AND TWO OR MORE DOGS MAY SHARE A KENNEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF THE ANIMALS HAD A BOND PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT WARL. THE GOAL: TO ENSURE THAT, LONG OR SHORT,THE ANIMALS' STAY AT THE SHELTER IS AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. IN 2016, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL,NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN RESCUING PETS FROM EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.ADOPTIONS:THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED AN AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM AS WARL CONTINUED TO HOST EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WASHINGTON, D.C. REGION. ADOPTION COUNSELORS ATTENDED THE EVENTS, ENABLING THE ORGANIZATION TO INSTITUTE ON-SITE ADOPTIONS TO QUALIFIED AND VETTED APPLICANTS, ALLOWING THE ORGANIZATION TO PLACE ANIMALS WITH FAMILIES THAT PREVIOUSLY WOULD NEVER HAVE VISITED OUR FACILITY. EACH WEEK, ONE PET-THE PET OF THE WEEK-IS FEATURED IN SEVERAL LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND OTHER SITES.IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE MATCHES FOR BOTH ADOPTERS AND ANIMALS, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE USES A SCIENTIFICALLY BASED "MEET YOUR MATCH" SYSTEM THAT DELVES INTO BOTH THE ADOPTERS' LIFESTYLE PREFERENCES AND EACH ANIMAL'S TEMPERAMENT. A STAFF OF TRAINED ADOPTIONS COUNSELORS EMPHASIZES CONVERSATION OVER WRITTEN FORMS AND EDUCATION OVER JUDGMENT.ONE WEEK AFTER AN ANIMAL HAS GONE HOME, A WARL VOLUNTEER CALLS THE ADOPTER TO FIND OUT HOW THE ADOPTION IS GOING. AN ONLINE SURVEY IS EMAILED TO EACH ADOPTER ONE MONTH AND ONE YEAR AFTER THEIR ADOPTION TO CHECK IN ON THEIR PET. ADOPTIONS COUNSELORS AND BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING STAFF ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP ADOPTERS WITH ADVICE AND TRAINING POST ADOPTION. TO FURTHER ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL-PERMANENT-PLACEMENT, ADOPTERS OF PUPPIES UNDER 16 WEEKS OLD ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL IN A PUPPY KINDERGARTEN CLASS (AT A REDUCED RATE),WHICH TEACHES THE SKILLS PUPPIES NEED TO BECOME WELL-BEHAVED, ADULT DOGS WITH SOLID TEMPERAMENTS. MANY OTHER CLASSES, RANGING FROM BASIC MANNERS TO AGILITY AND TRICKS, ARE AVAILABLE TO ADOPTERS AND THE PUBLIC.FOSTER:THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE DEDICATES ONE ADOPTIONS COUNSELOR TO IMPLEMENT A ROBUST FOSTER PROGRAM. FOSTERS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE OVERALL ADOPTION PROCESS, AS MANY ANIMALS THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN OUR CARE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS NEED A "BREAK" FROM SHELTER LIFE. FOR KITTENS, FOSTERS CAN SOMETIMES BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SURVIVAL AND DEATH, AS THE TINY FELINES ARE VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT. KITTENS ARE OFTEN SENT DIRECTLY TO FOSTER HOMES UNTIL THEY HAVE GROWN TO AN AGE WHERE SHELTER LIFE IS MORE MANAGEABLE.WARL IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW, CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE OUR ADOPTIONS PROGRAMS AND IN 2016, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH AARP. "BOOMERS' BUDDIES" IS A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE ADOPTION OF OLDER PETS (AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OLD) TO ADOPTERS 55 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. WARL WAIVED ADOPTION FEES AND THE PROGRAM PROVED TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR POTENTIAL ADOPTERS. AARP USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURVEY THESE ADOPTERS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AND AFTER THE ANIMALS HAD BEEN HOME FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING:MORE ANIMALS ARE SURRENDERED TO SHELTERS FOR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THAN FOR ANY OTHER REASON, AND ONCE IN A SHELTER, THESE SAME PROBLEMS CAN PREVENT THE ANIMALS FROM GETTING ADOPTED. EVEN TEMPERAMENTALLY SOUND, WELL-BEHAVED ANIMALS CAN DETERIORATE OVER TIME IN A SHELTER ENVIRONMENT. THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE HAS A BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT CONSISTING OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED TRAINERS WHO PERFORM BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS ON OUR ANIMALS AND WORK WITH STAFF AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN THE LEAGUE'S CARE AND HELP THEM OVERCOME ANY BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.MANY SHELTER RESIDENTS ARE "ENROLLED" IN THE OPEN PAW ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THE OPEN PAW SHELTER PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP BOTH CATS AND DOGS SUCCEED IN A SHELTER. IT PLACES EMPHASIS ON DAILY ENRICHMENT BY FEEDING OUT OF FOOD DISPENSING TOYS, A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE BED OR CRATE INSIDE THE DEN, AND ONGOING WORK WITH VOLUNTEER TRAINERS. THERE ARE FOUR (4) LEVELS OF OPEN PAW FOR BOTH DOG AND CAT VOLUNTEERS. FOR DOGS, THE LEVELS OF OPEN PAW TRAINING FOCUS ON MAKING POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS WITH PEOPLE USING FOOD, AS THEY APPROACH THE DEN, AND BEHAVING NICELY FOR POTENTIAL ADOPTERS.ADDITIONALLY, BASIC OBEDIENCE IS TAUGHT, AND HANDLING DESENSITIZATION OCCURS REGULARLY. DOGS ARE ALSO TAKEN ON WALKS, FOCUSING ON LOOSE-LEASH WALKING SKILLS. FOR CATS, TRAINING FOCUSES ON CONDITIONING POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS WITH PEOPLE USING TREATS, WORKING WITH SHY CATS, MODIFYING INAPPROPRIATE PLAY AND HIGH AROUSAL LEVELS, AND TEACHING NEW TRICKS TO HELP CATS MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH POTENTIAL ADOPTERS. VOLUNTEER TRAINERS WORK WITH EVERY ANIMAL IN THE SHELTER, AND OPEN PAW DEN SET-UPS ARE MAINTAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 DOGS AT A TIME AND 5 CATS AT A TIME.NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE MOST SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS ARE FOUND IN ANIMALS RESCUED FROM PUPPY MILLS AND HOARDING SITUATIONS. THESE ANIMALS TYPICALLY HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE INTERACTION WITH HUMAN BEINGS, AND IF THEY HAVE, IT'S OFTEN BEEN NEGATIVE. THEY MAY HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR FOOD, WATER, AND/OR SHELTER WITH OTHER ANIMALS, LEADING TO RESOURCE GUARDING AND AGGRESSION.WARL BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING STAFF WORK WITH THESE AND ALL SHELTER ANIMALS TO HELP THEM BECOME LESS FEARFUL, FOCUSING ON POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING, PLAY DATES BETWEEN ANIMALS, AND HAND-FEEDING FOR SHY ANIMALS. IN 2016, WARL'S BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING STAFF COMPLETED BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS ON ALL ANIMALS AND ALSO WORKED WITH NUMEROUS ANIMALS ON TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. AND WARL'S INVOLVEMENT WITH ITS SHELTER RESIDENTS DOESN'T NECESSARILY END WHEN THE ANIMALS WALK OUT THE FRONT DOOR. BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING STAFF CONDUCT A RANGE OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT DOG TRAINING CLASSES BASED ON A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF PET DOG TRAINERS (APDT). IN 2016, WARL'S FOUR CERTIFIED TRAINERS OFFERED WEEKLY CLASSES FOR THE PUBLIC INCLUDING PUPPY KINDERGARTEN, BASIC MANNERS, REACTIVE DOG, AND KITTY KINDERGARTEN TO ANIMAL OWNERS AND THEIR PETS. THESE CLASSES, ALONG WITH A PHONE AND EMAIL HELPLINE FOR RESIDENTS OF THE D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA, HELPED BUILD STRONG HUMAN-ANIMAL BONDS AND KEEP MANY PETS IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF SHELTERS.IN 2016, THE BEHAVIOR & TRAINING DEPARTMENT CONTINUED A PRISON DOG TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE PATUXENT INSTITUTION. THE DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING AND ANOTHER CERTIFIED TRAINER ARE IN CHARGE OF RUNNING THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF FOUR INMATES, TWO MEN AND TWO WOMEN. TRAINERS TEACH TWO SEPARATE CLASSES FOR EACH PAIR IN BOTH THE MEN'S AND THE WOMEN'S AREAS OF THE PRISON. CLASSES CONSIST OF DISCUSSING READING MATERIALS, HOW DOGS LEARN, AND HUMANE TRAINING TECHNIQUES. THE INMATES HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED, ATTENTIVE AND EASY TO WORK WITH. WE ARE SO PROUD OF THIS NEW ENDEAVOR AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRAM AS TIME GOES ON.VOLUNTEERS:THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE'S DEDICATED AND LOYAL VOLUNTEERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION. OUR 400 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH MANY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CLEANING DOG DENS AND KITTY CONDOS, GROOMING, BATHING, AND EXERCISING THE ANIMALS; ASSISTING IN THE MEDICAL CENTER; AND HOSTING OUTREACH ADOPTION EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED THROUGH THE OPEN PAW SYSTEM, ENSURING QUALIFIED PEOPLE ARE CARING FOR OUR DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES AND KITTENS.

MEDICAL CENTERIN 2016, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE CONTINUED ITS LONG-STANDING AND CRITICAL WORK OF CARING FOR THE COMPANION PETS OF INCOME-QUALIFIED CLIENTS AS WELL AS CARING FOR THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTS OF WARL'S ANIMAL SHELTER. AS THE ONLY SHELTER IN THE REGION WITH A FULL SERVICE MEDICAL CENTER, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PETS.SHELTER ANIMALS:SHELTER MEDICINE IS A UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT. THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE RECEIVES MORE THAN 2,000 ANIMALS EACH YEAR, ALL WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, FROM VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY, AND MOST HAVING RECEIVED MARGINAL VETERINARY CARE IN THEIR LIFETIME. THE MEDICAL CARE FOR DOGS AND CATS HOUSED AT WARL IN 2015 INVOLVED MANAGEMENT OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUAL ILLNESSES, DENTAL WORK, SPAYING, NEUTERING, AND OTHER SURGERIES. THE CHALLENGES OF SHELTER MEDICINE INCLUDE THE INTAKE OF ANIMALS SUFFERING FROM DISEASES SUCH AS PARVO, RINGWORM, RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, INTESTINAL PARASITES, AND HEARTWORMS, WHICH WERE ALSO TREATED BY MEDICAL CENTER STAFF. COMPANION PET CARE FOR INCOME QUALIFIED CLIENTS:ONCE AGAIN IN 2016, THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE MEDICAL CENTER WAS THE ONLY LOCAL VETERINARY FACILITY THAT OFFERED DISCOUNTED AND LOW COST, FULL-SERVICE CARE TO THE PETS OF INCOME-QUALIFIED RESIDENTS OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. REGION. SERVICES INCLUDED ROUTINE PHYSICAL EXAMS, VACCINES, SPAYING AND NEUTERING, OTHER SURGERIES, EMERGENCY CARE, DENTAL WORK, AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES AND INJURIES. TO QUALIFY, CLIENTS' INCOME LEVEL MUST NOT EXCEED $55,000 PER YEAR. WITHOUT THIS ASSISTANCE, THE MEDICAL CENTER'S CLIENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR ANIMAL COMPANIONS WHEN THEY BECAME SICK OR INJURED. IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL CARE FOR INCOME-QUALIFIED CLIENTS, THESE CLIENTS ALSO STRUGGLE TO FEED THEIR PETS DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE'S PET FOOD BANK PROVIDED PET FOOD FOR DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES AND KITTENS FOR INCOME-QUALIFIED FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PET FOOD DONATIONS ARE SOLICITED THROUGH WARL'S OUTREACH EVENTS, WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND ARE DONATED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. OTHER VETERINARY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS:AS PART OF THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO CONFRONT THE PET OVERPOPULATION CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE VETERINARY STAFF AT THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE PROVIDED REDUCED-COST SPAYING AND NEUTERING TO PETS IN 2016.THE VETERINARY SERVICES PROVIDED BY WARL INCLUDED SPECIALTY CARE IN THE AREAS OF CARDIOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, AND ORTHOPEDICS. WARL WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES DUE TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH VETERINARY SPECIALISTS THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN AREA.WITH A CONTINUING INCREASE IN INTAKE WE INCREASE THE RISK OF INCOMING DISEASES. THE MEDICAL CENTER STAFF WORKED CLOSELY WITH WARL'S SHELTER STAFF TO DEVELOP NEW AND EFFECTIVE PROTOCOLS FOR CONTAINING DISEASES, ENSURING THAT WE ARE TAKING EVERY REASONABLE STEP TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASES FROM INCOMING ANIMALS TO OUR CURRENT POPULATION.THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE'S MEDICAL CENTER CONTINUES TO BE A DESTINATION FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS AROUND THE NATION. IN 2016 INTERNS/EXTERNS PARTICIPATED IN WARL'S VETERINARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, PROVIDING INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN SHELTER MEDICINE AND PROVIDING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN A TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.

COMMUNICATIONS AND HUMANE EDUCATION:OUTREACH THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND HUMANE EDUCATION EFFORTS RESULTED IN OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE FOR THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE. IN 2016,PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDIA OUTLETS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS RESULTED IN PRO-BONO ADVERTISING, EDITORIAL TIME AND MARKETING EFFORTS. THE HUMANE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VISITED SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND HOSTED SCHOOL GROUPS AT THE SHELTER.PARTNERSHIPSWTOP: OUR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH WTOP CONTINUES TO GARNER ATTENTION AND ADOPTIONS. WTOP'S PET OF THE WEEK HAS CONTINUED TO PROVE SUCCESSFUL, GIVING US A GREAT SPOT EVERY MONDAY ON DC'S TOP RATED RADIO STATION. WTOP PERSONALITY DEBBIE FEINSTEIN NARRATED OUR CENTENNIAL VIDEO FOR US AS A FAVOR. WTOP WAS ALSO THE MEDIA SPONSOR FOR OUR AUGUST ADOPTION EVENT. A CRITICAL STEP IN OUR MISSION TO SAVE LIVES, THE CERTIFIED TRAINERS AT THE WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE ASSESS AND TREAT SHELTER PETS WHO ARRIVE AT WARL AFTER BEING RESCUED, SURRENDERED, ABANDONED OR LOST. MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES, BEEN MISTREATED OR HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY SOCIALIZED EARLY IN LIFE. WARL'S TRAINERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THESE ANIMALS, DETERMINING THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AND DEVELOPING A PRESCRIBED TREATMENT PROGRAM. THIS PROCESS ALLOWS OUR PROFESSIONALS TO DETERMINE WHEN AN ANIMAL IS READY TO BE AVAILABLE TO ADOPT AND HELPS ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL, LONG-TERM ADOPTION.