Press Releases

• December 21, 2011 100 Arkansas Puppy Mill Dogfs to Arrive at the League

  The League is taking in more than 100 puppy mill dogs seized by Arkansas authorities from Happy Times Kennel in Hot Springs.

• October 12, 2011 Paws for Celebration! League Partners with Friendship Hospital to Mark Its 75th Anniversary

  On October 15 and 16, Friendship Hospital for Animals, the District of Columbia’s only 24-hour emergency veterinary facility, will mark its 75th anniversary with tours of their newly renovated facility, complimentary refreshments and activities, and a special pet adopt-a-thon.

• August 03, 2011 League Plans Non-Stop Adoption Marathon

  This coming weekend, the League will hold a 33-hour, non-stop adoption marathon to find homes for as many of the 120 dogs and cats in their shelter as they can. This weekend only, adopters may set their own adoption fee, which are regularly $150-250 for dogs and $50-100 for cats.

• July 27, 2011 Washington Humane Society & the League Join National ASPCA Challenge to Save More Lives

  The nation’s capital’s two animal shelters—the Washington Humane Society (WHS) and the Washington Animal Rescue League (the League)—are hoping to increase significantly the number of homeless, abandoned and mistreated animals who find new, caring homes in the next three months.

• July 27, 2011 WEST VIRGINIA ANIMAL SHELTER CLOSES, LEAGUE COLLECTS DOGS WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

  The League drove to West Virginia, to pick up dogs from one shelter that is closing and another that is full.

• July 05, 2011 League Purchases Adjacent Property, Plans Major Expansion

  45,000-square-foot property to house the National Rehabilitation Center for Animals, help define the future of animal rescue work

• June 28, 2011 Adopt America’s Dog!

  Washington Animal Rescue League waives pit bull adoptions fees for Independence Day weekend.

• June 09, 2011 League Team in Joplin, Missouri, after Tornados Devastate Town

  The League has been called by the ASPCA to assist at an emergency animal shelter in Joplin, Missouri.

• May 27, 2011 LEAGUE TAKES IN 10 DOGS SURRENDERED BY MISSISSIPPI FLOOD VICTIMS

  The League is caring for 10 dogs who wound up at a shelter in Natchez, Mississippi, after their owners lost their homes to flooding.

• May 05, 2011 LEAGUE TEAM HELPING ANIMAL VICTIMS OF MISSOURI FLOODS

  Five employees of the Washington Animal Rescue League (the League) are in Sikeston, Missouri, where they are helping care for nearly 200 animals left homeless by the flooding of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

• April 14, 2011 League Rescues 14 Dogs, 6 Cats from West Virginia Hoarder

  In partnership with Potomac Hoghlands Animal Rescue, the Washington Animal Rescue League took in 14 dogs and 6 cats rescued from a Petersburg, West Virginia home. All told, there were 57 dogs and 8 cats living in a house filled with feces and urine. Most of the dogs appeared to be related. The animals’ owners agreed to relinquish all but two female cats in exchange for avoiding charges of cruelty and neglect.

• March 19, 2011 LEAGUE TAKES IN 30 DOGS FROM OHIO “RESCUE GROUP” ACCUSED OF NEGLECT, INHUMANE TREATMENT

  The League took in 30 of the more than 300 dogs whom the ASPCA rescued three weeks ago at the request of the Clark County (Ohio) Humane Society. The dogs were being held in inadequate, cramped quarters, both inside and outside, at a “no-kill” animal shelter called One More Chance Rescue and Adoption in Springfield, Ohio.

• January 20, 2011 Missouri Puppy Mill Survivors Arrive in Washington

  The League is taking in 13 Missouri puppy mill dogs surrendered to authorities by breeders who acknowledged they could not care for the dogs properly. They will be evaluated and treated at its full-service, state-of-the-art Medical Center, and the professionally certified behavior and training staff will assist them in overcoming any socialization problems and psychological traumas.

• January 14, 2011 League CEO Dr. Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, Achieves Professional Accreditation in Animal Welfare

  Dr. Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH,, CAWA, has achieved the highest level professional designation for animal welfare professionals, Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA). The professional certification program, administered by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA), distinguishes top-level executives and managers working in nonprofit and municipal agencies for their knowledge, experience and expertise. There are currently only 79 professionals who have achieved this new designation.

• December 02, 2010 League Receives $25,000 Pedigree Foundation Grant for Behavioral Rehabilitation of Dogs

  The PEDIGREE Foundation has chosen the League to be one of ten organizations to receive one of its Innovation Grants to increase dog adoptions. In the case of the League, the funds will be used to enhance the work of the behavior and training department.

• September 20, 2010 League Takes in Ten Pit Bulls from Suspected Dogfighting Operation in Ohio

  The League took in 10 of the more than 200 pit bulls surrendered to officials after the Humane Society of the United States and local officials carried out an investigation and search warrant at a property in rural Southeastern Ohio. Ohio officials called the case a “hoarding” situation and described the conditions at the property as abusive and neglectful.

• September 20, 2010 League Provides Refuge to 30 Dogs and Cats Seized from N Carolina Research Lab

  The League took in 30 of the more than 200 dogs and cats surrendered to officials after the USDA began an investigation into allegations of neglectful living conditions and cruel abuse of the animals at Professional Laboratory and Research Services, Inc. in Gates County, North Carolina. The USDA investigation and relinquishment of the animals follows the release of videos and testimony of an undercover investigator from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) .At the invitation of PETA, with which the League partners on animal rescues, four employees of the League drove two rescue vehicles to the North Carolina laboratory to pick up the animals on September 17. The League estimates that the first of the animals may become available for adoption as early as next week.

• August 10, 2010 D.C. Police Department and the League Collaborate on Caring Kids Camp

  The Caring Kids Camp fosters relationships with animals as a means of encouraging empathy in children and helping them mature into kind, thoughtful, engaged members of the community.

• July 28, 2010 League Welcomes Nine More Dogs From Kuwait

  The League is providing shelter, veterinary care, and adoption services to nine dogs evacuated from Kuwait, where summer daytime temperatures climb as high as 140 degrees.

• June 25, 2010 America’s Dog: League Launches Week-Long Celebration of the American Pit Bull

  Once a popular family dog and esteemed part of America's cultural identity, the American Pit Bull Terrier has gained an undeserved bad reputation over the past few decades. The League would like to change this and help pit bulls recapture their former respectable status.

• April 28, 2010 League Takes In 20 Dogs from Kuwait

  After a fire destroys Kuwait's only animal shelter, the League takes in the remaining 20 dogs.

• March 17, 2010 League Takes In 70 Dogs Saved From a “Rescue Organization” in Mississippi

  League Provides Refuge to 70 Mange-infested, Skinny Dogs Rescued from a "Rescue Organization" in Mississippi

• March 16, 2010 Shelters Collaborate to Rescue Three Puppies

  The League and WHS collaborate on the rescue of three rottweiler puppies.

• November 24, 2009 Washington Animal Rescue League Provides Refuge to Neglected Canadian Sled Dogs

  The League is providing refuge to 13 mixed huskies surrendered to Canadian authorities by a man who said he could no longer afford to care for the dogs. "These dogs are friendly, but they are not terribly well socialized,” according to Sabine Hentrich, the League’s certified dog trainer and behavior specialist. “As far as we know, except for their dog houses, many have never been inside before they arrived here. The floors, doorways, artificial lights—everything is new to them and a cause for anxiety.”

• October 09, 2009 Washington Animal Rescue League Provides Refuge to 83 Dogs, 6 Cats Seized from Arkansas Puppy Mill

  (the League) is providing refuge to 83 small breed dogs and 6 cats seized from a Lamar, Arkansas puppy mill. The dogs were living in cramped wire cages stacked floor to ceiling in rundown trailers. The cages were soiled with feces, urine, and moldy food. When removing the dogs, rescuers had to wear respirators because of the choking stench in the trailers.

• February 23, 2009 Washington Animal Rescue League to Host a Free Pit Bull Spaying and Neutering, Vaccination Clinic

  Of all of the calls the League receives from people who want to surrender their dogs, about 85% are from people looking to give up their pit bulls and pit bull mixes. As part of the League’s ongoing effort to help control the overpopulation of this breed, it is hosting free spaying, neutering and vaccination clinics for all pit bulls and pit bull mixes.