Washington Animal Rescue League


	Shelter Closed Saturday, July 4 New Expanded Adoption Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 11am-8pm Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm Hospital Hours Tuesday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Saturday 8am-1:30pm Closed Sundays and Mondays

Dog Adoption Event at Whole Foods Silver Spring
July 11, 2009

If you're thinking about adopting a dog, come visit several fine canine representatives at the Whole Foods in Silver Spring, MD. Stop by, you may just meet your future canine best friend!

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Loose-Leash Walking Single Skill Class
July 08, 2009

Are you tired of being dragged down the street whenever you walk your dog? Our targeted training work will help! We will give you practical advice and training during this clinic, so that when you walk Fido it will be a good experience for both of you! For dogs over 5 months that are not aggressive to people or other dogs. Liz Marsden of The Logical Dog, instructor. $40 per registrant. The class runs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Here's a link to the [ online registration form. ]

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Each year, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters, due to a lack of resources and space available to house them until new homes can be found. Millions more are abandoned in both rural and urban areas, left to starve and suffer. Most of these animals will die before they have the chance to find loving homes, but before they do, they will reproduce, further contributing to the already rampant animal overpopulation epidemic. Their offspring are doomed from the moment they are born, innocent victims of society's failure to require or provide accessible spay and neuter services.

In response to this crisis, The Washington Animal Rescue League provides free spay and neuter services to income-qualifying individuals in the Washington, D.C. area. By spaying and neutering these animals, the League is working to reduce the number of unwanted litters born; the first step in lowering the number of animals unnecessarily destroyed each year.

Monthly free feral cat spay/neuter days and a free community pit bull sterilization program are among the shelter’s key programs addressing two of the most serious animal overpopulation problems in any urban environment.

Are there really millions of animals euthanized each year? That seems like a lot.
While there are no exact statistics, experts estimate that the number of animals euthanized in the U.S. each year could be in excess of twelve million, based on a number of facts:

For every human born, seven puppies and kittens are born.
One female cat and her unsterilized offspring can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in seven years.
In just six years, one female dog and her unsterilized offspring can produce as many as 67,000 puppies.

Who is eligible for free spay and neuter services?
Qualified, low-income individuals living in the District of Columbia or Prince George's County may have their pet(s) spayed or neutered at the League's Medical Center at no cost. In addition, the procedure will include a routine medical examination.

When may I bring my pet to be spayed/neutered?
Spay and neuter procedures are by appointment only in order to accommodate as many animals as possible. Please call the Medical Center at (202) 726-CARE (2273) to schedule an appointment.