Overview of Programs

The Washington Animal Rescue League sets a new global standard in animal welfare.

Since its creation in 1914, The Washington Animal Rescue League has been a leader in the field of animal welfare, caring for homeless and abused animals in our nation’s capital and placing them in loving adoptive homes. A private, not-for-profit organization, the League relies solely on private donations and volunteer efforts to support its rescue work. Through the generosity of the public, the League has consistently been able to create and maintain the highest standards in all it does.

In 2005 through 2006, the League underwent a revolutionary transformation, making it one of the world’s most progressive animal rehabilitation centers. The renovated shelter is designed entirely from the animals’ point of view to promote the physical, mental, and social healing of animals recovering from a previous life of trauma.

Steel-bar cages have been replaced with glass enclosed doggie dens, cat condos, and puppy pads—a more humane, efficient, and responsible way to shelter homeless animals. Each of the animals enjoys the best care possible, daily training and socialization support from staff and volunteers, and state-of-the-art veterinary care at the on-site medical center. Because it is bright, attractive, and filled with healthy and social animals living in comfortable living rooms, potential adopters find the League to be a welcoming place to visit and choose a companion animal.

“The renovated Washington Animal Rescue League is one of the best case examples of the innovations in the animal sheltering field.” Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States

For more information on each of the League's programs, please click on their titles in blue:

Dog Training

The League offers a range of positive reinforcement dog training classes—everything from basic manners to agility skills—for all dogs. Class tuition is deliberately kept affordable to encourage people to train their dogs using the most modern, humane, and effective methods.

Project Rescue

Our mission mandates that we “strengthen and preserve the human-animal bond by supporting animals in their homes.”  Consequently, we are responding emphatically to the current economic crisis with Project Rescue, an array of services that provide support for families and individuals who are finding it difficult to care for their pets in this challenging economic climate. Click the above link for a full list of the critical services we provide.

Volunteering

Hundreds of dedicated individuals help the League’s homeless animals by walking and training dogs, socializing cats, counseling adopters, and performing numerous other tasks at our center. The League offers regular orientation and training sessions for both new and seasoned volunteers.

Adoption

With as many as 400 dogs and cats available at any given time, the League is one of the largest companion animal adoption centers in the country. All of the animals receive full medical and behavioral evaluations, and our adoption staff is adept at working with people to ensure their new family member’s successful transition into a permanent, loving home.

After the adoption, the League is always there to help with behavior consultations, positive reinforcement dog training classes, and any other advice an adopter may need.

Seniors for Seniors

In order to help our fabulous senior pets find homes faster and to encourage people of all ages to adopt, we have started a new program called Seniors for Seniors, where seniors who adopt senior pets will receive discounts or waived adoption fees.

Free Spay/Neuter

Each year, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters due to a lack of resources and adopters. Millions more are abandoned to die on city streets and country roads.

In response to this pet overpopulation crisis, The League provides free spay/neuter for cats and dogs of income-qualified people living in the District of Columbia.

Love Fund

The Love Fund provides medical care for seriously sick and injured animals, either in the shelter or living with low-income residents who cannot afford the cost of major veterinary treatments.  Each year the fund assists hundreds of animals suffering from fractures, infectious diseases, and other life-threatening conditions. The Love Fund is supported entirely through the generous donations of concerned individuals

Medical Center

Since 1932, the League has offered free and low-cost veterinary care to the animal companions of our low-income neighbors. In 1996, it opened a busy, full-service, on-site veterinary clinic and medical center to serve both these clients and the shelter animals awaiting new homes. The medical center was completely renovated and expanded in 2006.  Its veterinarians, who are known both for their skill and compassion, currently treat about 7,000 animals each year. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

Humane Education

An essential component of the League’s mission is to educate the public on the needs of companion animals and to inspire people to treat all living beings with care, compassion, and respect.

The Humane Education curriculum was developed to teach children in third through eighth grades about animal overpopulation, spaying and neutering, proper care for companion animals, the role of animal shelters, and co-existence with wildlife.

Outreach and education for adults happens informally whenever people telephone or visit the League and the Medical Center. Additionally, its Web site contains extensive educational materials and the League makes written information available in the form of free handouts and books for sale.

Our Partnership with PETS2VETS

In the summer of 2009, a pilot project was launched when PETS2VETS founder and president Dave Sharpe approached the Washington Animal Rescue League to discuss a new project in which combat veterans recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center would come to the League to work with and adopt pets.  The program has become more immediately successful than either partner had anticipated, and the demand among recovering veterans has kept both groups busy. 

ShARE Partnership for Life

Many animal shelters across the country are faced with the same crisis: a lack of space, adopters, and resources to accommodate the thousands of homeless animals who come through their doors. The Shelter Animal Relief Effort (ShARE) provides relief and hope by transferring animals to WARL from local animal control agencies as well as some as far away as the Gulf Coast. More than half of the animals whom the League takes in come from such shelters.