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Alexandria shelter faces scrutiny after euthanasia numbers revealed
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Update: Due to some criticism about hand-picking facts, I have posted below the exact document that was sent to me by Carrie in the Communications and Outreach Department at AWLA. You'll see here... numbers don't lie.
After approaching 20 random people on the street in Old Town, Alexandria about the quality of care at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), 15 people said they believed it was a good shelter that looked out for the animal’s best interest. General perception of this facility is that most animals that come through their doors are reunited with their owners or placed in an adoptive home, with euthanasia as a last resort for animals that are too ill or too temperamental to be returned to the community. But upon further investigation, the AWLA themselves report that in June 2009, only 14 dogs were adopted out of their facility, and 76 dogs were euthanized while in their care. Does this sound like a safe place for local pets?
The AWLA has consistently projected this safe-haven image for animals to Alexandria residents and their surrounding community. Martha Armstrong, Executive Director of AWLA, stated “the AWLA is proud to be an open admission shelter—meaning we welcome any animal who arrives at our door, regardless of the animal’s age, breed, medical or behavioral history. We are fortunate to have the space and staff to care for the more than 3,000 animals brought here each year. We never euthanize animals based on considerations of space or the length of time that an animal has been in our facility.”
Former volunteer and employee Brad Mullett begs to differ with this claim. “I saw things I didn’t think were right from time to time, but there were two specific cats that made me question the decisions being made which would determine whether these animals would have a good chance to live or die. Both cats, a few weeks apart, were severely obese and in danger of or having fatty liver disease. They both stopped eating, so the shelter force fed them, which is a rarely effective technique where they use a syringe to force food in the animal’s mouth. I offered to foster one of these animals and give him more attention. The shelter vet wanted to put in a stomach tube in to help him consume food to buy him time to battle the liver disease brought on to obese cats that quit eating and then lose weight too fast. The shelter couldn’t/wouldn’t pay for this stomach tube so I offered to pay for it and care for him while he lived in my home as a foster. Shelter management refused to let me pay for the stomach tube surgery for this cat “AND” the other cat mentioned. Both cats were euthanized even though there would be no direct cost to the shelter, and no space taken up since he was in my or another foster home. In my opinion, both of those animals died for no reason.”
But even healthy animals that land at AWLA have a questionable future. In 2008 1,225 animals were euthanized at their facility, while only slightly more pets (1,261) were adopted into forever homes. Additionally, AWLA states that in 2008 they worked with 21 different rescue agencies to transport animals from their facility. But referencing the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) statistics that shelters are required to submit each year, the group only transferred 19 animals (13 dogs, 6 cats) to a rescue agency.
While this relatively wealthy shelter displayed disturbing numbers in 2008, the most shocking discovery under this new leadership is the rise in euthanasia numbers. According to figures provided by the AWLA, 54% of animals at the shelter were euthanized in June 2009, which translates into 76 dogs and 75 cats. However, the shelter references their temperament testing as the reason for these deaths, as these animals were deemed too aggressive or too ill to be considered for adoption. When showed these figures, another former employee states “there is just no way. We didn’t see that many animals come in with behavioral issues. The folks performing the temperament testing don’t know what they are doing.”
As fundraisers continue to donate and the city renews its contract with AWLA for another year, animal advocates grow increasingly worried about the demise of this once-respected shelter.
“There is something wrong there, and something’s not working,” says Mullett. “There is a change in processes and procedures, and animals are suffering because of it.”
To let Alexandria City Council know your thoughts on the facts of this article, please call 703.746.4500, or click here to send them an email.
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