This past Saturday, the Animal Welfare Leagues of Arlington and Alexandria joined forces to host a Community Care Clinic, serving both pets and people in the community. The clinic, held in Four Mile Run Park in the Chirilagua neighborhood of Alexandria, saw hundreds of attendees and their pets receive care and community services.
Residents of both Arlington and Alexandria received free rabies, distemper and parvovirus vaccinations for their pets, and human clients received free COVID-19 vaccinations, administered by the staff at Neighborhood Health. In total, nearly 20 people received vaccinations, and 209 vaccinations were provided to pets at the clinic!
The Community Care Clinic follows the CDC’s One Health model, recognizing and utilizing the interconnection between people, animals and the environment to best serve the broader community. “Our goal is to be a resource to our community, and by connecting with people near where they live, we were able to better serve attendees, both human and animal,” said Stella Hanly, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
“People and the pets they love belong together. By providing resources directly in the community, we are able to provide support that extends beyond our brick-and-mortar facility,” said Amy Schindler, Chief Operating Officer of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Along with vaccinations, clients had access to pet food, preventatives, dewormer and other animal supplies, as well as bags of shelf-stable groceries from ALIVE! Representatives of the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center; the Domestic Violence Intervention Program; Four Mile Run Conservancy Foundation; Inova; InspireLit; Liberty’s Promise; Nueva Vida; Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities of Alexandria; Senior Services of Alexandria; and Virginia Cooperative Extension provided information about health and nutrition, support services, local recreational opportunities, free books and more.
“By connecting with people and their pets at the same time, we have the opportunity to make our community a healthier and safer place for all of its residents,” said the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Joanna Fortin, Director of Community Programs. “Today we worked with hundreds of our neighbors to ensure that they all received the care and support they deserve.”
“It is so wonderful to see pet families receive care and resources in this setting,” said Jennifer Davies, Community Care Coordinator at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. “The wags and smiles — even through masks — are an affirmation that we are making a difference.”
We would like to thank the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria for teaming up to make this clinic happen, and PetSmart Charities, Del Ray North/Mount Vernon Shopping Center, and of course, all of you, our supporters, for making it possible!
by Gina Hardter, AWLAlexandria Director of Marketing & Communications, and Chelsea Jones, AWLArlington Sr Communications Specialist
