Even though Arlington County is one of the smallest in the U.S by land, we are home to many animal shelters. From locally-based organizations to local chapters of national organizations, we have it all. Below is a list of a few of these shelters and their characteristics:

Located on Arlington Mill Drive, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) was started in 1944 by a group of volunteers. It is now recognized by the Humane Society of the United States. In 2020, it began to focus on fostering, and now roughly 75 percent of its animals are in foster homes. The AWLA offers some medical services at a reduced price and serves as Animal Control services for our county.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization that rescues cats and dogs that are on their way to a kill shelter in Puerto Rico, West Virginia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. They coordinate these animals’ fostering into loving homes in the community.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Northern Virginia (SPCA) rescues cats and dogs in the area, providing rehabilitation and adoption services. They also respond to citizens seeking help with needy cats or dogs. They prioritize taking in stray animals, as well as animals from shelters that are overcrowded. Using local veterinary offices, they provide medical services for animals–occasionally with reduced or free cost.

Our county is immensely lucky to have such a wide range of animal shelters. The variety of services that these organizations offer is truly amazing, giving the residents of Arlington many choices to choose from in helping out cats and dogs in danger.