Alexandria City Certified as a Best City for Pets

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The City of Alexandria has just been certified as a BEST TOWN FOR PETS by Mars Petcare. BETTER CITIES FOR PETS certification designates Alexandria as a community with clean and hygienic park spaces, many quality pet and veterinary care providers, many pet-friendly residences, and many small pet-friendly businesses. pets and welcome them.

Additionally, the certification takes into account that Alexandria has one of the most welcoming animal shelters, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA).

“Alexandria is a community dedicated to its animals, and this certification demonstrates what we already knew: that we are a city where pets and their inhabitants are welcome as visitors or residents,” said Stella Hanly, director executive of AWLA.

One of only dozens of cities in Virginia, Alexandria offers so much for its approximately 80,000 pets. With 18 dog parks, plenty of convenient pet waste stations, multiple dog shops and groomers, and even dog-themed restaurants, it’s no surprise that Alexandria earned this certification.

Please see this list of pet-friendly activities to do in Alexandria this year:

ALX Dog Walk

Happy Cat Hotel and Spa

Muzzles & Stouts Barkhaus

Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe + Wine Bar

The dog park

Cameron Cafe

Hops and shine

Lost Dogs Cafe

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza + Tap

Sonoma Winery

Vola dockside grill

Old Town Shopping District

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Find more pet-friendly activities on the Visit Alexandria blog.

Along with this certification, AWLA also received a Vision Award grant from Mars Petcare to fund activities through 2023 to study and expand the availability of pet-friendly housing throughout the city.

AWLA already offers a variety of programs to help keep beloved pets in their homes, such as their Community Pet Pantry – which in 2021 provided over 50,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to pet owners and animal rescues in the area – their Community Wellness Events and Vaccination Clinics, the AWLA Pet Behavior Hotline, Grooming Assistance and Crisis Care, for pet owners in emergency situations.

“On behalf of the people and pets of the City of Alexandria, we are grateful to be recognized as a BETTER CITY FOR ANIMALS,” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. “The grant received from Mars Petcare will help AWLA discover how it can better help all pets and families in our city.”

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