Vaccine clinics offering free vaccines for pets are one of many ways Animal Welfare League of Arlington helps people keep their pets at home.
There is a widespread belief that pet owners who surrender their animals to shelters are selfish, even callous.
This harmful narrative does not hold water, though, especially as unprecedented crises continue to drown Americans.
Amid the longest government shutdown in United States history, the federal reduction of SNAP food assistance, and systemic crackdowns on immigration, animal welfare organizations across Northern Virginia have supported more people this year in making uncomfortable and sometimes painful decisions regarding their animals.
“Since the summer months, and especially over the last month, we’ve seen an increase in requests to help rehome animals,” Erin Shackelford, Senior Manager of Communications and Event Marketing at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, said. “There’s a stigma when there shouldn’t be, so oftentimes we don’t get the full story behind why an animal is being surrendered. Still, we understand that there are so many situations beyond anyone’s control right now.”
Local animal welfare organizations don't typically press owners for surrender details, but frequently cited reasons are "housing concerns," which do encompass situations driven by financial and legal uncertainty.
In Arlington, animal welfare leaders have noticed a recent trend with unclaimed stray animals that indicate new financial hardships.
“We have noticed a strain in the community,” Amy Schindler, Chief Operating Officer for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, said. “This year, with our strays, we’ve noted a shift in unclaimed animals. They have been more small animals that looked very well-taken care of — recently groomed, in many cases. As we’ve seen this, it’s easy to understand that these are not instances of owners not loving their pets.”
“A recent example included a woman who was deported and had nine cats in her apartment. She was able to contact a neighbor from a deportation facility who was able to pick the cats up and bring them to us.”
— Erin Shackelford, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
While local rescues can’t pinpoint exact reasons why pet ownership is no longer sustainable for so many, Alexandria can attribute a growing number of surrendered pets to deportation.
“A recent example included a woman who was deported and had nine cats in her apartment,” Shackelford said. “She was able to contact a neighbor from a deportation facility who was able to pick the cats up and bring them to us. It’s important to us to support people, who even in their worst times, are fighting to protect their pets."
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria — two different non-profit organizations contracted by their counties to provide animal control, shelter, and pet support — have also had an increase in need for help to keep pets in their homes.
In 2025, they’ve offered more resources through pet pantries, which provide free pet food and other supplies for community members in need.
“Normally, we serve 100 to 150 people from the pantry, but that number has more than doubled over the last month,” Shackelford said. “We've seen a massive increase in people asking for support just to feed their animals, whether it's pet food or cat litter.”
These pet pantries are core to both the Animal Welfare Leagues of Arlington and Alexandria. Even in the face of upcoming donation uncertainty, the organizations will keep these pantries a priority.
“Like all non-profits, we are confronting the reality that fundraising may be challenging in the near future,” Schindler said. “Still, we have a very firm commitment to continue offering our essential resources — emergency housing, the free pet food and supplies distribution, and no cost/low cost spay/neuter programs that support sustainable pet ownership. We will absolutely find a way to maintain those services … it’s top of mind.”
Even as the government shutdown ends, and if everything else settles into a rhythm resembling normalcy, the AWLAs encourage local pet owners to be in touch with them through any scenario that threatens their ability to care for their animals.
“This year has shown that everyone can use help,” Schindler said. “There’s no one type of reason or person or situation that creates these situations. With these animal welfare leagues, we make all these processes as simple as possible, whether it’s taking in surrendered animals or supporting people so that they might not have to make that decision. It’s no questions asked beyond getting information to benefit animals in the next outcome.”
To support the organizations, and to volunteer as a short- or long-term foster, reach out to the organizations directly. Both AWLAs have experienced swells of volunteers at their shelters. Fosters and volunteers of all types, and with varying schedules and capacity, have found meaningful ways to spend stressful days amid furlough.
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: Alexandria Animals - Animal Welfare League of Alexandria | AWLA / (703) 746-4774
Animal Welfare League of Arlington: Animal Welfare League of Arlington - All in For Animals / (703) 931-9241
To donate to Alexandria’s holiday drive, visit: Holiday Food Drives - Alexandria Animals.
To contribute to Arlington, visit: Animal Welfare League of Arlington - All in For Animals