Washington Animal Rescue League

The Washington Animal Rescue League rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes abused and neglected animals. We are committed to strengthening the human-animal bond through affordable veterinary care, community outreach and education.

Why do we exist?

The Washington Animal Rescue League shelters and finds homes for approximately 2,000 animals every year. We also provide care and support for companion animals and their owners.

The League offers affordable veterinary care for the pets of low-income guardians, and the recently renovated Medical Center accommodates an additional 5,000 animal patients annually; the provision of no- and low-cost veterinary care is unique in the Washington, DC area.

The state-of-the-art design of the shelter offers a sanctuary for recovering animals, incorporating health-promoting features such as cat condos and dog dens that do not harbor bacteria and individually ventilated living areas for all animals.

The League often takes in dozens of the most desperate animals after natural and man-made disasters because of the comprehensiveness of the hospital and the dedication of the staff. The Medical Center also acts as a teaching facility for veterinary student interns, another standout feature of the League.

Accountability for at-risk animals belongs to those who are in a position to help them. Homeless and helpless animals rely on donor support, as does the League. Any size gift makes a difference at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  The League relies completely on private donations, since, unlike many local animal shelters, we do not receive public funds from any municipality or other government. 

What have you accomplished?

 For almost a century, the Washington Animal Rescue League has been a safe haven for homeless, abused, and neglected animals.  The League annually shelters and finds homes for about 2,000 animals and sees another 5,000 pets in our Medical Center.

• The League receives many animals after natural and man-made disasters. In the past three years, over 2,100 dogs and cats have benefitted from the League’s domestic and international disaster rescue efforts. 
• The Shelter Animal Relief Effort (ShARE) brings dogs from overcrowded shelters to WARL, where they have a much better chance of adoption and avoiding euthanasia.  

 Aside from offering these animals a new life as a companion, the League also assists the people who love these animals.

• The Love Fund provides veterinary attention for seriously sick and injured animals in the shelter, while the Medical Center offers subsidized veterinary care for the pets of low-income Washington, DC residents who cannot afford the cost of major veterinary treatments.
• The League offers reduced-cost vaccination clinics open to the public every week to keep dogs and cats in our community healthy and safe. 
• A Rescuer’s Food Bank provides pet food for owners whose financial hardships might have forced them to surrender their pets.
• Finally, the Safe Haven Program works with domestic violence agencies to offer the pets of abused women a safe, temporary home at the shelter while moving into a protective situation.

 These programs are supported entirely through the generous donations of concerned individuals; the League receives no public funds. Every year, the donations received by the League result in thousands of animal lives saved and human lives enhanced.

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