The Washington Animal Rescue League is a welcoming place for animals and the people who love them. Since its inception in 1914, it has provided care and compassion to stray and surrendered animals in the Washington, DC area. Adoption and foster programs allow responsible persons to find loving companions, and the Medical Center provides full-service, low-cost care to the animals of low-income guardians. Additional programs extend the mission of the League beyond the doors of the shelter and into to our community.
Please visit our website at www.warl.orgIf you are interested in adopting an animal you see on here on petfinder, please come in to meet with the animal and fill out an application.
The Washington Animal Rescue League is located at 71 Oglethorpe St., NW Washington, D.C. 20011
WARL animals come from many different places; some are given up when their guardians can't or don't want to keep them, some are lost and brought to the shelter and many come to the League through the ShARE Program. The Shelter Animal Relief Effort brings animals from shelters and rescue groups to the League that would otherwise be euthanized due to lack of resources (or space). These animals are abandoned, stray, or the result of abuse and neglect cases, and oftentimes little or nothing is known about their history. While history can be interesting and exciting to know about a particular animal, it is important to be familiar with how the animal is kept, and what temperament he or she currently displays. All WARL animals are temperament evaluated and during their stay here we work to enhance their environment as well as preparing them for home life. Shelter animals are loyal, loving and thankful members of the companion animal community and adopting one of them can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Adoption is saving a life; here at the League, the animal you adopt has already been saved, but your adoption makes more space available for the next animals that need to be rescued. No space is ever left vacant.
First visit the animals! You might want to fill out a Meet your Match survey to help you make a decision on what would be the right animal for your lifestyle.
When an animal arrives at the League the animal is updated on vaccines and evaluated and treated for any health problems by our Medical Center. Also, the animal undergoes temperament evaluations during the initial time here to determine what family environment would be best suited for this animal. We cannot guarantee that animals not available will become available for the public to adopt. In some situations we may utilize special foster homes or rescue groups to rehabilitate unadoptable animals. Some animals may have a health problem that needs to be addressed by our Medical Center. If you are interested in an unavailable animal, please feel free to check back on the animal's status.
You will be interviewed on the spot by one of our adoption coordinators. It may take up to two weeks to process an application. You will be notified by telephone whether or not you have been chosen as the best match for that particular animal.
All members of the household must visit with the animal as the first step toward adoption. If you rent, you must provide a copy of your lease stating that you are permitted to have the specific type of animal that you would like to adopt.
*The adoption fee for cats is $65.00 (if you adopt two cats it is also $65.00!) and $165.00 for dogs (adoption fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card). This fee includes an examination by our veterinarian, spaying/neutering prior to adoption, microchipping and Rabies vaccine for those old enough (dogs and cats must be over 4 months). Dogs receive the Bordetella shot and the DHLP and Parvo vaccine, in addition to being heartworm tested and maintained on heartworm prevention. Cats are FIV and feline leukemia tested and given an FRCP shot. You will be given a complete medical record at the time of adoption, and the information for microchip registration. We also strongly encourage you to add a tax-deductible donation of $25, which will help us care for and place more animals for adoption. In return, you will receive our newsletter and other information about WARL happenings and events throughout the year.
Directions from Connecticut Avenue: (10 minutes to the League) Turn east onto Military Road. Follow Military about four miles, passing Rock Creek Park and "zig zagging" across Georgia Avenue. Military becomes Missouri Avenue. Follow Missouri to Kansas Avenue. Turn left on Kansas Avenue. Take Kansas Avenue to Blair Road. Turn right on Blair Road. Go one block and turn left onto Oglethorpe Street. We're the first building on the left.
Directions from Silver Spring: (10 minutes to the League) Take Georgia Avenue south towards DC. At DC line take left onto Blair Road. Follow Blair Road about two miles, across Kansas Avenue. After crossing Kansas, take the first left onto Oglethorpe Street. We are the first building on the left.
