WASHINGTON — If the air conditioning is going to quit on you, it always seems to happen on the eve of a long holiday weekend.
At least that is how it happened at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia.
The air conditioning that serves two of three dog runs at the shelter went kaput Friday. The aluminum parts needed to fix the problem will not be available until sometime next week, said Abbie Hubbard, deputy director of AWLA.
“We just have to wait,” she said.
In the meantime, it’s dog foster parents to the rescue, she said.
“Our veterinarian and foster care coordinator are working together and have identified dogs that have priority,” said Hubbard.
Of the 60 dogs currently in AWLA’s care, Hubbard said, 10 are considered high priority. These dogs include older dogs and dogs with medical conditions that may be sensitive to heat. They will be moved into the homes of the many volunteer foster parents AWLA has on its roster until the repairs are done, she said.
In the meantime, shelter staff have worked to maximize the cool areas of the shelter and minimize the heat in the areas where the air conditioning went out, Hubbard said.
Of course, she said, AWLA would ideally see all of the dogs, cats and other critters in its care find permanent homes.
For Memorial Day weekend, AWLA is running a promotion called “Paws and Stripes Furever,” a play on the title of the famous patriotic tune by John Philip Sousa, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Under the promotion, veterans can adopt an animal for free until May 30 at 5 p.m.
