Saturday: 'Clear the Shelters' Event Aims to Find Forever Homes for Animals

PHOTO: Penny is one of the animals available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- This year's nationwide "Clear the Shelters" adoption event will be held Saturday, July 23. Last year, nearly 20,000 pets found their forever homes, when some 400 animal shelters across the country partnered with sponsors NBC-owned TV stations and the Telemundo Station Group.

In Alexandria, all adoption fees will be waived Saturday at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Hours on Saturday at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, at 4101 Eisenhower Ave., are 12 noon to 5 p.m. The shelter asks that if you do plan to adopt a pet on Saturday, to make sure you're ready with supplies that you'll need ahead of time. You should be prepared to take your pet home on Saturday; you can plan for pickup Sunday if you need more time, for a $50 fee.

In addition to dogs and cats, the shelter has for adoption birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and even a chinchilla. The shelter plans to post photos of all adoptable pets on its Web site Friday by 8 p.m.

If you hope to save money on adoption fees and plan to visit another shelter Saturday, be sure to check ahead of time if they are participating in the "Clear the Shelters" event.