On Adopt A Shelter Pet Day, Check Out Office Cat Maizy At AWLA

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Millions of pets are awaiting adoption in shelters across the country, including through the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria on Adopt a Shelter Pet Day Saturday.

Adopt A Shelter Pet Day, observed every year on April 30, was set aside to raise awareness of the millions of cats, dogs and other pets waiting for adoption at 3,500 animal shelters across the country.

In Alexandria, people looking for a pet should consider adopting rather than buying from a pet store or breeder, according to animal welfare advocates.

Patch regularly features adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. One of the available pets is Maizy, who has served as the animal shelter's "office assistant." Now he is in a foster home and is looking for a more permanent position with a new family.

Available to meet from a foster home. Email [email protected] or call 703.746.5662 opt. 2 to learn more and set up an appointment.

Maizy, 13-year-old Male White and Gray Domestic Short-Haired Cat

Maizy is an Office Assistant Extraordinaire!

This 13-year-young chap spent time supervising some of the AWLA staff offices, ensuring maximum productivity - and also snuggles - were achieved. While Maizy can be shy at first, he didn't let it slow him down when business was on the line.

After such an intensive role, Maizy decided to take a short break with one of the AWLA's amazing foster caregivers, and he found that rest and relaxation suits him, perhaps even more than the hustle and bustle of a busy office environment. He could take time to chill with his favorite humans in between bouts of bird-watching and the not-so-occasional snooze in a comfy bed.

But Maizy still knows that cuddling needs to be achieved in all environments, and he is happy to sidle up to his human best friends to let them know when it is snuggle time. Maizy's adoption fees have already been pre-paid by a generous donor, and he is ready to graduate from his foster home to a more permanent position. If you'd like to learn more about Maizy or schedule time to meet him, you can do so by emailing [email protected] or calling 703.746.4774 opt. 2.

View Maizy's adoption profile.

About 3.2 million cats and 3.1 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters every year, according to the ASPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

About 2.1 million cats and 2 million dogs are adopted every year, but some never make it out. About 530,000 cats and 390,000 dogs are euthanized every year, according to the ASPCA.

There is some evidence that awareness campaigns such as Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and adoption events are reducing the number of companion animals that languish in shelters or are put down. The ASPCA also said more lost pets are returned to their owners now than a decade ago, when 6.2 million of the 7.2 million cats and dogs entering shelters were euthanized.

There are multiple reasons to adopt a pet. One of the big ones is the money you’ll save.

Buying a pet isn’t cheap. Both purebred dogs and purebred cats can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. The record spent for a dog appears to be $1.95 million, the amount a Chinese businessman spent to acquire a Tibetan mastiff, a status symbol in China.

A couple of other examples: A Samoyed, an ancient breed from Siberia, costs about $14,000 as a puppy, and the cost of a Corgi ranges from around $700 to $2,000.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's fees depend on the kind of pet, from $5 for hamsters and mice and $25 for a guinea pig to between $100 and $200 for cats and $150 to $350 for dogs.