Pet Photos with Santa in Old Town Alexandria

Olde Towne School for Dogs is hosting holiday pet photos with proceeds going toward the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Olde Towne School for Dogs is hosting pet photos with Santa in time for the holidays. Professional photographer Alison DeSilva of DeSilva Studios returns for her second year of capturing the pets on camera for the holiday season. Proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Photos can be made into holiday greeting cards as well as traditional photos. Appointments can be made by calling 703-836-7643 to stop by the shop during the following dates and times: Friday, Nov. 30 - noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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It's a Ruff Life: Should Your Dog Have to Be Leashed?

Residents debate whether electronic collars are an effective means to restrain dogs.

Several impassioned residents of Alexandria attended a public meeting Thursday night at City Hall to discuss a proposed amendment to current pet leash regulations. Current city leash laws require dogs to be “kept under physical restraint” when outside the limits of the owner’s personal property. However, some city officials say an amendment might be needed to more clearly define “physical restraint” in order to correctly identify an animal “at large.” Animal Control Director Joy Wilson and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria say electronic collars should be excluded from the category of physical restraints. Animal Control officers aren’t able to easily identify a dog that is not leashed from a dog wearing an electronic collar. They are…

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Young LIfe in an Old Town

Young Life in an Old Town: 10 Things to Try in 2012

Why let kids have all the fun? Become a tap dancing chocolate expert or advanced yogi this year!

The tree has been taken down, the leftover wrapping paper is safely stored under the bed for another year and Holiday 2011 is in the books. The Old Town Sport and Health was bustling today and will likely be busier than usual for the next few weeks as non-regulars such as myself try to stick to our annual ew year’s resolution to get in better shape. While you’re trying to recover from the excesses of the holidays, why not add “trying something new” to your list of resolutions? Here are 10 suggestions for fun local classes the whole family can try out this year! 1) Movement classes for the whole family at brand new Local Motion Studio Local Motion is a family friendly movement center that has just opened its doors at 2377 South Dove St. …

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Council Rescinds Leash Law Amendment

Use of electronic collars as sole means of restraining dogs is again legal; ordinance to be revised before returning to council in March.

The Alexandria City Council opted Saturday to rescind a recent amendment to the city’s leash laws mandating dogs be physically constrained in public. The updated code, created in response to concerns from Animal Control officers, made using electronic collars as the sole means of restraining a dog illegal. “I don’t think we made a bad decision,” Vice Mayor Kerry Donley said. “We might not have made totally the best decision.” Members of the city’s dog community hit council with a wave of letters and emails in response to the initial change.  Sandy Mejias, co-owner of the Olde Town School for Dogs, said at Saturday’s public hearing that dog owners spend a lot of time, money and effort to train their dogs on electronic collars. “The …

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