adoption | ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2012 at 3:45PM | Updated July 10, 2013 at 9:30PM

Nine families will gather at the Arlington County Courthouse tomorrow (November 17) in recognition of their adoptions being finalized this year. All of the children had previously been in foster care.

There are currently about 100 children in foster homes in Arlington, most of them having been removed from their birth parents due to unfit living conditions. Although the goal is to ultimately reunite the children with their birth families once situations improve, that is not always the best option for the safety of the children involved. The children who will not return to their birth families are then cleared for adoption.

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Ebbin Fighting Against Same-Sex Adoption Discrimination

By ARLnow.com

Published February 6, 2012 at 9:45AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:47PM

A bill that was introduced by Rep. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and Sen. Jeffrey McWaters (R-Virginia Beach) inserts a “conscience clause” into the Virginia law concerning private adoption and foster care agencies.

“No private child-placing agency shall be required to consider or consent to any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would conflict with the religious tenets of any sponsor of the agency or other organization or institution with which the child-placing agency is affiliated or associated,” the bill reads. It also says that adoption agencies cannot be held liable for civil damages as a result of denying the placement of a child.

Around Town

Fire Truck Kitten Ready for Adoption

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 6, 2011 at 3:00PM

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington cleaned him up at their Shirlington shelter following the incident. He’s an orange tabby estimated to be about three months old, and has been neutered and vaccinated.

Axel has been hanging out in a foster home with some other kittens, but is now ready to find a permanent residence. Anyone interested in adopting Axel, or any other kitten, can check out the AWLA website for adoption procedures.

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Arlington to Hold Event for National Adoption Day

By ARLnow.com

Published November 15, 2011 at 5:30PM

On Saturday morning, 11 children ranging in age from 2 to 16 will be legally adopted at the Arlington County Courthouse. The adoption ceremonies will be presided over by Arlington County Circuit Court Judge James F. Almand, with adoptive parents, adoption advocates and social service represents on hand for the joyous moments.

Last year there were 4,800 adoptions finalized nationwide as part of National Adoption Day.

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Kitten Boom Prompts Need for Adoptions

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 27, 2011 at 9:40AM

As first reported by Coryn Julien in the blog The Arlington Connection, summer is a tough time to find homes for kittens and cats. Because of spring’s increase in births, there are too few adopters to take in all of the kittens and cats in shelters.

The SPCA of Northern Virginia has noticed the cat problem as well. The organization’s website lists an urgent need for foster homes for cats and kittens. It says while foster homes are always needed, it “is especially critical for cats during kitten season.”

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2011 at 8:57AM

Panel Recommends Building New Schools — An Arlington Public Schools advisory council has come out with a report that recommends new construction to help ease the looming school capacity crisis. The panel recommends building one or two new elementary schools and adding capacity at two existing middle schools. In addition to the construction, they suggest adding as many as 40 classroom trailers. Questions linger as to whether the county has enough debt capacity to follow the building recommendations. [Sun Gazette]

Adopt-a-Cat Month at AWLA — The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (2650 South Arlington Mill Drive) has declared June to be Adopt-a-Cat Month. With the shelter — and other shelters like it — inundated with homeless felines, AWLA is trying to find homes for its “Desperate Housecats” — cats that have been at the shelter more than four months. The adoption of such cats is free through the end of the month. [Animal Welfare League of Arlington]

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February is Adopt-A-Rabbit Month at Arlington’s Animal Shelter

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 7:32AM

Already have a rabbit? The AWLA, located at 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive, wants you to get him or her a friend.

See the bunnies currently up for adoption here. An adoption representative can be reached at 703-931-9241 x200. The adoption fee for rabbits is $65, which includes the spay or neuter surgery and an appropriate cage

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 25, 2010 at 5:48AM

Pizza Autentica Adds Ballston Location — Crystal City isn’t the only Arlington neighborhood on the radar for fast-growing local chain Pizza Autentica. WBJ’s Missy Frederick reports that Pizza Autentica has signed a lease at 850 North Randolph Street in Ballston.

Arlington Food Blogger Profiled — The Fairfax Times takes a look at Arlington mom Colleen Levine and her natural food and cooking blog, Foodie Tots. A government affairs consultant by trade, Levine has amassed 2,500 Twitter followers by focusing her blog on kid-friendly, healthy cooking. The recipe for spaghetti caprese — part of Levine’s effort to promote “meatless Mondays” — looks especially appetizing.

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Pet Adoption Van Goes AWOL With Dogs, Cats Inside

By ARLnow.com

Published August 2, 2010 at 11:34AM

The foundation reported the van stolen and posted a plea for information about its whereabouts on their Facebook page. After eight hours, the van and its driver, a foundation employee who had been on the job for eight months, were finally located at the Vienna, Va. branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“All the dogs and cats were fine,” foundation vice president Paul Blumberg said. “I think the humans were more distraught than the dogs.”