Wilbur is an unlikely internet celebrity.

Picked up by Caroline Animal Control, Wilbur and a canine buddy entered the shelter severely underweight. So skinny in fact, that Wilbur managed to slip out of his collar and escape the folks who were trying to save him. He made his way back to the shelter, however, and sat outside of his buddy’s kennel. Wilbur had decided that the people at Caroline Animal Control weren’t so bad after all.

Enter the Richmond Animal League. Specifically, Board President Sharon Cornett and long-time RAL volunteer Carolyn Turner. When Carolyn shared Wilbur’s picture with her, Sharon knew that Wilbur would be coming to RAL. Wilbur’s picture hit RAL’s Facebook page and went viral.

Carbon footprint. Green communities. And adopting a shelter pet? With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, Richmond Animal League wants to help raise awareness of their “100% recycled, earth-friendly” pets, and how you can help make your pets earth-friendly, too. 

There is an argument to be made that in and of themselves, pets just aren’t that great for the environment—there’s the environmental cost of producing pet food and the by-product waste it generates, the trash produced by old toys and other items, and then of course there’s the waste that comes out of the pets themselves!

Richmond Animal League is celebrating St. Patrick's Day this weekend with adoption specials--show your St. Patty's Day pride and wear green when you visit the shelter this Saturday, March 17 and receive $15 off any dog adoption fees, for both puppies and adults (regular dog adoption fees are $125, hounds and beagles are $75, and puppies are $150). Cat and kitten adoption fees continue to be just $10 total. In addition to those specials, stop by to enjoy holiday-themed sweets and treats!

RAL is open to the public from noon to 4pm this Saturday. The shelter is located at 11401 International Drive, Richmond, VA 23236. For more information, please call 804-379-0046 or email adopt@ral.org. You can visit them online at www.ral.org.