First Thursday: Dog Days in Del Ray

The theme for this month’s First Thursday in Del Ray? Dogs

Thursday, May 7 from 6-9 p.m., up and down Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, businesses will be providing lots of dog-themed activities. Several animal rescue groups, including Homeward Trails and Lost Dog Rescue, will be front and center at the Mount Vernon Community School, with dogs available for adoption.

The weather should be pleasant. The National Weather Service is calling for partly sunny skies (partly cloudy in the evening hours) on Thursday in Del Ray, with temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees.

Look for the Alexandria Police Department’s K-9 unit, which will be on hand. Also, look for a dog exercise course, dog massages, dog artists and more.

The evening is sponsored by Your Dog’s Best Friends and the Del Ray Business Association.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be the featured nonprofit for this First Thursday. You can drop off donations of KONGs for dogs or cats, wand toys for cats, and dog toys, at the parking lot where the Farmers Market is held at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and E. Oxford Avenue.

First Thursdays is a series of free outdoor street festivals along Mount Vernon Avenue in the spring and summer. Every first Thursday of the months of April, May, June, July, August and September the Del Ray Business Association features businesses along Mt. Vernon Avenue, special events, food and music from 6-9 p.m.

Pets are welcome.

PHOTO: “Butterfly” is a female, white and brown Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever, available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, according to the Web site.