Charnita Fox is the Director of Operations at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.  Charnita has always been surrounded by animals as she was raised by a family full of animal lovers. Naturally, she has a genuine concern for all creatures and can’t ever remember not being an advocate for animals. Following high school, she had her mindset on becoming a Registered Nurse, but took a different path and became a Certified Veterinary Assistant and has been working in veterinary offices and animal welfare organizations (the Washington Humane Society and the Animal Welfare League of Arlington) ever since.  While employed with WHS now Washington Animal Rescue Alliance she started as an Animal Caretaker and then moved on to manage the Front Desk/Dispatch for DC Animal Control. Previously employed with AWLA she started as an Animal Care Technician, a short stay in the Adoptions department as an Adoption Counselor, and then returning to the kennels as the Manager of Animal Care. Though she has left the animal world a few times she always returns.

Marnie Russ is the Program Administrator for the National Kitten College at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington in Arlington, VA.  The first kitten nursery of its kind, Arlington went from saving 92 kittens a year in 2016 to 1385 kittens in 2019 all while maintaining a 93% live release rate.  The Nursery saved almost 1500 kittens in 2020.

Marnie has been fostering neonatal kittens for over two decades, specializing in critical-care neonates and high-risk nursing/expectant queens.  Marnie is a recognized expert on caring for at-risk kittens. She is co-founder of the National Kitten Coalition and speaks nationally on the subject of at-risk neo-natal kittens.  Her advice and expertise is sought from shelters and rescues across the country.

Marnie is a seasoned animal advocate who has previously worked for the ASPCA traveling across the country working with shelters as well as state and local governments to advance animal-welfare policy.

Marnie sits on multiple Boards for spay/neuter organizations throughout the county including Fox Hollow Animal Project in Montana and Caring Hands Animal Support and Education – International Advocacy.  She annually travels to third-world countries assisting in international spay/neuter projects to help impact the lives of street animals in underserved areas.

Jennifer Toussaint is the Chief of Animal Control in Arlington County, Virginia at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Jennifer joined the Animal Control team in early 2012 as a Deputy and accepted the Chief position in 2016. Since becoming Chief, Jennifer has implemented a local ordinance in relation to exotic animal care and ownership. She has also expanded the Animal Control Departments outreach efforts in providing additional support to pet owners to enable high owner pet retention in the community. She specializes nationally in Humane Urban Wildlife Management practices and has been published multiple times on the topic and presented at the 2017 Humane Society of the United States Expo as well as the National Animal Control Association Conference. Jennifer is a CIT trained officer and has trained animal control and welfare professionals on a variety of topics including: active listening, emotional support and service animals, neglect/cruelty investigations, and wildlife intake and triage. Jennifer is the 2017 recipient of the Virginia Animal Control Association Dr. Kent Roberts Animal Control Officer of the Year and received a commendation from the Virginia General Assembly for her service.  In 2020, Jennifer’s department won the Outstanding Agency of the Year award from the Virginia Animal Control Association. She is a graduate of Moravian College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Spanish. Jennifer shares her home with her rescue dog Rheagan.