DC Health taking over animal control operations from Humane Rescue Alliance

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Starting next year, the DC Department of Health will take over animal care and control operations for the District.

The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) has been fulfilling animal care and control in D.C. through a contract since 1980. The current contract will expire at the end of September.

A news release said that DC Health and HRA had worked together to evaluate the contract over nine months. Initially, DC Health gave HRA an extension of the current contract through Dec. 31 — but after further review, DC Health decided to provide animal control services directly.

The release said that HRA is focusing on “developing a transition plan to ensure a smooth shift of services to DC Health.”

HRA said that animal control services only accounted for a “fraction” of its activity.

“We know that the greatest challenges facing pets and pet owners in the District are access to veterinary care; lack of pet friendly housing; and pet behavior challenges. Now we will focus on addressing these root cause issues so that more pets can stay with their loving families and out of the shelter system,” HRA’s statement said.

HRA will continue its Humane Law Enforcement, volunteer, veterinary wellness and pet support programs, as well as its new Field Veterinary Program. It will also continue accepting owner surrenders and providing animal care and adoption services.

HRA said that it will also work on expanding some other programs, including opening a new pet resource center in Wards 7 and 8 where “there are literally no services or solutions for pet owners.”

DC Health also issued a statement that said, in part:

In December 2023, the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) notified DC Health of their intention to discontinue several key functions of the long-standing animal care and control contract with the District. HRA has since clarified that they will end their shelter services as of December 31, 2024. DC Health is actively preparing to onboard new resources to assume these responsibilities within the given timeline.

While DC Health has already budgeted and planned to transition some animal control functions in-house by 2025, most animal care services will continue to be managed by contractors. HRA may still play a role as one of these contractors, should they choose to submit a bid.

DC Health statement