Support Adoption and Rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?

Contact this shelter/rescue group to see their pets for adoption.

To find another local animal shelter, humane society, SPCA, dog rescue or cat rescue click here

The Washington Humane Society (WHS), the only Congressionally-chartered animal welfare agency in the United States, has been the area’s leading voice for animals since 1870. As the only open-access shelter in the Nation’s Capital, the Washington Humane Society provides comfort and care to over 15,000 animals each year through its broad range of programs and services including sheltering, adoption, spay and neuter, CatNiPP, humane law enforcement, lost and found, human–animal therapy programs and humane education. WHS enforces all of the District's animal laws under an 1870 Congressional charter, and all animal control laws under contract with the DC government. WHS operates the only open-access shelters in Washington, DC; a private shelter on 7319 Georgia Avenue, NW, and the DC Shelter (under contract by the Department of Health) on 1201 New York Avenue, NE. In addition to the two animal shelters, WHS operates a low-cost National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center, on 1001 L Street, NE, located in the heart of Capitol Hill, a new animal training facility located on 7315 Georgia Avenue, NW, and the administrative offices, located on 4590 Macarthur Blvd. NW.

Washington Humane Society Shelter (Map) 7319 Georgia Ave., NW Washington, DC 20012 tel: 202-BE HUMANE (202-234-8626) (24 hours) Open to the public: 12-7 p.m., seven days a week (Adoptions Department Closed on Wednesday) Open 8 am to 8 pm every day for emergencies ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DC Animal Shelter (Washington Humane Society is contracted by the Department of Health to operate the DC Animal Shelter) (Map) 1201 New York Ave., NE Washington, DC 20002 tel: 202-576-6664 (24 hours) Open to the public: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Open 24 hours, 365 days per year for emergencies

The first step in adopting an animal from WHS is making a trip to one or both of our shelters, or stopping by a WHS Adoption Event to fill out an application. Check out the animals on the web site, but remember new animals arrive everyday. It pays to go down and see all the animals yourself. Please bring an ID with your current address.