WASHINGTON, D.C.— A devastating flood at District Dogs in Northeast D.C. on Monday night resulted in the deaths of several dogs after heavy rain caused water to surge into the facility.
The incident occurred when six feet of water accumulated along Rhode Island Avenue, ultimately breaking through the front glass of the doggy day care. The flooding left multiple vehicles stranded under a nearby overpass, and D.C. Fire and EMS rescued ten people from the street and an additional ten people and twenty dogs from inside the day care. Unfortunately, some of the dogs could not be saved.
DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, who was on the scene, remarked on the unprecedented nature of the flooding, noting that while the area has a known history of flooding, he had never witnessed anything of this magnitude before.
The tragedy comes just a year after a similar flooding event caused $10,000 in damage at District Dogs. Despite the installation of barriers by the landlord, the water was too powerful to be contained.
Donnelly mentioned that the ongoing flooding issues in the area will be investigated. He also highlighted DC Water’s efforts to reduce flooding in the city, including the construction of nearly 100 miles of tunnels, though the project is still underway.
Jacob Hensley, the founder of District Dogs, expressed his heartbreak over the incident. Among the dogs rescued was a 9-month-old puppy named Emmy.
The flood was part of a larger storm that brought significant flooding to various parts of the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.
