DC needs a new animal shelter. The current publicly owned shelter building has been falling apart for years, with constant HVAC/ventilation, drainage, and insect/rodent issues. The deteriorating infrastructure poses a health and safety risk for the staff, animals, and greater public.

This year, the DC Council allocated $22.5M to replace the building, which is sorely needed. Now, we need a location for the new shelter, which could have to provide critical public health and safety resources to DC residents for the next 60 years. The initially proposed location is not transit accessible, it is not located near most DC neighborhoods, it is in a loud industrial area, and it doesn't even have sidewalks.

When the DC government invests millions of tax dollars into infrastructure that DC families will depend on, it must use that money as effectively as possible and ensure the project is accessible to all DC residents. Animal care and control is critical public health and safety infrastructure. It cannot be pushed to the side.

Tell the Mayor: use our tax dollars to the best of their ability to serve all DC residents. Build a new shelter in a convenient, publicly accessible location. The Council did their part, now we need the Mayor to step up. The Department of General Services needs to work with DC Health to identify a central location suitable for a new shelter, one easily accessible by public transit. And we need the Mayor to make this a priority to make sure it happens, and happens soon.