District Dogs has been ordered to pay $100,000, make safety improvements and not to reopen the facility where 10 dogs died in last year’s tragic flood, D.C.'s attorney general announced Tuesday.
Jocelyn Lobos-Segura is among those who lost their dogs on Aug. 14, 2023 when severe storms flooded the day care on Rhode Island Avenue NE. Water rose six feet up the exterior before a wall collapsed and water rushed inside.
"Honestly, there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about Mona in that day. Especially on, like, a rainy day like this. I just get flashbacks of that day," Lobos-Segura told News4 via a video call on Tuesday.
The Office of the Attorney General said in a release that District Dogs internally discussed how dogs could be at risk after the facility flooded three times in 2022, but downplayed the risks to customers.
Investigators “found evidence that District Dogs misled consumers about the safety of dogs at the Rhode Island Ave facility" and, despite knowing about flood risks, the facility didn’t have an evacuation plan or monitor the weather, the attorney general's office said.
“What happened at District Dogs’ Rhode Island Avenue location was a pet owner’s worst nightmare,” Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in the release. “Our investigation will result in improved safety at all of District Dogs’ facilities in DC—ensuring that no District resident loses a pet in such a tragic and avoidable way.”
The flooding trapped several dogs and endangered workers' lives. Lapses in D.C.’s emergency response delayed rescue efforts.
Employees were also not properly trained to respond to emergencies, the OAG said.
The $100,000 fine will be paid to the District. Under the settlement with D.C., District Dogs must get a risk management certification for each location in the District, develop detailed emergency response and evacuation plans for all locations, train staff and keep its location in the 600 block Rhode Island Avenue permanently closed.
"I'm glad that the Attorney General held District Dogs accountable for that. But also, on the other hand, like, nothing, no amount of fine, is going to bring back Mona. And it is really frustrating to know that they didn't have an emergency procedure that day, knowing that that location flooded. So, great that they're being forced to do it now, but that doesn't bring our dogs back," Lobos-Segura said.
Employees were able to save most of the 40 dogs inside. At the time, District Dogs owner Jacob Hensley said it was heartbreaking and vowed not to reopen the location.
In a statement to News4, District Dogs said it’s relieved to have a resolution and was fully compliant with all D.C. legal and regulatory requirements at the time of the flood.
“We agreed to settle this matter with one important condition – that the Attorney General’s Office agree as part of the settlement that there is no admission of wrongdoing by District Dogs whatsoever,” the statement read.
Eight of the 10 families who lost dogs filed a lawsuit against District Dogs, which is ongoing, the OAG said.
District Dogs' website lists seven other locations in the D.C. area, including Navy Yard and Arlington.
