D.C. Animal Control Vehicles Will Feature Emergency Lights and Sirens

A new bill was passed to benefit animals throughout the District.

As of Tuesday, the Washington Humane Society vehicles used to respond to animal related situations are classified as emergency vehicles. This means that the vehicles are required to have sirens and lights, which will be funded by the Humane Society.

The D.C. Council unanimously voted in favor of the bill “Animal Sirens Amendment Act of 2014” proposed by Councilmember Mary Cheh.

“This bill is intended to be mutually beneficial to the wellbeing of both humans and animals. Moving forward, the Humane Society will be able to respond to emergency circumstances in a more timely fashion,” Cheh said in a press release.

The bill allows the vehicles to move in traffic the same way as other emergency vehicles.

D.C. has eight Washington Humane Society officers with access to the vehicles and they will take training courses provided by the Metropolitan Police Department. Only up to two vehicles would ever be dispatched at the same time.

“In instances of a rabid animal roaming in the public space or if a dead animal, such as a deer, is impeding traffic, Humane Society officers –who operate as the District’s Animal Control Agency– will be able to quickly cross the city to address the problem,” Cheh said in a press release.

For more information on the Washington Humane Society visit their website, Facebook, or Twitter.