'It’s A Terrible Thing': DC Flash Flood Kills Dogs At Pet Care Site

WASHINGTON, DC — Heavy rains that swamped parts of the DC area Monday created a flash flood that inundated a Washington, D.C., doggy day-care business on Rhode Island street, drowning several pets, authorities said.

Six feet of water pushed in the wall of District Dogs in Northeast DC, which then collapsed and allowed the floodwater to inundate the business, NBC Washington reported. Firefighters rescued seven employees and 20 dogs.

Emergency officials haven't said how many dogs died.

Pet owners waited outside as firefighters carried animals out of the business.

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly called the employees heroes who did everything they could to save the dogs.

The water rose nearly 6 feet in a few minutes, which is when one of the walls buckled. Firefighters who were nearby helping stuck drivers saw several people swimming out of the building, WTOP reported.

Firefighters helped District Dogs’ employees break down drywall, working in what Donnelly described as a “very hard and rough situation to work in.”

“It’s unbearable,” Donnelly said. “This is losing a member of your family or being scared that you did … It’s a terrible thing.”

District Dogs Owner Jacob Hensley released a statement on social media: "The District Dogs family is heartbroken over the events that occurred at our Rhode Island Avenue location this evening. We appreciate the quick and heroic actions of our employees and first responders to rescue animals. We are focused on doing everything to support impacted employee(s) and customers during this difficult time."

DC Water told WTOP a tunnel that should help with flooding in the area is expected to open in two months.

Five cars and a truck became disabled in floodwaters under the Rhode Island Avenue railway bridge. D.C. Fire and EMS rescued 20 people in the area, including 10 at District Dogs.