State guide
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia does not use counties or towns for animal control; DC Health runs a single citywide animal-services system. Wildlife response is split in practice between DC Health animal services for urban-animal problems and DOEE’s wildlife-rehabilitation licensing page for injured or orphaned wildlife assistance.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- DC Health’s Division of Animal Services handles animal control citywide; there are no counties or towns in the District.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- District Department of Energy and Environment
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- DC Health says all cases where a person was attacked by an animal, potentially exposed to rabies, or given rabies PEP should be reported using the DCRC Animal Bite Report Form.
- State rabies contact
- DC Health Rabies and Animal Exposures
Official resources in District of Columbia
Main citywide animal-services page with animal-control, shelter, licensing, and wildlife-response information.
Official bite and rabies page with reporting instructions, provider guidance, and quarantine information.
Official District wildlife-rehabilitation page that tells the public whom to contact for sick or injured wildlife and explains licensing.
Lists direct contacts for Animal Services and for Rabies and Animal Exposures.
Provides prevention and response guidance for common wildlife conflicts in the District.
Key facts for District of Columbia
- DC Health says its Division of Animal Services is within the Environmental Health Administration.
- DC Health staff at the Animal Control Facility conduct animal control and animal disease prevention services.
- DC Health says residents should contact 202-888-PETS (7387) if wild animals are acting strangely.
- DOEE’s wildlife-rehabilitation page tells residents with sick or injured wildlife to contact City Wildlife at 202-882-1000.
- DC Health says animal bites should be reported through the DCRC Animal Bite Report Form.
- The DC Health Contact Directory lists Rabies and Animal Exposures at (202) 442-5865.
Local animal control offices in District of Columbia
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Health Division of Animal Services - Animal Control Facility | Washington | (202) 888-PETS (7387) | Citywide animal-control facility; DC Health says its staff conduct animal control and animal disease prevention services here. |
| DC Health Division of Animal Services - Administrative Office | Washington | (202) 535-2323 | Administrative office for the District’s animal-services program. |
| DC Animal Shelter at DC Village | Washington | Not published* | Shelter listed on the DC Health animal-services page at DC Village. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- For a stray, aggressive, or strangely acting animal in DC, start with DC Health Animal Services or the animal-control facility number.
- If a person was bitten or potentially exposed to rabies, submit the DCRC Animal Bite Report Form and follow DC Health rabies guidance promptly.
- For injured or orphaned wildlife, use DOEE’s wildlife-rehabilitation page and contact the wildlife rehab contact listed there rather than attempting in-home care.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from District of Columbia's population center, for comparison only):
- Prince George's County Animal Services Division, Maryland · about 10 miles
- Fairfax County Animal Services, Virginia · about 15 miles
- Anne Arundel County Animal Services, Maryland · about 25 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DC Health Animal Services
Website →Phone: (202) 442-5955 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the District of Columbia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.