Humane Society of the United States Washington DC metropolitan area World Bank

Located in Washington, DC, the Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization. For over 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. The HSUS is the leading animal advocacy organization, seeking a humane world for people and animals alike. We combat large-scale cruelties in the U.S. and, in concert with our international affiliate, Humane Society International, with programs in more than 50 countries. The Human Society of the United States works to:

Care for animals in crisis
We respond to cruelty and disasters when situations overwhelm local capacities and providing transport and sanctuary to animals in crisis. We drive transformational change for animals not only nationwide and internationally but in our own backyard of the Washington DC metropolitan area.
• During the Covid pandemic, HSUS connected pet owners in underserved communities in the Washington DC metropolitan areas struggling to provide for their pets with resources such as pet pantries for pet food and other pet supplies.
• The HSUS Animal Rescue Team deployed with Prince George’s County law enforcement and provided assistance for farm animal neglect including seizure and ongoing support for animals, as well as placement and transport for all animals authorized by the state to rehome.

While we come to the aid of animals in crisis, we also attack the root causes of problems. Our most important goal is to prevent animals from getting into situations of distress in the first place. With our partner Animal Welfare League of Arlington, we provide humane-wildlife conflict trainings to educate Northern Virginia animal control officers on how to deal with human-wildlife conflict and law enforcement officer training on animal cruelty

End the cruelest practices
We fight the worst, most institutionalized abuses around the world, including cosmetics testing on animals and the trophy hunting of wildlife. We also work to end the brutal dog-meat trade in South Korea; and put an end to puppy mills.
• A HSUS undercover investigation of a Fairfax VA pet store that sold dogs from puppy mills revealed extensive abuse that led to an investigation and charges by local police  

Partnership with Animal Welfare League of Arlington
HSUS works in partnership with the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. AWLA serves as an animal shelter for Arlington County sheltering animals, reunited pets with their owners; or animals given up by owners who could no longer care. AWLA also takes in wildlife that may be injured, orphaned or trapped and in many cases are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. HSUS and AWLA subsidize spay/neuter surgeries, assisting pet owners with emergency veterinary care, assisting pet owners with a pet food pantry.

We take a mainstream approach and combat the most severe forms of cruelty and abuse locally, nationally, and internationally.