District of Columbia

The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals. This page is meant to be used as a resource to see what is happening in your territory and what actions you can take for animals.

State and Territory Rankings

Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. It is the longest-running and most authoritative of its kind, assessing the strength of each state or territory’s animal protection laws by examining over 3,400 pages of statutes. Each state or territory is ranked based on 19 different categories of animal protection.

District of Columbia
Overall Rank: #2 (Top Tier)

Animal Protection Laws of the District of Columbia

The Animal Protection Laws of the District of Columbia compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for the District of Columbia with an effective date on or before September 1, 2024.

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Active Legislation

Active Cases

Farmed Animals

Challenging USDA for Approving Deceptive Chicken and Turkey Product Labeling

Complaint to USDA submitted on February 18, 2025

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to challenge its pattern and practice of approving chicken and turkey products without reviewing the imagery on the labels to ensure that it is not misleading to consumers.

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Farmed Animals

Challenging FDA’s Unreasonable Delay in Responding to Petition to Limit Use or Withdraw Approval of Ractopamine

Animal Legal Defense Fund, et al. v. FDA, et al.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit to require the FDA provide substantive responses to petitions urging for the immediate reduction in the allowable levels of ractopamine.

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Captive Animals

Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation

Animal Legal Defense Fund v. USDA

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit challenging the USDA decision to deny a petition for rulemaking that urged the agency's APHIS to revise its limited animal confiscation regulations and establish procedures for relocating animals from facilities that do not comply with the AWA.

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Recent Victories

Captive Animals, Regulation

Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees’ Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths

A petition for rulemaking was submitted to the USDA's APHIS urging the agency to issue a rule under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that would require licensees to record all instances of animal mortality occurring to animals in their possession — and file the mortality reports with the agency every three years.

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Companion Animals, Legislation

Animal Care and Control Omnibus Amendment Act of 2021 (Washington, D.C.)

Bill 24-0560

Bill would implement a retail pet sale ban in Washington, D.C.; prohibit cat declawing in the District; criminalize the sexual abuse of animals; ban the possession of dogfighting implements; and make additional improvements for animals.

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Farmed Animals, Litigation

Challenging Misleading Egg Labeling

Organic Consumers Association v Handsome Brook Farm

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against Handsome Brook Farm. The lawsuit alleged Handsome Brook Farm was selling eggs labeled as “pasture raised” that fell far short of consumer expectations — thus violating the D.C. Consumers Protection Act.

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Farmed Animals, Litigation

Challenging Hormel’s Deceptive Advertising Practices: Natural Choice®

Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Hormel Foods Corporation

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against Hormel Foods Corporation alleging the company is misleading consumers through the advertising of its Natural Choice® brand of lunch meats and bacon.

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Take Action

Stop Ag-Gag Laws

Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.

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No More Puppy Mills

Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.

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Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban

In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.

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Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows

This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.

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