Animal Welfare

More than a dozen organizations in Washington County provide support to domestic animals such as dogs and cats, with a few assisting with larger and/or rare animals such as reptiles and cattle.

Impact

• Since 2023, Washington County Animal Response Team has been successfully deployed over 20 times to rescue animals large and small in emergency situations such as fires, accidents, and entrapments.

• An average of 328 abuse, neglect, and abandonment cases are investigated by Washington Area Humane Society annually, and in 2024 94 animals were rescued from life-threatening situations.

• With 4,100 surgeries in 2024, Fix ‘Ur Cat has cemented themselves as the largest provider of low-cost spay/neuter and basic wellness services for cats in Washington County.

Challenges

Despite ranking in the top 20 of Pennsylvania’s largest counties, Washington County only has three Humane Police Officers, no wildlife rehabilitation facilities, and a severe lack of space to house rescued agricultural animals while they are awaiting treatment and re-housing. Additional officers, as well as facilities specifically for wildlife and agricultural animals, are some of our community’s greatest needs.

A growing lack of veterinary staff is another major issue, mainly caused by retirement and lack of suitable schooling. To combat this, both Mon Valley Career & Technology Center and Trinity High School have introduced veterinary programs aimed at increasing employment opportunities, with Trinity partnering with PennWest California for potential college credit.