The Brandywine Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has begun its animal control partnership with the District, the city’s first new animal services contractor in decades.

The organization’s District branch will be responsible for animal control and care, pet adoptions, medical care and field operations in the city, including the operation of the animal shelter at 1201 New York Ave. NE, the organization said in a release Wednesday.

The shelter opened for pet adoptions and community services Thursday, and serves as the hub for the city’s animal control services. DC Health has also acquired a second facility at 4 DC Village Lane SW, about 30,000 square feet in size, which will be renovated to help BVSPCA house any animals they cannot house at the existing shelter.

“I’m excited to work with them to revitalize our animal services program and bring Mayor Bowser’s vision of a new, expanded DC animal shelter to life,” DC Health Director Dr. Ayanna Bennett said in November.

The organization’s goal as the District’s animal control contractor is to eventually reach a point where the city’s shelter is a no-kill facility.

The city’s contract with its previous organization, the Humane Rescue Alliance, lapsed on Sept. 30, though an extension was issued to continue HRA’s work in the city through the end of 2024. The organization had been providing animal control services in the District since 1980.

HRA Chief Operating Officer Kate Meghji told WTOP-FM in September that “for both HRA and the District, finances are tight.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Meghji said, the need for euthanasia was down and adoptions were up.

“We had this magical period of time where our communities opened up their homes and all of these animals went into foster homes and we really thought — we as an industry really believed — we figured something out,” Ms. Meghji said. But during and after the pandemic, animals and especially large dogs “were staying in shelters much, much longer and they weren’t getting adopted as quickly.”

In addition to the District, the BVSPCA also operates in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.