Mark Vaughn hoisted his newly adopted 3-month-old puppy into his arms. In a bustling adoption center lobby in Northwest Washington, surrounded by TV station cameras and other new dog owners, he cooed into the dog’s ear.
Washington, D.C
D.C. dogs, rescued from alleged abuse, find new homes
But before Moe was adopted by his new owner, his life had a frightening start.
Moe was one of 31 dogs that had been seized from a Southeast Washington home on Feb. 14, following an hours-long confrontation between the dogs’ owner and law enforcement officials. D.C. police were attempting to arrest the owner, Stephen Rattigan, 48, on charges of animal cruelty, officials said.
Rattigan barricaded himself inside with the dogs for the next 13 hours and fired on officers trying to take him into custody, according to D.C. police. Three police officers were shot when they forced the door open and were hospitalized.
Rattigan, who identifies himself as Julius James, was arrested and now faces several charges, including assault with intent to kill and cruelty to animals. When reached Saturday, Rattigan’s attorney declined to comment about the allegations at this time.
The Humane Rescue Alliance, which investigated the allegations of animal abuse, removed the dogs — 20 adults and 11 puppies — from Rattigan’s home. Many were found injured and confined to cages. The dogs ranged from two months to several years old and all appeared to be American bullies or “some mix thereof,” Lisa LaFontaine, president and chief executive of the rescue alliance, said in a statement.
According to an arrest affidavit, neighbors complained of foul smells and dogs “living in their own waste” to the rescue alliance. During the investigation, rescue alliance officers found evidence of Rattigan allegedly “striking and punching a dog,” LaFontaine said in the statement.
Chris Schindler, senior vice president of animal welfare, field response and rescue for the alliance, said the injuries on many of the dogs were bite wounds from the “chaotic situation” they had been living in, likely competing for resources. Their wounds were treated and not critical, and the dogs had not been involved in dog fighting, Schindler said.
On Saturday afternoon, the dogs would get a new beginning. At the rescue alliance’s adoption center, 14 of the puppies and dogs were up for adoption. Six had already been adopted by their caregivers and the remaining ones needed “a little bit more time” to address their care needs before they are ready, Schindler said.
Shortly before noon, families trudged in through the double doors, soggy from the rain, and waited in the lobby. Vaughn’s sister had called him earlier that morning so they could make it there early, as the dogs would be adopted on a first-come, first-served basis. She had seen the news of their troubled past and it brought her to tears.
“I was hoping that I’d get an opportunity to get my heart wrapped around one of these dogs,” Vaughn said. They arrived around 11 a.m., an hour before the event was scheduled to start.
When it was time, nearly a dozen people crowded the hallway leading to the dog kennels. They squeezed past each other to get a look at the available dogs and hurried back to the lobby with their choice. Some of the puppies laid on a blanket together inside one of the kennels as people peered at them through the glass. One by one, brown and gray puppies were handed on leashes to their new owners.
Vaughn wasn’t fast enough for Moe, at first, and thought he’d be leaving with another puppy. Then, he was told that his first choice was available after all.
Within 45 minutes, 7 of the 14 available dogs were adopted. One married couple took home a gray-colored puppy named November, which they shortened to “Ember,” to join their German shepherd at home. And, a mother and daughter pair left with a puppy named Asher to surprise the rest of the family.
“Saturdays are busy, but not busy like this,” Schindler said. “It’s a really incredible turnout. Every time we ask our community to show up, they always do.”
By evening, only two of the rescued dogs remained.
Vaughn carried Moe in his arms all the way outside to the car, with their next destination being home in Northeast. His previous dog, an 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Tyler, died about five months ago. He still has an unopened bag of treats at home, now waiting for Moe.
“They have a chance for a good life now,” Vaughn said, reflecting on the adopted pups. “All they need is unconditional love, and I’ve got a lot of that.”
Washington, D.C
Nonprofit sues the federal government over plans to paint Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue
With a blue sky above the Lincoln Memorial, people walk along the reflection pool in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 2023.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
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Jose Luis Magana/AP
A nonprofit is suing the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum over the decision to resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at Washington D.C.’s National Mall, and to paint the pool’s basin blue.
The suit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), an education and advocacy organization. In the suit, TCLF is asking a federal judge to halt the project, saying that the Trump administration failed to have the project reviewed federally, as is dictated by the National Historic Preservation Act.
President Trump revealed his plans for the pool do-over last month in “American flag blue,” saying that the project would take one week and $2 million, and that it would be completed in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. A few days later on Truth Social, the president posted a fake image of himself and several of his administration officials in swimsuits, along with an unidentified woman in a gingham bikini, lounging in the water with the Washington National Monument at the rear. (Swimming in the reflecting pool is prohibited by federal law.)
In a YouTube video posted by the White House on April 23, Trump called the pool “filthy dirty” and said it “leaked like a sieve.” In that video, Trump said he was going to call three companies that he has worked with in the past – “all they do is swimming pools” – and say, “Give me a good price.”
The New York Times reported last Friday that the contract for the reflecting pool’s resurfacing was awarded in a $6.9 million no-bid contract to a company called Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which previously has never held any federal contracts.
An employee at the Atlantic Industrial Coatings confirmed in a telephone call on Monday that it has been contracted for this project, but referred all other questions to the Department of the Interior.
The Times reported on Monday that the final cost of the project could be upward of $13 million, per documents it says it has obtained. The Department of the Interior did not confirm the cost of the project, but wrote: “The contract price reflects the effort necessary to expedite the timeline of completing the leak prevention coating project—more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours ahead of our 250th.”
In an unsigned statement emailed to NPR Monday afternoon, the Interior Department wrote: “The National Park Service chose the best company to expedite the repair of the iconic Reflecting Pool ahead of our 250 celebrations. The choice of American Flag Blue will enhance the visitor experience by making the pool reflect the grand Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. NPS is also investing in a state-of-the-art ozone nanobubbler filtration system and will now have a dedicated crew who will maintain the grounds’ from wildlife. The Department is proud of the work being carried out by our Park Service to ensure this magical spot can be enjoyed for not only our 250th, but for many generations to come.”
Critics of the project, including TCLF, don’t share that vision – and are taking particular umbrage at the color.
“The reflecting pool should not be viewed in isolation; it is part of the larger ensemble of designed landscapes that comprise the National Mall,” Charles A. Birnbaum, the president and CEO of TCLF, said in a statement emailed to NPR Monday. “The design intent, to create a reflective surface that is subordinate, is fundamental to the solemn and hallowed visual and spatial connection between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. A blue-tinted basin is more appropriate to a resort or theme park.”
The National Park Service regularly cleans out algae, goose droppings and other detritus from the reflecting pool. The last major renovation of the reflecting pool, which included the installation of a new circulation and filtration system, took place during the Obama administration at a reported cost of $34 million.
Before founding TCLF in 2008, Birnbaum served for 15 years as the coordinator of the Historic Landscape Initiative for the National Park Service.
TCLF has another open lawsuit against the federal administration: it is one of eight cultural and architecture groups currently suing President Trump and the Kennedy Center board over the planned renovations of the complex, which are planned to start in July.
The memorial service will be held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at 1 p.m.
WASHINGTON D.C. – A brave K-9 hero from the region will be honored at the Annual National Police K9 Memorial Service on Monday afternoon.
K-9 Knox died in the line of duty last year after he was accidentally hit by a police vehicle while pursuing a suspect involved in a stolen vehicle incident. He was a 3-year-old German shepherd and had served as a narcotics detection and patrol apprehension K-9 for the Roanoke Police Department since May 2023.
The memorial service will include a wreath-laying ceremony and will be held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. The event will open with a musical performance by Frank Ray, and the guest speaker will be Deputy Jared Hahn of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
The San Antonio Police Department Blue Line Choir will sing the national anthem, and the Emerald Society Pipes & Drums band will also perform.
Copyright 2026 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Shower chance Monday morning
- Cooler Monday
- Midweek rain chance
- Warmer end to the week
Showers continue to move west with a cold front tonight. There will be a break in the rain overnight, but showers return for the start of the day on Monday. Monday afternoon will be dry, but noticeably cooler.
Sunshine returns Tuesday, but the break in the rain will be short-lived with rain chances on Wednesday
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
TONIGHT:
Showers early
Mostly cloudy
Wind: N 5-10 mph
LOW: Low 50s
MONDAY:
Morning shower chance
Wind: N 5-10 mph
HIGH: Upper 60s
TUESDAY:
Sunny
Wind: N 5-10 mph
HIGH: Near 70°
WEDNESDAY:
Shower chance
Wind: S 5-10 mph
Gusts at 20 mph
HIGH: Low 70s
SUNRISE: 5:59 a.m. SUNSET: 8:10 p.m.
AVERAGE HIGH: 75° AVERAGE LOW: 56°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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