District Dogs welcomes new CEO nearly a year after deadly flooding

WASHINGTON — District Dogs, a dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility, has announced a new CEO. Tina Leone, who was described in a press release as a "local business and dog welfare leader," steps into the role after most recently serving as CEO of the Ballston BID in Arlington, Virginia.

Leone is the founder of Sporting Dog Rescue International, and the past Chair of American Brittany Rescue where she has volunteered for 20 years, and a former board member of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Founder Jacob Hensley called the ideal leader for the company. Hensely, meanwhile, will step into the role of Executive Chairman of the Board where he will focus on business development and the District Dogs franchises. Leone will lead day-to-day business operations. 

The announcement comes nearly a year after a deadly flood at District Dogs' Northeast location. Ten dogs lost their lives in the flooding, and eight owners filed a lawsuit.

The deadly event began when a rainstorm turned severe in a matter of minutes on Aug. 14, 2023. Flash flooding caused a front window at District Dogs on Rhode Island Avenue to collapse – trapping several dogs and employees as the water raised inside a boarding room. 

Surveillance footage showed the water reached halfway up the double-decker cages, where sources told WUSA9 dogs were inside the kennels. The lawsuit states that many of the dogs at the day care had been moved into crates or kennels, arranged in rows or stacked on top of each other, even though certain dogs were not supposed to be crated at all. 

According to rescuers, swimmers were able to evacuate six employees and 20 dogs, but as the water receded, they discovered the 10 dead dogs, including Elsa, Josie, Malee, Maple, Marcel, Memphis, Pepper, and Zeni.

The lawsuit claims the dogs "drowned in excruciating fashion, desperately clawing, scratching, and chewing for life while trapped in cages and flood waters rose through and above the kennels to which [District Dogs] had confined them." 

It only took minutes for the floodwaters that breached District Dogs to reach a foot high. 

"Defendants made no attempt to evacuate any dogs from the space, to elevate any of the kennels off the floor, or to remove any of the dogs from the confined spaces that would soon become death traps," the lawsuit reads.

Instead of helping the animals, the lawsuit alleges the acting general manager was recording videos of the rising water levels with no sense of concern or urgency.

"One dog owner had arrived to retrieve his dog just before District Dogs locked the doors. He found his dog confined to a kennel on the floor," the lawsuit reads. "By this point, water had already begun to collect on the floor and his dog was wet. But District Dogs staff did not appear to be doing anything."

At 5 p.m., the window walls collapsed and the floodwaters filled District Dogs. 

In a 911 call, transcribed in the lawsuit, the assistant manager, who was off-site, described District Dogs like a swimming pool. A caller from inside described the water as "about 12 feet high."

The customer who had tried to pick up his dog followed staff to a back room where "no one appeared to have any idea what to do," the lawsuit states. The customer took his dog and was able to squeeze out of a space near the front door where the wall had given out. 

"District Dogs staff, however, made no effort to evacuate any of the dogs or even to free any of those in the floor level kennels as the waters rose higher and higher," the lawsuit reads. "As the waters rose, Elsa, Josie, Malee, Maple, Marcel, Memphis, Pepper, and Zeni each found themselves trapped in a confined space with no way out. They each desperately clawed and chewed at their cages in an attempt to free themselves, inflicting wounds and physical pain as their terror increased."

The lawsuit alleges the District Dogs location on Rhode Island Avenue was not only selected regardless of its history of serious flooding but that floor-to-ceiling windows were placed in an area most likely to face floodwaters without ensuring an alternative means of exiting the building in the event of a flood. 

"There was no back door or side door, nor stairs to allow personnel or dogs to exit through the west, uphill side of the suite or to access any of the upper floors above the District Dogs Northeast suite," the lawsuit reads. "The only other means of escaping the suite was a small, slow-moving elevator, through which one could access the parking garage situated immediately above District Dogs Northeast. The elevator was located in the front of the suite, just behind the glass storefront facing Rhode Island Avenue."

Further, the lawsuit claims District Dogs and Hensley experienced three flash floods prior to the one that claimed the lives of the 10 dogs, including one where 3 feet of water collected along the glass doors and windows, trapping staff and dogs inside.

"Instead of taking reasonable steps to avoid or mitigate the risk presented by flooding, Defendants actually increased the likelihood of serious harm or death by confining the dogs entrusted to their care in crates or kennels, and leaving them there as waters pushed into the building and rose to levels well above the height of the crates or kennels," the lawsuit reads. 

Despite the recent troubles at District Dogs, Leone described the CEO position as a dream job. 

“What truly excites me about joining District Dogs is the opportunity to work every day alongside dedicated people who share my deep love for dogs,” Leone said. “That combined with my extensive experience in leading and growing organizations, aligns perfectly with my personal values and professional aspirations. It is truly a dream job! I look forward to working with Jacob and the entire District Dogs team to further develop and strengthen our business by creating the community programs, events, and experiences that will exceed our clients’ expectations and enrich the lives of the dogs we are fortunate to serve.”