Chapter 15. Washington Humane Society.

§ 44–1501. Incorporation; name.

N. P. Chipman, J. P. Newman, B. Peyton Brown, John A. L. Morrell, Mathew G. Emery, Joseph H. Bradley, senior, William R. Woodward, E. Whittlesey, Warren Choate, Andrew B. Duvall, A. S. Solomons, W. G. Metzerott, Alexander R. Shepperd, S. J. Bowen, H. M. Sweeney, Benjamin E. Gittings, William Tucker, Charles H. Lane, W. Burris, William McPheeters, E. F. N. Faehtz, J. L. Gatchel, John R. Elvans, Edgar I. Booraem, L. H. Hopkins, Thomas P. Keene, W. D. Blackford, F. H. Day, J. Sayles Brown, William Lanborn, E. L. Corbin, N. A. West, John R. Arrison, W. A. Farlee, Benjamin F. Fuller, Robert A. Slater, Alonzo Bell, A. T. Kinney, John J. Jett, A. M. Scott, A. C. White, A. E. Newton, A. S. Taylor, William H. Rowe, Robert Reyburn, W. H. Slater, John C. Parker, William J. Wilson, S. S. Baker, A. Jones, S. R. Bond, John F. Cook, D. W. Anderson, George A. Hall, Charles H. Moulton, John Edwin Mason, Allison Nailor, junior, David A. Burr, T. C. Grey, R. H. Marsh, Thomas Perry, George F. Gulick, and Theodore F. Gatchel, all of the District of Columbia, and such other persons as were associated with them in conformity to this chapter, and their successors duly chosen, were constituted and created a body corporate in the District of Columbia, to be known as the Washington Humane Society.

§ 44–1502. Society to have certain officers.

The officers of said corporation shall consist of a president, 5 vice-presidents, 1 secretary, 1 treasurer, an executive committee of 11 members, and such other officers as shall from time to time seem necessary to this Society.

§ 44–1503. Officers to be chosen from members.

The foregoing officers shall be chosen from among the members of the Society.

§ 44–1504. Bylaws.

The said Society, for fixing the terms of admission of its members, for the government of the same, for the election, changing, and altering the officers above named, and for the general regulation and management of its affairs, shall have power to form a code of bylaws, not inconsistent with the laws of the District of Columbia, or of the United States, which code, when formed and adopted at a regular meeting, shall, until modified or rescinded, be equally binding as this chapter upon the Society, its officers, and members.

§ 44–1505. Police to arrest law violators at request of member; evidence of membership.

Members of the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia, upon application of a member of the Washington Humane Society who has viewed a violation of a law or regulation of the District for the prevention of cruelty to animals, shall arrest the offending party without a warrant, and take him before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for trial. Proper evidence of membership to a police officer shall be the exhibition of a badge or certificate of membership in the Society.

(June 21, 1870, 16 Stat. 158, ch. 135, § 5; R.S., D.C., § 998; Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1196, ch. 854, § 43; Apr. 1, 1942, 56 Stat. 190, ch. 207, § 1; July 8, 1963, 77 Stat. 77, Pub. L. 88-60, § 1; Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 618, Pub. L. 88-241, § 12; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 570, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 155(a).)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 32-905.

1973 Ed., § 32-205.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 22-1004 and § 22-1009.

Cross References

Animal cruelty, warrantless arrest, fighting or baiting, see § 22-1009.

Animal cruelty, warrantless arrest, notice to owner, see § 22-1004.

§ 44–1506. Disposition of fines.

One half of all the fines collected through the instrumentality of the Society or its agents, for violations of such laws shall accrue to the benefit of said Society.

§ 44–1507. Provisions effective throughout District.

The provisions of §§ 44-1501 to 44-1507 shall be general within the boundaries of the District of Columbia.

§ 44–1508. Authority to prevent cruelty to children.

The Washington Humane Society is authorized to extend its operations to the protection of children as well as animals from cruelty and abuse. In pursuance thereof the said Society may cause its proper officers or agents to prefer complaints, before any court in the District of Columbia having jurisdiction, for the violation of any law relating to or affecting the protection of children in said District, and by its proper attorney may aid in bringing the facts before such court in any proceeding taken.

§ 44–1509. Enforcement of laws by Mayor — Protection of children.

The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall, by the police force of said District, aid the said Society, its officers and agents, in the enforcement of all laws relating to or affecting the protection of children; and the Mayor of the said District, and his successors, are authorized, in their discretion, to detail, from time to time, an officer or officers to aid specially in the work of said Society, or they may commission any duly appointed agents of said Society special police officers, without compensation; and such agents or officers shall have power to arrest, without warrant, all persons violating in their presence or sight any law relating to or affecting the protection of children, or other parties so offending by virtue of a warrant issued by the Family Division of the Superior Court, which offenders shall be taken by such agents or officers before the said Family Division of the Superior Court for trial. Said agents or officers are also hereby empowered to bring before the said Court any child who is subjected to cruel treatment, willful abuse, or neglect, or any child under 17 years of age found in a house of ill fame; and said Court may commit such child to an orphan asylum or other public charitable institution in the District of Columbia, with the consent of the constituted authorities of such asylum or institution, or make such other disposition thereof as provided by law in cases of vagrant, destitute, or abandoned children.

(Feb. 13, 1885, 23 Stat. 302, ch. 58, § 2; Mar. 19, 1906, 34 Stat. 73, ch. 960, § 8; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 578, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 159(h).)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 32-909.

1973 Ed., § 32-209.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 4-116.

Cross References

Age of majority, establishment, see § 46-101.

Public welfare supervision, board of public welfare, child care and supervision, see § 4-116.

Change in Government

This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to a Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia (see Acts Relating to the Establishment of the District of Columbia and its Various Forms of Governmental Organization in Volume 1). Section 401 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967 (see Reorganization Plans in Volume 1) transferred all of the functions of the Board of Commissioners under this section to a single Commissioner. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 ( D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act ( D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.

§ 44–1510. Enforcement of laws by Mayor — Cruelty to animals.

The Mayor of the District of Columbia is authorized, in his discretion, to detail from time to time 1 or more members of the Metropolitan Police force to aid the Washington Humane Society in the enforcement of laws relating to cruelty to animals as well as of the laws relating to cruelty to children.

(June 25, 1892, 27 Stat. 60, ch. 135, § 2.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 32-910.

1973 Ed., § 32-210.

Change in Government

§ 44–1511. Power to alter, amend or repeal provisions.

Congress shall have power to alter, amend, or repeal §§ 44-1501 to 44-1507 at any time.