More than 10 dogs adopted after being rescued from barricade

WASHINGTON — Several dogs rescued from the D.C. barricade situation in Southeast, are up for adoption. 31 dogs were recovered from the home where the suspect, Stephen Claude Rattigan lived.

Saturday, there was a happy ending for several families as they adopted some of the dogs rescued. You could see the excitement from both dogs and people in the community who are ready to adopt.

“I saw this on television, on channel 9 and I’m here,” man adopting, Kevin Peterson said.

Peterson was visibly eager and full of joy. He was so excited that he pulled up to the Humane Rescue Alliance three hours early, to make sure he found a new fur-ever friend.

“It’s very exciting for me,” Peterson said. “My whole family, we’re dog people and were going to really, she’s going to be a part of our family.”

Word about this special adoption spread quickly – and several people showed up.

“I called my brother; I told him,” sister of a man adopting, Samantha Muschette. “He said for real. I said c'mon Ima take you.”

The dogs that have this place packed with families ready for adoption, were rescued from a Southeast D.C. home over allegations of animal cruelty. Rattigan is also accused of shooting three officers who came to his home to serve an arrest warrant.

RELATED: Dogs rescued from home of day-long barricade situation in DC up for adoption

“We housed all the dogs at an off-site facility to be able to give the time, this is a large number of animals, and they had various needs and we wanted to address all the needs.” animal Welfare Response and Rescue Senior Vice President, Chris Schindler said.

Seven dogs were adopted within the first 35 minutes. Six dogs were adopted by caretakers and medical staff that were helping take care of them.

“It means a lot for me. I get to take care of an animal that needs to be taken care of and I get a little friend because I just lost a Yorkie 9 weeks ago,” man adopting, Mark Vaughn said.

14 of the 31 American bulldogs rescued from the house were available for adoption Saturday.

“I can take care of a dog that possibly didn’t have a future, so I can give him a bright future at least for the rest of his life,” Vaughn said.

“To these animals now going into new homes like we have today and the turn out from our community is really powerful moment,” Schindler said.

WUSA 9 asked Vaughn what it meant to adopt the dog he wanted.

“Absolutely marvelous,” Vaughn said. “I’m stunned man. I got somebody to love and love me. From this day forward his name is Moe. Named after my brother may he rest in peace.”

“I’m happy for him,” Muschette said as she wiped her tears.

The Humane Rescue Alliance is encouraging anyone who is interested in adopting to come by and at least doing a visit and see what pets are available.  

RELATED: Court docs: Man arrested for shooting officers serving animal cruelty warrant was caught on video punching dogs

RELATED: ‘They will have to kill me' | Man charged with shooting 3 officers refused to give up his dogs, court docs say