Worse Than Poison: The Washington Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) received word on Jan. 28 that someone was poisoning stray cats in an alley intersecting the 900 block of L Street NW. The informant claimed he saw a bottle of anti-freeze next to a pan of cat food. An animal cop arrived at the scene to find that there was no immediate danger: The anti-freeze container was filled with urine.   

Prison Break: On Jan. 29, two pit bulls tried to escape from what seems to have been a death trap: a cage without food or water, left in the backyard of a home in the 1200 block of Farragut Place NW, as temperatures hovered in the 20s. A blanket had been placed over the cage. When an HLE officer found the shivering dogs, they were trying to dig their way out; they had pawed the plastic bottom of the cage until it cracked. The pits’ caretaker claimed the animals were not hers—they had been abandoned at her home. The dogs were surrendered to the Humane Society and are being evaluated for adoption.

Hair Club For Dogs: A hairless chihuahua that had been living in the 4600 block of Hillside Road SE is now in the hands of the Humane Society. A veterinarian concluded that the animal, which was surrendered on Jan. 31, had gone bald as a result of a case of mange. The dog’s owner is being investigated and may be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

Victim 2: Another hair-shedding dog was impounded on Feb. 1 at a home in the 3000 block of Douglass Road NE. The Doberman Pinscher was suffering from a “skin condition” the owners refused to treat, despite being advised to by HLE.  The Humane Society is petitioning the U.S. Attorney’s office regarding charges against the animal’s owners for “failing to provide the dog with necessary veterinary care.”

Source: Washington Humane Society

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