Animal Control Report: Bird Trapped in Dryer Vent

Animal Control officers in Alexandria deal with a variety of calls every week. Here's a glance at some recent incidents in the city courtesy of Patrick Cole, the director of communications and outreach at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Bird in dryer vent — An Animal Control officer discovered a bird trapped in a dryer vent on March 22 in a residence in the 3200 block of Gunston Road.

The officer received a call reporting an unknown animal was stuck inside a residence in an area near a washer and dryer.

Upon arriving at the residence, the officer determined the animal was a bird and it was located somewhere in the flexible vent pipe connected to the dryer.

The officer and resident opened a window in the laundry room and removed the flexible pipe from the dyer. Shortly thereafter, the officer saw a bird poke its head out of the pipe.

The officer and the resident then exited the room to allow the bird to fly through the open window. The resident was advised to monitor the situation and contact Animal Control if further assistance was needed.  

Humane wildlife traps — An Animal Control officer responded to a March 24 call to remove a raccoon inside a trap in the 500 block of N. Imboden Street only to find the trap empty.

A nearby resident called claiming to have seen a raccoon in a trap and asked Animal Control to remove it. An Animal Control officer told the caller the office can only remove a trap if it belongs to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The caller was unwilling to check the trap to see if it was owned by the AWLA. An Animal Control officer then went to the scene and found the trap, which did not belong to AWLA, empty but set with bait. 

The officer contacted the management company from the nearby housing complex, who informed the officer that a pest control company had been hired to trap raccoons on the property with humane traps.  

AWLA Baby Shower — It’s kitten and puppy season and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is hosting a baby shower on April 6 at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. Animal lovers are invited to the open house event to learn more about the League’s foster care program, which provides care to puppies and kittens until they are old enough to be adopted. Donations from the Foster Care Wish List are being accepted.

For more information about Alexandria Animal Control, visit the AWLA website.