Animal Control Report: Feisty Squirrel Chases Cat

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. 

Stray dog in gym — On Jan. 13, an Animal Control officer responded to a report of a dog inside the Planet Fitness facility in the 4600 block of Kenmore Avenue. A Planet Fitness staff member discovered a Chihuahua inside the gym’s lobby and did not know how it got there.

The dog was brought back to the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and attempts were made to locate the owner. The dog appears to be friendly and it is not known if it wandered into the gym’s lobby or if someone left the dog at the gym.

Squirrel chases cat — On Jan. 14, an Animal Control officer arrived at a residence in the 200 block of Burgess Avenue to remove a squirrel. The caller reported that the squirrel was chasing her cat inside the home and she was able to confine the squirrel to an upstairs bathroom.

The officer entered the bathroom and located the particularly feisty squirrel behind the toilet. The squirrel could not be captured in a net, but the officer was able to open a window and the squirrel exited the home.

Trap-Neuter-Return Program launches — Using a grant from PetSmart Charities, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has launched a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program in the city. The AWLA is offering assistance to feral cat caretakers and other concerned citizens to humanely and effectively reduce the number of free-roaming cats in the city. AWLA provides supplies, training and financial backing for spay/neuter surgeries. The program runs at no cost to the public. A schedule of upcoming workshops and more information is available online.

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