Animal Control Report: Canine Reunion, Bookish Bat

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 Egan of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Reunited — Just after 2 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, an animal control officer was dispatched to the 2000 block of Mount Vernon Avenue after a Labrador retriever was discovered tied to a post with an electrical cord.

The dog was wearing a collar and ID tag, but neither of the phone numbers allowed the officer to connect with the owners.  

The officer discovered a microchip in the dog after transporting it to the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. Using the number in the microchip, the officer was able to connect with the owners.

The dog had escaped earlier in the afternoon and the family had been unable to locate the pooch.

Canine and family were reunited around 4 a.m., ensuring a happy Thanksgiving.

Bookish bat — On Dec. 3, an Animal Control officer was dispatched to the 3700 block of Seminary Road after a bat was discovered flying around a men’s room in a Virginia Theological Seminary library.

The officer was able to capture the bat and quickly determined there was no risk of potential rabies exposure to the public.

The bat was released outside.

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