Animal Control Report: Dog Rescue, Squirrel in Fireplace

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.

Chilly reminder — It was a cold week, even for the dogs.

On Jan. 6, an animal control officer was dispatched to the 5000 block of Eisenhower Avenue after receiving a report of a dog spotted on a top-floor balcony. With temperatures below 20 degrees and projected to fall into single digits, there was real concern for the animal’s safety.

The officer was able to speak with the dog’s owners and advised on the dangers of leaving animals outside in freezing temperatures with no shelter.

The dog was brought safely inside.

Alexandria Animal Services advises that when it’s cold for humans, it’s also cold for your pets. Animals are sensitive to extreme cold and can quickly suffer frostbite or even hypothermia when temperatures drop.

Failure to provide adequate shelter for a companion animal is a Class 4 misdemeanor under state law.

Tail fire — On Jan. 3, three animal control officers were dispatched to a home in the 800 block of Bashford Lane after a squirrel had become trapped in a resident’s fireplace.

After some chasing, the officers succeeded in coaxing the squirrel out of the chimney, out the front door and back into the wild. The squirrel suffered no injuries.

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