Patch Goes on the Road with Fairfax County Animal Control

We drove around with Animal Control officer Enna Lugo, and learned about Bats, Rabid Raccoons, and Biscuit, the wild Shih Tzu.

The 12-hour day for Fairfax County Animal Control officers starts at the crack of dawn. At around 6:15 a.m., while the vans are warming up outside 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax County, Admin Sergeant Eric Powell sips coffee and reads the Police Department's latest internal news and messages to five Animal Control officers. One of them starts to talk about a hoarding case, which sometimes goes hand-in-hand with cases of animal neglect. Or what about Biscuit, someone asks, the wild Shih Tzu who's been eluding capture in the Amberleigh neighborhood of Alexandria for the last two years?  "He (Biscuit) looks like a dirty mop," said Animal Control officer Enna Lugo. "And he's so fast, but I'm worried that he's getting sick."  Animal Control …

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Fox Sightings: On the Rise in Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt?

Mount Vernon and Fort Hunt residents may see more foxes than usual this time of year.

Seen any foxes in the Mount Vernon and Fort Hunt area lately? It’s normal this time of year to see foxes during the daytime hours in Fairfax County. Fairfax County Police spokesperson Lucy Caldwell told Patch that residents shouldn't be concerned if they see any foxes, since it's breeding season. For more on area foxes, see "Surprise! 'Kits' Mistaken for Kittens" ”Some are out hunting more, also, there is not as much food available in winter,” she explained. “Also, if there is any construction in the area, foxes may be scared off and looking for new homes." Caldwell added that unless residents notice a fox acting abnormal or aggressive, it shouldn’t be a problem. If you encounter a sick or injured fox, or one that seems to be acting …

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Martin Tillett

10:45 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013

Feeding wildlife is generally discouraged although there are of course inconsistencies on this issue with many citizens using bird and squirrel feeders in their yards. Seemingly harmless but if poorly managed, feeding birds can create an attraction for mice, rats and other wildlife like raccoons and deer. As I recall a few years ago, a MV resident on Little Hunting Creek was feeding geese and a …   more ›

Route 1 Dispatches: New U.S. Citizens Welcomed at Mount Vernon

Take a look at this week's top headlines from the Route 1 corridor.

From Huntington-Belle Haven Patch: Sonya Thomas of Huntington took first place in the 2012 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating World Championship for women at Coney Island, N.Y on the Fourth of July. Thomas ate 45 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Friday's rare derecho storm gave the local hotel industry a slight boost. Local hotels say business picked up after the storm because many residents lost power and sought refuge at hotels. From Fort Hunt Patch: Fairfax County police are looking for a person/persons who they believe stabbed a 15-month old pit bull in the neck last Friday. The Hollin Hall Shopping Center was one of many places affected by power outages after Friday's derecho. The shopping center lost power for three and a half days. From Mount …

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Animal Control Responded to Eight Incidents in March

The following arrest information was supplied by the Fairfax County Police Department. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Every week, the Fairfax County Police Department releases a list of animal control incidents at the end of its weekly incident report. Patch will compile these responses at the end of each month for our readers’ convenience. License and Rabies Violation Around 5:30 p.m. on March 4, officers responded to the 5500 block of Malone Ridge Street to investigate reported maltreatment of a dog. According to police, dog was all right, but the owner, Katie Eberhardt Roundtree, 24, could not provide any rabies or license information. She was charged accordingly. Animal at Large/Dog Bite Around 6 p.m. on March 8, a victim reported he had been bitten by a brown German Shepherd that was being chased by two girls near 7400 Lee Highway. No identity was …

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IMHO

Those Yapping Dogs

Barking dogs are one of this columnist's pet peeves.

“I’m gonna shoot those dogs one day,” I announce to my wife as the digital clock flashes 6:30 — on a Saturday morning.   You see, the problem is that I have a neighbor who is basically in a coma all of the time. She is three houses down and is totally oblivious to the constant baying of her hounds in her back yard. Maybe baying is not the right word. The better word is yelping. They are small, pesky dogs (I don’t know what kind), and they are constantly screeching right into my bedroom window. I just don’t get it. I’ve got a dog, a standard poodle named Paris. We did spend some money to get her trained and maybe my neighbor couldn’t afford to do the same, but I doubt it. But even if your dog has not been trained, don’t you hear the darn …

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