Alexandria Animal Control: Rat Discovered in Del Ray Toilet

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.

Just, um, no words — Let’s hope this rat-in-toilet-bowl thing isn’t becoming an epidemic.

On Nov. 17, an animal control officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of Dewitt Avenue after a resident discovered a large rodent inside—you guessed it—a toilet bowl.

The officer was unable to determine just how the rat made its way into the depths of the toilet. The rodent was swiftly removed from the resident’s bathroom and released safely outside the home.

Just the day before the Del Ray incident, Arlington County Animal Control retrieved a rat from a toilet bowl in the Madison Manor community.

"Evidently, they tried to flush it a couple of times. But I guess he or she wasn't having it. They can fight the current," Arlington Animal Control Chief Alice Burton told Patch.

Officers trapped and removed that rat.

While rare, such incidents do happen from time to time, Burton said.

Dog attack — An animal control officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of W. Braddock Road on Nov. 7 after a caller witnessed a man and his dog being attacked by an unknown, unleashed dog.

The victim, who received minor lacerations and scrapes, took his dog to Alexandria Veterinary Hospital on Duke Street for treatment for a bite wound to the ear.

The victim described the attacking dog as a Husky or Malamute and was seen wearing a collar, though it was unclear if the attacking dog had tags.

The attacking dog has not been identified. It was last seen headed west along W. Braddock Road.      

Anyone with information about the incident or who sees a dog running at large is urged to report the incident by calling 703-746-4774 or 703-746-4444.

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