Animal Control Report: A Horse Walks into a Party

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.

A horse walks into a party… — A century ago, horses were a common sight on the streets of Alexandria.

Today, or course, a horse stands out and is generally not allowed in the city unless specifically permitted and licensed.

On Sept. 28, an Animal Control officer was en route to respond to a call when he spotted someone walking a horse along the sidewalk in the 2400 block of Cameron Mills Road.

The officer greeted the horse’s handler and inquired about what they were doing and where they were headed.

The handler said they were on their way to give rides at a girl’s birthday party nearby.

The Animal Control officer spoke with the owner of the company that sent the horse and issued a warning citation before allowing the horse and handler to carry on toward their party.  

Cat abandoned — On Sept. 30, an Animal Control officer was dispatched to the 4300 block of Duke Street after someone reported seeing an animal carrier outside and apartment complex’s leasing office.

Upon arrival, the office discovered a cat inside the carrier. Unable to find the owner, the officer took the car to the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter.

Alexandria Shelter Walk — AWLA will host its second annual Alexandria Shelter Walk for Homeless Animals on Oct. 20 at Market Square in Old Town. Dogs are welcome, and walkers are encouraged to bring their canine friends.

The event is the only fundraising walk that benefits AWLA and the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter.

For more information and to register, please visit the event website.