Animal Watch

Thursday, June 7, 2007

These were among cases handled by the Washington Humane Society. The society operates its own shelter at 7319 Georgia Ave. NW and the District's at 1201 New York Ave. NE. For more information or assistance, 24 hours a day, call 202-723-5730 or visithttp://www.washhumane.org.

Turtle Evicted From Playground

ANACOSTIA AND DOUGLAS STREETS NE, May 24. A snapping turtle entered a school playground. An animal control officer used gloves to pick up the reptile and released it in a nearby wooded area with a pond.

Stray Cat on Porch

OWEN PL. NE, 1118 block, May 26. A woman found a stray cat on her front porch and took it inside. Animal control took the cat to the D.C. shelter, where it was made available for adoption.

Owner Never Returns for Cat

YUMA ST. SE, 800 block, May 28. A woman agreed to take care of a cat for someone. The owner never returned for the pet, so the woman contacted animal control. An officer took the cat to the D.C. shelter, where it was made available for adoption.

Dog Dies Hanging From Chain

KANSAS AVE. NW, 4900 block, May 29. A Rottweiler jumped over a railing in a patio area and hanged itself on its chain. A Humane Society officer took the dead animal to the society shelter. The case was under investigation.

Woman Gives Up Lab Mix

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Upper Marlboro, Persimmon Rd., 24000 block, May 20. A woman surrendered a 50-pound, black Labrador retriever mix to the D.C. shelter. The 1-year-old male was made available for adoption.

Animals Available for Adoption

The Humane Society will show dogs and cats available for adoption from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the society's mobile adoption unit during the Capitol Pride Festival along Pennsylvania Avenue, between Third and Seventh streets NW. For information, call 202-576-6839.

The following were among cases handled by the Washington Animal Rescue League, 71 Oglethorpe St. NW. For more information, call 202-726-2556.

Lab Treated for Hip Injury

D ST. NE, 1500 block, May 24. A man took a 2-year-old Labrador retriever mix to the Washington Animal Rescue League's medical center. The man had found the dog two weeks earlier, and it had been limping. A veterinarian determined that the dog had an old hip fracture. A veterinary orthopedist performed surgery to fix the hip. The man qualified for a discounted rate and took the dog home.

Great Dane Treated for Bloat

AKRON PL. SE, 2800 block, May 25. A woman's Great Dane went into shock, and she took it to the league's medical center. The dog was found to have bloat (a swelling of the abdomen, which can be fatal if not treated immediately). Although the cause of the disease was unknown, exercising immediately after eating might have triggered it, according to the league. The dog underwent surgery and was transferred to an emergency clinic for overnight care. It was later claimed by its owner.

Kittens Found Behind Shed

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Lanham, Nashville Rd., 6800 block, May 29. A couple doing yard work found four 1-month-old kittens behind a shed. They suspected that the mother was a feral cat that lived in the area. After the kittens were taken indoors and bathed, they were transferred to the Washington league and made available for adoption.

Vehicle Strikes Dog

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Adelphi, University Boulevard and Riggs Road, May 30. An employee of the Washington league was on her way to work when she saw a vehicle strike a dog. She stopped and called the league for assistance. A veterinary technician took the animal to the league's medical center. Meanwhile, a man who also witnessed the accident said that he knew the dog's owner and would tell the owner about the accident. X-rays showed that the dog had a bruised chest but no fractures. No one contacted the league to claim the dog. It was transferred to the Prince George's County animal shelter, where it was held as a stray.

-- Compiled by RIA MANGLAPUS