US capital 'recruits' dogs and cats to eliminate rat problem

On a hot June night, young people flock to the bustling Adams Morgan entertainment and dining district in Washington, DC. So do the rats.

US capital 'recruits' dogs and cats to eliminate rat infestation — **The chase in Adams Morgan neighborhood on June 3.** Photo: AFP

Rats are rapidly multiplying in the city. They prowl the alleys behind restaurants, bars and clubs, feeding on food scraps thrown into the trash.

The rodents' fun came to a quick halt amid a series of barks and growls: the result of a hunt involving dozens of people and hounds.

“Good job Henry!” shouted Marshall Feinberg, a 28-year-old dog trainer, as his four-legged “hunter” caught the first rat of the routine patrol.

According to AFP news agency, the capital Washington is consistently on the list of five cities with the most rats in the US. This problem is getting worse after the winters become warmer, the population increases…

There were nearly 13,400 calls to the city's hotline reporting rat-related problems in 2022, up about 2,000 from the previous year.

Now, a group of humans are taking the fight to the rats. The stench of garbage mixed with urine is overpowering as the combined army of men and dogs marches forward. Packs of hounds of all kinds dart out to chase their prey. Their owners are diverse: white, black, old, young.

Some live in this city or suburbs while others come from neighboring states. They connect with each other through social media.

Mr Bomani Mtume, a 60-year-old retired police officer, brought his dog Barto to join the rat extermination team as soon as it was formed in March.

“The first time they went hunting, the rats didn’t even run. They just stood there and watched. The unfamiliar dogs started working together, which was amazing,” he added.

Or take the story of Teddy Moritz, 75, nicknamed "Lady Death." She is a legend in the rat-hunting community and has brought her son and grandson from Delaware to the capital to join her.

According to her, killing rats using the hunting instinct of dogs and cats is better than using chemicals.
Quick and strong, Mrs. Moritz kicked the trash can to scare a fleeing rat back in the direction of the dogs.

Within three hours, the team had killed more than 30 rats and tossed them into the trash. Mr. Feinberg said it was a team effort, combining dogs and humans, to control the pests.

Rodentologist Bobby Corrigan told AFP that while there is little scientific data to confirm the effectiveness of rat hunting, the practice has been around for hundreds of years as dogs were trained to guard farms.

Today, dogs are being used as a more humane rat control tool than baiting and trapping.

Notably, dogs aren't the only four-legged "hunters" taking part in the rat-busting effort in Washington, DC. Cats are, too.

Lisa LaFontaine, president of the Animal Rescue Alliance, told AFP that her organization launched the "Blue Collar Cats" program in 2017, helping connect 400 stray cats with local businesses in need of rat-catching.

According to the alliance, losses caused by rats to businesses have decreased by 10% compared to the past. Cats may catch fewer rats, but they can scare them away.

According to baotintuc.vn

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