Washington Humane Society HLE Division

The winter weather has finally come to DC.  This has been keeping our Humane officers very busy checking on backyard dogs around the city.  This extreme cold can be dangerous especially for puppies and  older or underweight dogs who live outside and do not have access to proper shelter.  But, other animals can be affected as well.  Last week our Humane Officers investigated a case of four rabbits who were in a backyard in the freezing rain with no visible shelter.  The Humane Officers were poised to impound the rabbits when they discovered that the rabbits had access to a doggy door (or a ‘bunny door’ in this case) and could come and go from the house to the backyard.  Unfortunately not all animals in D.C. are allowed access to the indoors.  Please call if you are concerned about any animals in your neighborhood who are outside during this extreme cold.

            The saddest case Humane Law Enforcement encountered this past week did not involve the cold however.  This case involved a young pug named Nina.  Nina lived with her two caretakers- a couple.  Late one night the couple drove to the D.C. Animal Shelter and the man brought Nina into the shelter.  Nina was bleeding in the face and her eye had been knocked out of its socket.  The man told the D.C. shelter employee that he had been fighting with his girlfriend and that she had gotten mad and had slammed the dog’s head in the door.  He had no money for veterinary care and wanted to surrender her to us.  After the man left the shelter an employee called Humane Officer Schindler who came and took Nina to the vet.  The vet decided emergency surgery was needed to try to save the eye.  Unfortunately, Nina went into cardiac arrest and died under anesthesia.  Her body was sent to have a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) performed to determine the extent of her injuries and whether these contributed to her death.  The case is under investigation.  The man now says the dog’s injury was an accident.  Sadly, many physical abuse cases that WHS investigates and prosecutes each year involve domestic disputes.  These are often challenging cases to prosecute because the prime witness generally resides with the defendant and is reluctant to testify.  The Washington Humane Society has recognized this link between animal abuse and domestic violence for some time and a couple years ago took proactive steps to protect animals in this situation before they end up like Nina.  WHS set up a Safe Haven program where people who are fleeing domestic violence in their homes may house their animals at WHS while they are in this time of transition.  Some people house their animals for only a week or two and other leave them in WHS custody for months while they get resettled.  Animals who are not spayed and neutered are offered a free spay or neuter plus vaccinations and medical care.  This allows the victim of domestic violence to leave their home without fearing for the safety of animals left behind and also offers the animal a safe place to stay during this turbulent period.  Some of the people who use this program find it simply because they call the Washington Humane Society in desperation, but others are referred by one of the city’s two Domestic Violence intake Centers (one at the courthouse, one at greater SE hospital), or one of the many non-profit shelters or advocacy groups in the area.  As for Nina’s case, once the investigation is complete the U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether there is enough evidence to charge the caretaker with Cruelty to Animals.  Sadly Nina will remain in our hearts as  an innocent victim of the anger and violence in her household.