[PHOTOS] Dogs trained to hunt rats

On a warm June evening, revelers flock to Washington’s hip Adams Morgan neighborhood, and they’re not the only ones: the aisles are also full of rats and leftovers from the bars and restaurants.

But the orgy of waste ends suddenly in a bark, gnashing of teeth and spatters of blood, the result of a rodent hunt conducted each week by a dozen dogs flanked by their masters.

“Fine Henry! yells at his lurcher, who just killed the first prey of the night, 28-year-old dog trainer Marshall Feinberg.

Marhsall Feinberg photo ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

The US capital regularly ranks among the five cities with the most rats in the US, a problem exacerbated by milder winters, a growing population and expanding outdoor dining options since the pandemic.

According to local media, the city received nearly 13,400 pest-related calls in 2022, nearly 2,000 more than the year before.

Some local residents have therefore decided to tackle the problem head-on.

Dachshunds, terriers, greyhounds

The foul odor of garbage cans mixed with urine fills the air as the crew ventures deeper into the alleys. Dachshunds, terriers and greyhounds dive under dumpsters in pursuit of game.

Masters of all backgrounds and ages, both from the city and its suburbs and from neighboring states, met on social networks through their shared passion for rat hunting.

Bomani Mtume, a 60-year-old retired police officer who came with his Cairn terrier, Barto, joined the group in March when it began.

“When we started hunting, they (the rats) weren’t even running, they were just watching the dogs,” he told AFP.

Bomani Mtume Photo Stefani Reynolds / AFP

Teddy Moritz, nicknamed “Mamie La Mort”, a legend among gun dog enthusiasts, brought his son and teenage grandson from Delaware.

“It’s a great way to get rid of rats naturally,” she says.

It takes several days for the toxins to destroy these rodents, while the dogs quickly break their spines and become unable to smell.

“Primitive, but effective,” begins the seventy-year-old.

Teddy Moritz Photo Stefani Reynolds / AFP

Always full of vivacity and stamina, Teddy Moritz stamps his foot on a garbage can to divert a fleeing rat to the pack.

The team manages to kill over 30 rodents in three hours and happily pose with their trophies for a few photos before throwing them in the trash.

Cooperation

“What you just saw is the definition of teamwork. Dogs and men work together to exterminate vermin to help our city,” exclaims Marshall Feinberg.

He would like to start an association that would supply extermination companies with dogs that are considered too aggressive to be pets.

According to rodent expert Bobby Corrigan, while there is little scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of rat hunting, the practice dates back hundreds of years when dogs were trained to fight rats. rats on farms.

“There’s no doubt dogs are being used again for rat killing recently,” and commercial demand is increasing, he says.

Photo Stefani Reynolds / AFP

The venom can also harm other species such as hawks and owls, while traps can take days to kill rats, making hunting a more humane option, according to Mr. Corrigan.

But dogs are not the only ones fighting the problem of rodent proliferation in the city. Cats also play their part and mainly hunt mice.

Photo Stefani Reynolds / AFP

Rue, a semi-feral stray cat-turned-local star, helped defeat mice at Greenstreet Growers garden center in the Washington suburb of Alexandria.

“It kills a few mice, but mostly it’s a deterrent,” says Tim Williams, the store’s operations manager. “It’s the fantastic double benefit of having a cat here: everyone loves to see them. »