According to a Yearlong Investigation: Dog Bites Are on the Rise in the Washington, DC Area

A fast-rising number of people in the Washington, D.C. area are suffering dog bites or encountering illegally owned pit bulls, according to a yearlong investigation by the News4 I-Team.

The increases, which are sharp and sudden, are partly the result of neglectful owners or people who fail to follow local animal control laws, the I-Team learned in a series of reviews of animal control reports and interviews with animal control officers.

D.C. Department of Health reports, obtained and reviewed by the I-Team, show the number of dog bite incidents in the city has jumped more than 100 percent since 2007. That increase, from 214 bites in 2007 to 457 bites in 2013, is raising alarm among some city residents.

The city’s animal and human populations have increased during the same time span. Field investigators with the Washington Humane Society, which responds to animal complaints in D.C., report some of the increase can also be attributed to owners who neglect to follow leash laws or prevent dogs from straying.

John Fenner, a resident of northeast D.C., said a pair of stray pit bulls attacked him on a sidewalk in his neighborhood in 2013. He suffered a pair of bites to his groin. “If you have an animal not on a leash, not monitored, you cannot actually predict how they behave,” he said.

Prince George’s County Animal Control officials said the number of stray dogs has plateaued in the county. But the I-Team’s review of county animal shelter reports shows a 150 percent increase in the number of pit bull seizures since 2009. Pit bulls are an unlawful breed of dog to own in the county. Those seizures, up from 192 five years ago to 427 last year, are also an indication of pet owners who neglect to follow local animal control laws, officials said.

Rodney Taylor, associate director of the county’s Animal Management Division, said his shelter in Upper Marlboro houses 30 to 35 pit bulls each day. “They’re illegal,” Taylor said. “You cannot have them. (This problem) goes back to the owner.”

In a series of reviews of D.C. and Prince George’s County animal control operations, conducted over 12 months, the I-Team witnessed a long series of animal control officer responses to stray dogs and pit bull calls. In several instances, stray dogs ran free on busy D.C. and Maryland streets.

A spokesman for the Washington Humane Society said the increase in reported bites is at least partly attributable to his organization’s role investigating dog complaints, which began in 2011, he said. “We’ve heightened the community’s awareness about animal problems,” he said. “People recognized that we have a structured reporting program.”

During cold winter mornings and hot summer afternoons, the I-Team spotted animals placed outdoors in yards for extended periods of time. Those issues of neglect can lead to biting incidents, animal control officers reported.

The I-Team’s review found the number of animal control calls has sharply increased in D.C. Animal control officers responded to more than 18,000 calls in the city last year, a 3,000 call increase since 2010.

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Meet, Matilda, a Beautiful Tabby Cat Whose Genetic Eye Disorder Has Caused Her to Have Painful Enlarged Eyes: Please Donate for Her Surgery

The cosmic kitty has garnered a lot of attention on Instagram, where her human companions, who identify themselves only as "The Bearded Man" and "The Lady," share photos and videos of the special feline.

Matilda has a genetic eye disorder that's caused her enlarged eyes, and she's now blind, her owners wrote on Instagram, but she didn't always have her alien-like eyes, it turns out.

The celestial cat arrived on Earth on Valentine's Day in 2013 in a hoarder house in a small town, her owners said, adding that they adopted her from a rescue society that picked her up.

Matilda landed in their home when she was only 12 weeks old and that she "showed no fear when she met Dog, who was about 10 times her size," said her owners, who also call themselves her servants.

Matilda was born with seemingly normal eyes, but as she grew older and bigger, she started having "one squinty eye from time to time, which earned her the nickname of Quasimodo," her servants said.

After multiple veterinary visits, The Lady said she contacted the rescue society that Matilda came from to try and solve the mystery.

"When she heard back from the rescue society there was a surprise -- they had moved offices and had lost the contact information for Matilda's servants, and had been trying to reach them for months!" her owners wrote. "As it turned out, two of Matilda's littermates had developed a mysterious eye condition, and they had been trying to re-find Matilda."

A veterinary ophthalmologist soon confirmed that Matilda displayed signs of spontaneous lens luxation, just like her siblings, her servants said. The specialist explained to them that Matilda's lenses had spontaneously detached and that she also had a collagen deficiency, which makes it difficult to heal from injuries and surgery.

The Lady and The Bearded Man wrote they initially decided, with the veterinary ophthalmologist's support, that they would let Matilda's eyes "do what they naturally would, and would not intervene with a traumatic surgery that did not appear to be helpful."

"Lens luxations in cats are real and are usually the result of other diseases going on inside the eye," veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Matthew Fife told ABC News today. Fife, who did not treat Matilda, works at the Veterinary Ophthalmology Center in Orlando, Florida.

"From looking at her pictures, the main problem, in addition to the detached lenses, is her glaucoma, which means the pressure in her eyes is very high, causing the eyeballs to enlarge and stretch," he said. "It's actually pretty painful."

Matilda's "progressive genetic eye problem" requires her to take medicine to stay pain-free, but she will "inevitably" need surgery in the future, according to the GoFundMe page that has been set up for the starry-eyed kitty. "No matter what happens, her servants think she's perfect and beautiful," they said, "and will love and care for her the absolute best way that they can for however long this little alien is here."

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Did You Know That It’s Not Unusual for Older Pets to Develop Behavioral Problems?

As with people, it’s not unusual for older pets to develop behavioral problems. While it’s easy to blame these behavior changes on age alone, they can also indicate underlying medical problems. Make sure your elder pet visits her veterinarian as recommended, and that you call the veterinarian to discuss any noticeable changes in her behavior! These can be key indicators of underlying medical issues that should be addressed.

Causes of Behavior Changes in Senior Pets

Behavior problems can result from changes in your pet’s routine, illness, disease, senility, or cognitive dysfunction. Any change in lifestyle for a pet can be stressful, regardless of age, and as your pet gets older, she is less equipped to adapt to changes in her environment. Sometimes, simple life changes such as the introduction of a baby to the house, a new family member, or the absence of an individual can drive behavior change.

Medical and degenerative problems can also cause a behavior change in your pet, since changes within the major organ systems can influence behavior in many ways. Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and endocrine disorders all influence your pet’s behavior and personality. As your pet ages, her hearing and sight are affected. Often, this influences their ability to react, sometimes causing him to become fearful. Additionally, pets, like people, can become arthritic, which causes discomfort and can lead to irritability and a change in attitude.

Your pet’s brain is also susceptible to age-related changes. Degenerative processes in the brain can impact your pet’s personality, memory, behavior and even her ability to learn. Your pet may show varying degrees of cognitive function, from minor changes to significant senility.

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Senior Pet

Remember, sometimes small changes in behavior can be an early indicator that your friend is in pain, is ill, or has a degenerative disease. These subtle signs should be reported to your veterinarian right away!

In addition, keep an eye out for the following symptoms, which could be an indication that something is not right for your pet:

• Increased drinking/urination
• Loss of bladder control (dribbling urine or bedwetting)
• Changes in bowel movements or frequent digestive upsets
• Dry or itchy skin
• Sores, lumps, or shaking of the head
• Bad breath or drooling
• Dry, red, or cloudy eyes
• Coughing, excessive panting, or labored breathing
• Lack of enthusiasm for normal activities
• Stiffness or soreness
• Changes in weight Disorientation
• Tremors or shaking

Determining the Cause of Your Pet’s Behavioral Changes

If your pet is showing signs of age-related behavioral changes, your veterinarian will take a complete history of her behavior and thoroughly examine her. In addition, your veterinarian may recommend the following tests to rule out organ disease and other age-related conditions that could be the cause of the behavioral change.

These may include:

• Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function, as well as sugar levels

• Antibody tests to identify if your pet has been exposed to vector-borne or other infectious diseases

• A complete blood count (CBC) to rule out blood-related conditions

• Electrolyte tests to ensure your pet isn’t dehydrated or suffering from an electrolyte imbalance

• Urine tests to screen for urinary tract infections and other diseases, and to evaluate the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine

• A thyroid test to determine if the thyroid gland is producing too little (in the case of dogs) or too much (in the case of cats) thyroid hormone

• An ECG to screen for an abnormal heart rhythm, which may indicate underlying heart disease

Preventing Behavioral Problems in Your Aging Pet

Many behavioral issues our older friends have can be resolved or controlled. Vigilant attention and early detection, as well as other treatments including medication, supplements, and diets, can help treat or greatly slow the progression of many disease conditions and help our furry friends live longer and happier lives.

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A Woman Says She Saw a Coyote Headed for Her Dog, So She Sprinted Outside…and Hit the Coyote Square in the Face

Nettie Blanco is sporting some fresh battle wounds this week after a chance encounter with a coyote that attempted to make a meal of her small 9-year-old shih tzu, Sammy, reports CBS News. 

Nettie claims that she had just let Sammy out into the yard when she looked up from the window and realized the coyote was headed for her dog. She sprinted outside and did the first thing that occurred to her, which was to hit the coyote square in the face. 

The coyote got spooked and Nettie raced Sammy to the vet, where the dog was treated for bite wounds.

“That coyote had him in his mouth and looked up, because Sam was laying … and he looked up at me and I just hit him with all my force right in the face,” she told CBS. “And then he looked at me … and then just jumped over the fence and took off.”

Any pet owner would like to think they’d do anything to protect his or her animal in a time of crisis. But Nettie has elevated herself to a league for which only one other person immediately comes to mind: Carl Moore, the man who punched a bear in the face. Moore also had defended his small four legged companion when a bear wandered into his backyard and was headed for his small chihuahua. But based on his recollection of the events, that bear won’t be back anytime soon. It’s probably safe to assume the same applies to Nettie.

“If I could save one dog, that would be my gift to everything,” she says.

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Company in Bucharest Hires a Cat as Communications Director

With the competition for jobs fiercer than ever, the director of communications position at a new start up was always going to be popular job advert.

700 people reportedly applied for the top position, enticed by its salary and bonus package.

Yet applicants might have been a little surprised to learn that they were beaten to the top job by a surprise candidate, a nine-month old cat.

Bossy the cat put paw to paper, accepting a contract for the top job as Director of communications at a Romanian company.

Based in the Romanian capital of Bucharest, the start-up company appointed Bossy, reportedly after a thorough application process.

With a salary of £110 per month (170.46 US Dollar) plus a healthy bonus of cat food, the nine-month old cat will earn more than some Romanians working in rural areas.

Catbox.ro is an online store, selling original presents that can be delivered in less than 24 hours.

Bossy appears to be a blue Scottish Fold cat, known for their striking orange eyes, lilac colored fur and folded down ears.

It is believed the breed originated from the Scottish highlands with the cat breed being known as lop-eared.

As demonstrated by Bossy, some Scottish Folds also have a unique party trick; they can stand up on their hind legs.

Photographed wearing a fetching cream tie and a smart white collar shirt and black suit jacket, Bossy certainly looks the part.

He appears to be very at home sitting in his new swivel chair, all ready to make all the tough decisions required as a company's communications director.

However it would appear employees will have to tread carefully as with his fierce orange stare, it doesn't appear Bossy will be too happy with slackers.

Bossy is set for a busy schedule as he will reportedly be promoting the brand by doing a series of voice-overs for company videos, posing for brand photo shoots as well as giving his own paw print seal of approval to over 20 presents a day before they are delivered.

So proud of their latest recruitment coup, Catbox.ro reportedly collected Bossy for his first day at work in a silver limousine.

Accompanied in the limo by four impressed secretaries, Bossy looked sharp in his suit, peering confidently out of the window.

Company spokesperson Alexandra Cozac said: 'He came dressed in a suit like a corporate manager and had an impressive attitude.

'He checked the computer and seemed quite intimidating particularly because nobody really knew what message he was trying to convey. I guess it's the first demo and he needs time to settle in.'

As well as his monthly salary, the gorgeous feline will also enjoy bonuses of cat food worth £37 (57.42 US Dollar) and other unspecified perks.

This cat certainly did get the cream.

Bossy beat off the competition of 700 other applicants for the top job of Director of Communications at a new Romanian startup.

The Romanian start-up company appointed Bossy reportedly after a thorough application process.

Bossy appears to be a blue Scottish Fold cat, known for their striking orange eyes, lilac coloured fur and folded down ears.

Catbox.ro reportedly hired a limousine to take Bossy to work for his first day of his first ever job.

Never shy with the ladies, Bossy laps up the attention as he rides to work with four company secretaries.

Putting paw to paper, Bossy the cat appeared only to happy to sign his first contract at the age of nine-months.

Looking slick in his suit and tie, two female members of staff attend to Bossy's knees as he gets at home in his new office.

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4-Year-Old Boy Bitten by a Rattlesnake: Pregnant Mom Sucks Venom from His Foot

A very pregnant Northern California mom is getting attention for her quick instincts after her 4-year-old son was bitten by a rattlesnake. But state wildlife officials say what she did was dangerous.

Jaclyn Caramazza and her family were walking on a bike trail in Folsom over the weekend when her son Vinny stepped on a baby rattlesnake, KTXL-TV reported. The snake quickly coiled up.

Minutes later, Vinny’s foot turned purple and began to swell. Caramazza removed her son’s shoes and found two puncture marks.

Nine months pregnant, this mother sprang into action.

“Mama Bear instinct in me decided to suck the venom because that’s what Bonanza does,” she told KTXL.

Vinny was taken to an area hospital and is doing well.

But trying to suck out venom with your mouth is a bad idea, state wildlife officials say.

"That's an absolute 'do not do,'" said Warden Chris Stoots of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, because of the risk for the person sucking out the poison of becoming ill.

There are venom-suction devices that help remove the poison, Stoots said, but few people carry them when hiking.

According to Fish and Wildlife, if possible, a rattlesnake bite should be washed gently with soap and water. Rinsing with water alone also will do.

The bite victim should be kept calm and rushed to the hospital and the wound site should be kept below heart level.

Most snake bites occur when people accidently step on or try to touch a snake, Stoots said.

Attempt to move or kill a snake, Stoots said, and in most cases "you'll lose."

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Crumbs & Whiskers, Washington DC’s First Cat Cafe, Will Open its Georgetown Doors to the Public June 20: All Felines Vetted and Vaccinated by the Cafe’s Partner, the Washington Humane Society

Crumbs & Whiskers, Washington DC’s first cat cafe, will open its Georgetown doors to the public June 20 after a successful Kickstarter campaign raised twice as much as the owner expected.

Owner Kanchan Singh plans several pre-grand opening parties to thank those Kickstarter supporters.

Crumbs & Whiskers, at 3211 O St. NW, will have about two dozen felines in residence at a time, all vetted and vaccinated by the cafe’s partner, the Washington Humane Society.

Why would you go to a cat cafe?

A boyfriend who’s allergic to cats, stress relief or just the desire to enjoy a cat’s company without the responsibility of owning one, Singh’s Kickstarter pitch suggests.

She also says the cats have a much better chance of being adopted in an environment like this than they would in cages at the Humane Society.

Singh signed a lease for the O Street space in April and spent the last two months going through the permit and building process.

The Crumbs & Whiskers Kickstarter campaign had an original goal of $15,000, and raised almost $36,000 from more than 700 backers.

 You can watch Singh’s Kickstarter pitch video here:

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A Customer is Suing the Denver Cat Company After She Says a Cat Bit Her Hand, and the Bite Got Infected

Denver, Colorado -  Amanda Jamrogiewicz filed the lawsuit on behalf of her mother, Sue Hodges. The two claim they visited the cat cafe back in February and a cat named "Morpheus" bit Hodges.

"[Morpheus] flipped onto his back when my mom still had her hand out," Jamrogiewicz told 9NEWS. "When she was going down to continue petting him, he bit her on her hand rather aggressively and wouldn't let go for at least 15-20 seconds."

"When she finally got her hand away it was bleeding in about 7 or 8 different spots," she said.

Jamrogiewicz said her mother was treated for the bite at the counter. But after she got home, she realized it was infected.

She went to an urgent care clinic for treatment and was charged $305. She asked the café to pay the medical bill, but the owner, Sana Hamelin, wouldn't agree to it.

The suit demands $5,920 for the $305 in medical bills plus missed work and the emotional toll for the entire endeavor.

"We wouldn't be able to survive as a business model if we were opening ourselves up to taking responsibility for a cat's behavior, because we can't guarantee that a cat won't bite or scratch," Hamelin said.

Hamelin said she did offer to pay part of the bill, but admits people get adequate warning about how unpredictable cats are with signs warning people to "pet at their own risk."

"We just let everyone know [petting] is a risk. If they're not willing to take that risk, then they shouldn't pet cats that don't belong to them," she said. "I don't think there's a cat in existence that hasn't bitten or scratched."

Jamrogiewicz said her mother missed a week of work because of the infected bite and complications from an antibiotic she was prescribed. She said her mother is the sole provider for the household after her father went on disability because of a brain tumor.

"They're under a lot of financial stress," Jamrogiewicz said. She claims the missed work hurt her parents' finances even more.

She said the day of the bite, Hamelin asked if it was Morpheus who bit her mother. Jamrogiewicz claims Hamelin knew he was a dangerous cat and should have been removed from the café.

However, Hamelin told 9NEWS Morpheus was one of the most popular cats in her shop.

"He was here for a long time and was very popular with our customers and managed to interact with a lot of people," Hamelin said.

Hamelin says after Jamrogiewicz and her mother started asking for compensation for the bite, she told the rescue that provided the cats for the café. That rescue then decided to pull all of their felines from the café for risk.

"Because of your claim, the shelter has terminated its relationship with the café," Hamelin wrote in an email to Hodges on March 11.

Jamrogiewicz said Hamelin is blaming her mother for losing that rescue, and the accusation is causing emotional stress.

Hamelin said she agreed to pay more than half of Hodges' medical bills in the beginning, but the family refused to agree to that settlement demanding the entire total.

Jamrogiewicz offered another settlement to Hamelin: if the shop paid her mother's medical bills, Jamrogiewicz would make a donation to a cat rescue for the same amount.

Hamelin turned that settlement down and instead offered to make the donation herself in lieu of paying the medical bills.

Jamrogiewicz and her mother refused and filed the $6,000 lawsuit in early April. Hamelin was served last week.

"I guess a lot of people think this is frivolous, and to us, to be honest, it is too," Jamrogiewicz said. "She should have just paid the $300."

Hamelin said she could have just submitted the claim to her insurance, but it was already close enough to the deductible. Also, she worried about her insurance rates going up.

She also said she didn't want to create a precedent for others to sue over an issue she clearly warns people about before they walk in.

"I'm just a solitary person trying to do this by myself so it's tough to be sued when you're not a big corporation," she said "We're not rolling in money here."

The case is due for a hearing in early June.

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