A Canine Solution to Rat Control

By Amy Fernandez

Way before we had many, if any, technological advances, we had an all-purpose solution to lots of human problems: home protection, transportation, and food sourcing. The point is that NYC is taking the long way around for rat mitigation. Maybe you’ve heard about the ‘NYC War on Rats’. Yes, we’ve got the International Rat Summit, Rat University, and a ton of brand-new rat prevention rules. Every homeowner is now required to purchase a monster-size trash can–the latest high-tech version of rat-proofing. Bad news for Eric Adams: rats cracked this little puzzle within minutes. So, we’re spending a fortune on this latest rat eradication effort, and the rats are winning.

New York is far from the first or only city plagued by rats. The fact is, they are inseparable from high-density urban environments. You might say that the species has co-evolved with our own. But hey, so have dogs—and that’s the thing. Note to Eric Adams: we have a tried-and-true rat control strategy, and it’s been here all along.

Obviously, the issue of rat eradication has stood the test of time as a public obsession. Rats were an acknowledged health hazard centuries before modern science connected the dots to confirm the obvious: they are the source of plague, typhoid, cholera, and leptospirosis, to name a few. Their persistence has earned historical mention from eminent sources since antiquity. So, we’ve been waging this losing battle forever (sorry, Eric)—and the rats have no plans to decamp. Meanwhile, sensible people, since recorded history (and most likely before then), have utilized a reliable, affordable, and non-toxic solution for rat control.

It came in various forms which were eventually distilled into an impressive range of purebreds. And there are so many: Westies, Yorkies, Cairns, Lakelands, Bedlingtons, Manchesters, Norfolks—you get the picture. The common denominator in a good rat killer is speed, efficiency, economy, and availability. Whether it’s Pinschers, Schnauzers, Terriers, or plain old American Rat Terriers—the ubiquity of these breeds illustrates the scope of the problem.

Throughout history, all sorts of ingenious rat traps, snares, cages, tongs, and toxins have been devised to increase success. But none of these equaled the vermin-hunting capacity of a small, determined dog. Even Martha Stewart, the doyenne of household management, has recommended the canine solution.

Recently, The Times featured the exploits of one Brooklyn woman and her proficient little ratter, Katie. Their nightly patrol of Prospect Park (which has no rat problem, according to the Parks Department) has been such a success that a reporter tagged along to document their work. Katie’s talent was revealed quite accidentally when a big rat crossed their path during a nightly walk. Before her owner could blink, the dog grabbed it and dispatched it with one hard shake. Katie didn’t learn this time-honored technique; it was encoded in her brain.

After that revelatory night, her owner began carrying a few baggies for rat disposal—and she turned out to need a whole lot. As reported by The Times, she hit a new high for 2024, killing 500 rats. Back in Victorian times, when rat control was an equally big obsession, a London Terrier named Billy reportedly set a record by dispatching 90 rats in 7½ minutes. Since rats are vectors for leptospirosis, Katie receives a leptospirosis shot every six months, as well as a good cleanup after each hunting expedition. Her owner also noted that death by ratter is far more humane and much safer than rat poison, which tends to kill many species besides rats. Remember Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl that some AR idiot decided to free from the Central Park Zoo? He died from rat poison.

Katie is far from the only NYC ratter. Organized groups of Dachshund and Terrier owners have also ventured out to help solve the problem, which appears to be defying all the brand-new official strategies. It’s hard to understand why this simple, effective method has fallen off the radar. Really, the fact that it’s considered breaking news is pretty sad. Then again, maybe someone should mention this to the mayor because those stupid garbage cans are not going to do the trick!

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=315918

Posted by Liz on Jan 8 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.