Urban rat hunting, New York City style

[marmar]

NEW YORK—Bodies tensed and noses twitching, the dogs sniff the hunting ground before them: a lower Manhattan alley, grimy, dim and perfect for rats. With a terse command — “Now!” — the chase is on.

Circling, bounding over and pawing at a mound of garbage bags, the four dogs quickly have rodents on the run.

“Come on ... I mean, ‘tally ho!’ says one of their owners, Susan Friedenberg. In a whirl of barks, pants and wagging tails, dogs tunnel among the bags and bolt down the alley as their quarry tries to scurry away.

Within five minutes, the city has two fewer rats. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/04/30/urban_rat_hunting_new_york_city_style.html

[Warpy]

1. 40 years ago in Boston

one of my neighbors used to go rat hunting and string the carcases up in little nooses on the slumlord's office sign.

I always thought that was incredibly classy.