Sheriff's Office: Watch for Uncapped Pipes while Walking Dogs

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division wants your help preventing incidents involving dogs or small animals from falling into uncapped 4 inch “clean out” pipes.

Stafford’s animal control division, the Stafford Fire & Rescue and Stafford Utilities were contacted Tuesday, Sept. 16 to rescue a small yorkie dog that had fallen into a 4 inch, uncapped, “clean out’ pipe. The dog’s owner had been walking the dog without a leash in an apartment complex when the dog fell into the 8-foot deep pipe. The dog was rescued by personnel on the scene.

A similar incident took place in March in which multiple agencies responded with shovels and digging equipment but failed to remove a small dog from a similar “clean out” pipe.

Citizens are asked to check if they have “clean out” pipes on their property and to make sure that they are capped properly. Citizens are encouraged to contact Stafford County Utilities with any questions about the type of cap to place on the exposed “clean out” pipes.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to cap the open pipe. Citizens who notice uncapped pipes on public property are urged to contact Stafford County Utilities at (540) 658-8630.