independent news media
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control will be closing Mesa Shelter on Sunday to test all animals for dystenes after many dogs were diagnosed with a highly contagious viral disease.
The shelter, 2630 W. Rio Salado Parkway, will be closed at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 “for the foreseeable future,” officials said in a release. About 300 dogs need to be tested, they said.
“Unfortunately, several dogs in our east side shelter have tested positive for distemper and several others are beginning to show symptoms of the disease. ,” the official said in a release.
Adoptions and transfers will continue until Sunday, according to the release, “All adoptees and partners will receive counseling regarding the recent increase in sick dogs and possible exposure to respiratory illness.
“It’s important to note that this does not mean that the dog is distemper positive. They could have CIRDC, kennel cough, etc.
Distemper affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Dogs may be asymptomatic or may show typical symptoms such as fever, lethargy, eye and nasal discharge, and neurological ticks, the release states. They can pass the virus on to other dogs through coughs, sneezes, tears, saliva, urine and feces.
“While we do not know at this time if any symptomatic dog is distemper positive, we are taking aggressive steps to stop the spread of this highly contagious and deadly canine virus. an MCACC official said in a release.
The shelter seeks community support in the following areas:
- All adoption fees are waived at both shelter locations until further notice. Anyone interested in a dog at the East Shelter can do a “blind adoption” without meet-and-greet. You can see the dogs through the kennel. Potential adopters are advised to understand the risks of medicating animals without a definitive diagnosis.
- Sign up to volunteer. Additional assistance is needed to address the increased capacity of the West Shelter of 2500 S. 27.th Avenue.
