Tianna Morimoto

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Mesa, Arizona (KTVK, KPHO) — The Maricopa County Department of Animal Care and Control has announced the temporary closure of the East Valley Sanctuary due to a possible outbreak of illness among dogs.

According to the MCACC, eight dogs in a shelter at 2630 West Rio Salado Parkway have been diagnosed with a highly contagious and highly fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. He tested positive for a distemper. In addition, several other dogs are starting to show symptoms such as fever, lethargy, runny nose and nervous ticks, the shelter said. The disease is transmitted through barking, coughing, sneezing, saliva, urine and faeces.

“Distemper is probably one of our worst nightmares,” said Kim Powell, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Animal Control Shelter. “This is a highly contagious and fatal disease that only affects dogs, but unfortunately there is no cure for it.”

MCACC will be closing East Valley Shelter on Sunday from 5 p.m. until further notice. During the closure, shelter staff will test approximately 300 dogs for the virus and determine next care steps. The shelter, in consultation with veterinarians and faculty members of the Midwest University Shelter and Community Health Programs, is actively working to contain the spread of the virus. Dogs that test negative for the virus will be transferred to another animal shelter in the county for re-adoption.

MCACC encourages communities to ensure all pets have the latest vaccinations. They’re also looking for more volunteers to help out at the West Valley shelter. MCACC said all adoption fees will be waived at both shelters during this period.

For those interested in adopting a dog at Higashi Sanctuary, “blind adoptions” are available. That is, there are no encounters, but you can see the dogs through the kennel. “We understand that people may be a little hesitant about adopting at the moment, especially from facilities on the east side. I have a counselor who will explain everything you need to know about distemper in preparation for you,” Powell explained.

The shelter plans to provide an update on the outbreak within the next few days.

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