Posted
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter Cattery is Now Open!UPDATED: 10/15/2009
*editor's note: As of October 12, 2009, the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter cattery was re-opened for adoptions and intake of stray cats.
On Monday, October 5, 2009, the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter confirmed a case of Feline Panleukopenia (also known as Feline Distemper). "This is a contagious, sometimes fatal disease that is carried by unvaccinated animals. Because shelters bring in unvaccinated cats, Feline Panleukopenia occasionally breaks out in shelter environments. Sadly, this was our turn," says Deborah Wood, Washington County Animal Services Manager.
There have been several reported cases of the disease in Washington County communities in recent weeks. "We have been watching carefully for symptoms. We haven't seen anything at the shelter until this week that indicated we might have a problem," says Wood.
The shelter's cattery will be closed through at least Monday, October 12, 2009. "We hope to be open by then, but this is a situation that has to be reassessed daily," says Wood. No cats will be available for adoption until the cattery is reopened, and the shelter is not accepting any new cats into the shelter until it is reopened. "This will allow us to scrub down every inch of the shelter with disinfectants that are proven to be effective against the disease," says Wood. Cats currently in the shelter are being assessed for their health.
The shelter staff is also contacting all people who have adopted cats from the shelter in the past 14 days (the incubation period for the illness) to advise them of the situation.
The shelter is open for licensing and adopting dogs, redeeming lost pets, and will accept stray dogs.
You can click here for a fact sheet about feline panleukopenia.
Media Contact:
Deborah Wood, Animal Services Manager503-846-7148
[email protected]