Pinal County Animal Care and Control announced that it would halt dog walks and playdates, increase facility cleanings, and quarantine potentially contaminated animals after a dog called Kendrick tested positive for canine distemper virus on April 25.
The facility remained open for viewing adoptable cats, purchasing a license, and completing other administrative tasks.
The American Veterinary Medical Association describes canine distemper virus as a dangerous and highly contagious disease. According to the county, the virus “attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.”
In late April, the county announced operational changes “to limit exposure and prevent its spread within the shelter.”
It announced that it would start “revaccinating all the dogs in its shelter, limiting dog-to-dog contact (i.e. halting public dog walks, play groups, public walking through the kennels and assigning designated teams for animal handling and cleaning to reduce cross contamination) and getting as many animals out to foster or adoptive homes as possible.”
The county also tested all canines on the same side of the building as Kendrick, as well as any others that exhibited symptoms. Results were expected on April 29 or 30. The county reported that approximately ten canines were quarantined at another facility due to symptoms.
Kendrick, who was estimated to be 6 years old and had arrived at the shelter as a stray six weeks ago, was mercifully terminated after his initial symptoms became “considerably worse,” according to Pinal Animal Care and Control Director Audra Michael.
“The dog had a very runny nose and seemed to be having a hard time breathing,” Michael explained.
“He started to exhibit neurological symptoms, such as twitching and clacking his teeth, so we tested him,” she says. “We have no idea how he got the virus.”
Kendrick had been immunized at the time of admission.
Michael reported that the shelter was 200% over capacity on April 29, with 359 dogs in its care. The facility has 159 kennels and can house two to four canines per kennel, depending on size.
