Animal shelters reopen after distemper outbreak
ELLIS COUNTY – The SPCA of Texas announced last week the Ellis County Animal Shelter system would be re-opened on Tuesday of this week, Aug. 9.
The Ellis County Animal Shelter has been closed for several months due to a distemper outbreak in June.
While the disease is not transmittable to humans, there was an elevated risk for other animals to be infected therefore no animals were being allowed into the shelter until testing had shown the outbreak was under control.
In a statement from Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman’s office, “after the first cases of CDV were identified by the SPCA of Texas in consultation with veterinary viral disease expert Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD, the SPCA developed an initiative-taking response plan to maximize lifesaving and minimize the further spread of the virus in the community.
The Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center re-opened to the public on July 13 after all dogs at that facility tested negative for CDV. However, because dogs at the Ellis County ACC and the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center (Dealey Rescue Center) continued to test positive at that time, those with CDV were isolated for treatment at the Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Care Clinic (Martin Clinic) and dogs at the two facilities were tested again late last week.
The release stated, “This round of testing confirmed all dogs at the Ellis County ACC were negative for CDV.
“Because up to half of all dogs infected with distemper are asymptomatic, these rounds of testing continue to be critical to determine if any of the dogs in care are shedding the distemper virus without any observable symptoms.”
Even with the shelter open, the press release added, “At this time, the SPCA of Texas is only taking in animals previously adopted from the organization as space allows and is not able to take in owner surrenders or stray animals surrendered by individuals.”
The overall part of the reopening plan does not include all the SPCA of Texas facilities and some will continue to be closed to adopters, volunteers, and community members for at least another two weeks including Martin Clinic and Dealey Rescue Center.
The SPCA programs and services that are currently available do include offsite adoptions of cats and kittens at local PetSmart stores as well as equine and livestock adoptions.
The foster team will continue to place and work with fosters and the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Care Clinic will remain open to the public.
Food and supply pick-ups for the Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center will continue, and clients will be met at their cars and urgent animal cruelty investigation intake will also continue.
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the SPCA of Texas will also be hosting a free pet vaccination clinic this Saturday, August 13 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ellis County Expo Center at 2300 US 287 in Waxahachie. Rabies, DAPPv and FVRCP vaccinations plus microchips, all donated by Merck and Petco Love, will be provided to help curb the spread of preventable diseases and illnesses in pets living in Ellis County and help pets find their way home.