Canine Distemper Found in Dog at Georgetown Animal Shelter

Georgetown, Texas – The Georgetown Animal Shelter is currently grappling with a distressing outbreak of canine distemper, necessitating an urgent call to community members to step forward and foster or adopt dogs, in order to curb the spread of this virulent disease.

Jackson Daly, the esteemed Assistant Public Works Director of Georgetown, expressed the shelter’s dire need for community assistance, emphasizing the crucial importance of relocating the shelter’s healthy dogs, thereby facilitating appropriate care for those dogs that require isolation.

The distressing situation unfolded when a dog was brought into the Georgetown Animal Shelter on July 31. Gradually, it began exhibiting symptoms of the canine distemper virus, prompting the shelter’s meticulous staff to promptly take resolute action.

“On August 18, the dog was taken to the veterinarian, and the test conducted on August 22 confirmed the presence of the virus,” disclosed Daly, seeking to highlight the meticulous measures undertaken by his diligent team.

Notably, the infected dog was not discovered within Georgetown, rendering it perplexing as to how the contagious disease found its way to the shelter. The shelter’s unwavering commitment to containment and prevention has been abundantly evident, with Daly emphasizing the tremendous efforts being undertaken by the dedicated staff to curb any further transmission of the virus.

Daly substantiated these efforts, pointing out that there exists a tangible risk of six additional dogs contracting the contagious virus, compelling the shelter to implement testing for distemper on all canines housed within the facility.

“The virus is capable of affecting various bodily systems in dogs, typically commencing with upper respiratory symptoms and progressing, if left untreated, to more severe neurological symptoms that may ultimately prove fatal,” Daly solemnly warned, underscoring the urgency of swift and effective intervention.

In addition to these grave concerns, the animal shelter finds itself in urgent need of finding suitable adoptive or foster homes for 15 dogs, subject to certain conditions. “Emergency fosters for healthy dogs will only be considered for households that either possess no dogs or already have all their dogs appropriately vaccinated,” Daly cautioned, emphasizing the necessary precautions.

Amidst this challenging situation, the shelter is compelled to temporarily suspend the acceptance of owner-surrendered dogs, limiting intake solely to emergency cases. This measure aims at mitigating the risk of escalating the outbreak and ensuring the focus and resources are channeled effectively to combat the existing crisis.

As the Georgetown Animal Shelter grapples with this severe outbreak of canine distemper, its urgent plea for support from the community highlights the immediate need for proactive involvement in fostering or adopting dogs. The dedicated staff members, driven by their unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care for these animals in distress, stand poised to confront this crisis head-on.