Three confirmed cases of canine parvovirus lead to another disruption in services at the Athens-Clarke County Animal Shelter: the facility on Buddy Christian Way in Athens says it won’t be accepting owner-surrendered dogs until April 8 at the earliest.
From the Athens-Clarke Co government website…
The ACCGov Animal Services Department at 125 Buddy Christian Way will not accept owner-surrendered dogs for intake until Monday, April 8 due to three confirmed cases of canine parvovirus and space constraints. The puppy area will also be closed to visitors during this time and some dogs in affected spaces may not be available for adoption until that time.
Stray dog intakes and owner reclaims of dogs, as well as cat adoptions and all cat intakes, will continue as normal due to separated areas at the facility.
Canine parvovirus, or parvo, is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, although unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months old are the most at risk.
“Animal shelters all over the country have the same challenges with animal viruses due to the numbers of stray and community animals that come through facilities like ours,” says Animal Services Director Kristall Barber. “Our physical layout, cleaning protocols, and department policies help minimize the impacts, but there are required changes to our operations whenever cases occur.”
Until April 8, Animal Services will limit dog intakes to stray dogs only due to space constraints. Residents seeking to surrender dogs prior to April 8 should contact Animal Services by phone at 706-613-3540 for advice.
General dog adoptions and owner reclaims of dogs will continue, although some dogs in affected areas may not be available for adoption until April 8. Owners who reclaim dogs and residents adopting dogs will be advised of the presence of parvo elsewhere in the facility and to contact their vet immediately if their dog starts to act ill.
The three puppies were recently brought into the Adoption Center and tested positive soon after intake. One puppy tested positive on March 18, while two other puppies from separate intakes tested positive on March 21. Animal Services contacted the Georgia Department of Agriculture and reported the results as required. The puppies are not located in the main temporary housing area, but in other areas of the facility.
Animal Shelter staff are continuing to undergo specialized cleaning processes to help minimize the spread of the virus. These steps are being taken to prevent accidental exposure to the virus for dogs outside of these shelter areas through dog or human contact.
Animal Services staff has consulted with the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Animal Protection Division, which regulates and licenses animal shelters, contacted other area facilities that might be affected, and worked with Animal Services’ oversight veterinarian since the illness appeared.
The ACCGov Animal Services Adoption Center’s normal hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM for stray intakes, reclaims, walkthroughs, and adoptions; and Sunday from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM for stray intakes, reclaims, and scheduled adoption appointments.
For more information about Animal Services and the Adoption Center, visit www.accgov.com/animalservices or call 706-613-3540.
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