Not To Alarm Anyone But Use Caution!
 

Dog flu spreading at Palm Beach County's animal control

News partner NewsChannel 5
Posted July 7 2006, 12:12 PM EDT



Palm Beach County Animal Control has become rumor control. As soon as
you walk into the lobby, employees are working the phones, reports
Jamie Holmes during news partner NewsChannel 5's broadcast.

"Tell him to take a shower and throw his clothes in the wash before he
has contact with his dog," says one worker.

It's all fallout from the shelter becoming a hot zone for canine
influenza, also known as dog flu. Dozens of animals have become
infected with the virus, a respiratory ailment far worse than kennel
cough.

This virus has no vaccine. It's highly contagious, airborne and at
Animal Control it has become lethal.

The facility has had to euthanize dozens of animals in an effort to
prevent it from spreading to every dog.

"Unfortunately in our adoption kennel we have had dogs showing
symptoms and we've had to euthanize all our out dogs in our adoption
kennel," says director Dianne Sauve.

Right now it's all about keeping the virus within the walls of the
facility, NBC's NewsChannel 5 reported.

Workers now wear plastic gowns and booties, in an effort to keep the
virus contained within the building. Infected dogs are kept isolated
and employees must constantly change gowns and clothes so they don't
bring the virus home to their own pets.

When workers go in or out of the building, they have to step in a
bleach solution.

"These dogs coughing can spread the virus 20-feet, so we wear these
gowns so we don't carry it somewhere else," says employee Candace
Thompson.

The big fear is this virus will get out into the community.

The Palm Beach Kennel Club has already been under a quarantine for the
last month.

Several hundred of their dogs caught the flu. Two died, while the rest
have been under extensive medical treatment.

Animal Control officials are worried. They say with this many dogs
already affected in the county, it may only be a matter of time before
this outbreak breaks out.

"We don't want to be alarmist, but we want people using some common
sense," says Sauve. "Don't take your dog around places where they can
come in contact with other dogs."

Animal Control will continue to suspend all dog adoptions until July
17th.

Oh how awful. Those poor innocent dogs. Hope they can contain it!
The strange things that are happening all around the world recently
is becoming frightening.

Thank you for posting this - that's so scary and if it can happen there - it can happen ANYWHERE !

Very Scary indeed !!! Thanks for the Heads up Cindy !

That is the biggest reason why I am taking me furkids to a pet friendly beach home b/c I worried about this dog flu going around last summer and did not want to take any chances with the furkids staying at the kennel like they used to until they find a vaccine for this disease.Cathy and Yoshi:eek: