Sonoma County Animal Shelter Hit By Highly Contagious Virus

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Sonoma County Animal Services is decontaminating the county animal shelter in Santa Rosa due to a possible canine parvovirus outbreak, according to the county's Department of Health Services.

Five stray dogs infected with parvovirus in the last 10 days were euthanized, and adoptions at the shelter were canceled, department spokesman Scott Alonso said.

The virus, which affects dogs' gastrointestinal tract, is highly contagious. It's spread from direct contact, but is preventable with proper vaccination, according to veterinary experts.

Symptoms include loss of appetite, diarrhea, low body temperature, inactivity, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Two adoptable dogs may have been exposed at the shelter at 1247 Century Court in Santa Rosa, Alonso said, and they have been moved to the stray animal side of the shelter.

Parvovirus is common at animal shelters, and protocols are in place to ensure the outbreak will be contained, according to Alonso.

For the time being, only stray dogs identified by their owner will be allowed to leave the shelter, and all dogs that were removed from the shelter should be seen by a veterinarian for possible exposure to the virus, Alonso said.

During the decontamination of the shelter, volunteers or staff will not walk dogs out of the stray side of the facility, he said.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Sonoma County Animal Services