Newark Animal Shelter Sends Dog For Necropsy, Medicates Others

NEWARK, NJ — The Associated Humane Societies animal shelter in Newark is medicating some of its animals as a precautionary measure after a dog was found dead in its kennel, staff said Tuesday.

Ken McKeel, assistant executive director at AHS-Newark, confirmed a dog was recently found deceased at the busy shelter, which serves several towns in North Jersey.

The deceased animal has been sent out for a necropsy. The results are pending, but at this point, there is no reason to believe the dog died of streptococcus canis, a bacterial infection, McKeel told Patch.

“All of the animals in our care are being medicated with antibiotics,” McKeel said, adding that “there no reason to believe that anybody else is sick.”

For now, AHS-Newark staff have quarantined the area the deceased dog was in. Staff are also disinfecting the shelter as a precautionary measure.

There is no reason to believe there is anything in the shelter that is contagious to humans or cats, McKeel said.

McKeel emphasized that all animals who may show signs of sickness will be treated. No animals will be euthanized, he said.

“Anybody who has had an animal here or has adopted an animal should just monitor their animals for kennel cough,” McKeel told Patch. “If they find that their animal who has been here is showing signs of that, I encourage them to come in and see our medical staff.”

“We’re doing everything that were supposed to be doing,” McKeel said. “We’re just waiting on the results. It doesn’t warrant a shutdown of the shelter or anything of that nature right now.”

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