Garland Animal Shelter Contains Distemper Outbreak

GARLAND, TX — A distemper outbreak won't put a stop to this Saturday's Clear the Shelter event, the city's animal services department announced Wednesday.

The Garland Animal Shelter was closed and evacuated after an outbreak of distemper, a contagious and potentially deadly virus that all animals can contract from infected bedding and through the air, was found on July 31.

According to PetMD, dogs are considered most susceptible to the virus, although any pet could contract it. Sometimes known as "hard pad disease," the virus could kill animals with weak immune systems from two to five weeks after infection.

According to the shelter's Facebook page, seven of nine dogs tested positive for the virus. Shelter staff immediately began disinfecting the shelter and working to relocate animals housed within.

The shelter again tested, confirming 33 positive cases of the disease among 124 dogs. The infected dogs were placed with foster families, rescue groups and a local veterinarian.

Another 21 dogs that tested negative for the virus were temporarily removed to kennels next to the shelter.

The shelter resumed normal operations Tuesday, the animal services department announced after the shelter had been fully disinfected. The dogs remaining at the shelter have all tested negative for the disease.

Furthermore, the shelter said any new intakes will be vaccinated against distemper and other diseases and screened for symptoms that could indicate an infection.

Meanwhile, pets adopted from the shelter within the last six weeks are encouraged to contact animal services at animalservices@garlandtx.gov. The shelter will test any recently adopted pets for distemper at no cost to the adopter.

Although Garland Animal Services initially announced it would not participate in Clear The Shelter, a more recent Facebook post clarified that the shelter will participate in the free adoption event.

The event will be held at the shelter's adoption center at 813 Main Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. Among the potential pets up for adoption, free of charge, are 15 dogs and 40 cats.

During the distemper disaster, the shelter kept later hours and relied on the help of donors and volunteers. Healthy dogs were moved to a temporary shelter, where they were held pending rescue.

Garland Animal Services shared several photos of those dogs, most of whom seemed happily unfazed by the events unfolding around them.

For those unable to go to Garland shelter, Fort Worth Animal Services is also hosting a free adoption event.

Lead image via Shutterstock