FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Humane Society of North Texas is temporarily closing all of its shelters after some dogs that had been housed at the shelters tested positive for distemper.
The illness is highly contagious and potentially fatal and impacts the upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems in dogs.
In a statement on Facebook, the HSNT said that there are not any current confirmed cases in the shelter but workers will be testing all dogs showing signs of upper respiratory illness for distemper.
The non-profit will be closing all its locations for intake of all animals, adoptions and transport of dogs for the next two weeks in order to give the hundreds of dogs in its care medical supervision.
HSNT’s cat and small animal adoptions will still be open as they, as well as humans, are not at risk for becoming sick from the virus.
The Saxe-Forte (Fort Worth), Benbrook Waggin’ Tails, Keller Regional and Keller Welcome Home locations will have cats and small animals available for adoption.
HSNT will still be adopting cats at the PetSmart Ridgmar, PetSmart Montgomery Plaza, PetSmart Bryant Irvin and PetSmart Lake worth locations.
The non-profit is encouraging the public to make sure all their pets are up-to-date on vaccinations.
They’re stressing the importance of ensuring that new pets are initially separated from existing pets in the house for about seven to ten days.
Puppies should be vaccinated at six to eight weeks and then every two to four weeks until 16 weeks old.
Anyone with questions is asked to call HSNT at 817-332-4768.
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