Illness Outbreak Forces County Animal Shelter To Close Placement Room For Adoptables

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Effective immediately and until further notice, the Prince George’s County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center will restrict public access to the facility’s placement room where adoptable animals are held due to an undetermined illness in that room.

Testing is being done to determine the actual disease. Shelter leaders say it is not spreading from dogs to other animals in the facility. The temporary closure will allow staff to initiate quarantine protocols in that room to stop the spread of the disease and to treat dogs who are ill, the shelter stated in a news release.

“We are continuing to operate at high and over capacity to serve the animals and people in Prince George’s County. As our numbers peak well above capacity, as is present in shelters nationwide, we are seeing more incidents of disease. However, quick actions from staff helped stop the spread of this disease outside of this room,” said Andrea Crooms, Howard County Director of the Department of Environment (DoE). “The best place for a dog to be now is with their owner.”

ASFAC will allow pets to leave the facility if:

• It is a return to the owner.
• An adoption is in process, and the pet shows no signs of illness.
• An adoption is initiated for a pet that is not in the affected room.
• The pet is considered for fostering and shows no signs of illness.

In all circumstances of release, ASFAC will have paperwork for the pet owner to sign acknowledging the animal's possible illness before release. Dogs will be treated with long-acting medication prior to leaving, regardless of signs of illness, the shelter stated.

To help reduce the spread of the disease in the community, ASFAC encourages pet owners to keep their pets updated on vaccines, avoid communal water bowls and seek medical advice from a veterinarian if any symptoms like a cough or runny nose develop or worsen.