PG County Animal Shelter Closes Again Due To Outbreak, Halts Owner Surrenders, Adoptions

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The county animal shelter has closed again effective immediately. The facility will not accept dog owner-surrender appointments and has temporarily halted adoptions due to an outbreak of a mystery illness at the shelter.

Staff at the Prince George’s County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center will implement quarantine protocols to stop the spread of the disease and to treat the dogs who have fallen ill. It appears the disease is not spreading from the dogs to other animals at the shelter, officials noted.

“As we are seeing an uptick of disease strike shelters nationwide, we are acting quickly to help prevent this outbreak from further spread,” said David Fisher, associate director of the department of animal services. “All staff are working overtime to quarantine and treat the animals in our care at this time. To do this most effectively, it is necessary for us to temporarily suspend taking in new dogs. 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 case.
• An adoption is in process and the pet shows no signs of illness, and
• The pet is considered for fostering and shows no signs of illness.

The ASFAC will have paperwork for a pet owner to sign acknowledging the animal's possible illness before release. All animals will be treated with long-acting medication before leaving, regardless of signs of illness.

Related:

• Mystery Outbreak Identified At Prince George's County Animal Services Facility
• Prince George's Co. Animal Shelter Shut Down Immediately After Canine Influenza Detected
• Ban On Owner-Surrendered Dogs In Place At Prince George's County Shelter
• Dogs In Desperate Need Of Homes As Full County Shelter Faces Another Strep Zoo Outbreak
• Prince George's County Animal Services Facility Temporarily Closed, Will Reopen Thursday
• Prince George's Animal Shelter Resumes Accepting Owner Surrender Pets
• Free Pet Adoptions As Prince George's County Shelter Faces Overflow Of Dogs
• Pet Adoptions Resume At Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility
• Feline Panleukopenia Outbreak Reported At County Services Facility And Adoption Center