Hillsborough shelter working to contain dog flu outbreak

Hillsborough County's animal shelter is closed until next week while officials work to contain a canine influenza outbreak among the shelter's 290 dogs.

Why it matters: The illness is extremely contagious among dogs, per a county news release. While symptoms are often mild or nonexistent, the disease can, in rare cases, cause serious health issues or death.

• The shelter will not take in new dogs or place them in homes through adoption or fostering until mid-July.

State of play: Staff members on Tuesday began moving all dogs from the Pet Resource Center off Falkenburg Road to another county-owned facility, the release said. They'll remain there until they test negative for the illness.

• Workers will clean and disinfect the shelter before it reopens on Monday for cat and kitten adoptions.
• Shelter staffers will split into two groups to prevent further transmission. One will be assigned to the Pet Resource Center and the other will work exclusively out of the temporary holding area.

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