Animal shelter closes intake due to discovery of ‘often fatal’ disease

SAN ANGELO, Texas ( Concho Valley Homepage ) — The City of San Angelo has announced that the San Angelo Animal Shelter has temporarily closed its intake after a positive case of canine distemper was reported among the shelter’s dog population.

According to a public statement issued by the City on Oct. 10, the shelter’s intake will be closed until Monday, Nov. 4.

The City stated that the disease “originated outside of the shelter and was brought in by a dog from the community.” It also said that “several dogs have potentially been contaminated.”

The City stated that canine distemper is a “highly contagious viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems of dogs.” The disease, which the City said is “often fatal,” is commonly transmitted through “contact with respiratory secretions and is often carried by wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons and foxes.”

Concho Valley PAWS has begun medically treating the shelter dogs. The organization has also started to monitor the dogs for “signs of distemper.”

“Symptoms of distemper include vomiting, diarrhea, eye discharge, tremors and seizures,” the City said.

Concho Valley PAWS stated in a social media post published on the same day as the City’s announcement that the exposure to distemper “did not affect dogs housed at Concho Valley PAWS Stephens Dog Dorms,” adding that the contaminated dog “has remained in isolation and was never housed” at the facility.

The City said that dogs that have been inoculated against distemper will continue to be available for adoption. The shelter will also continue to take in dogs that are a “danger to themselves or others, injured or sick.”

The City stated that it will contact recent adopters to check whether their dogs are healthy and asymptomatic. It asked those who have redeemed their dog recently to speak with a veterinarian regarding any medical issues.

The City’s Animal Services has urged the public to ensure that their animals are up to date with their vaccinations and to contact a local veterinarian if they have any questions or notice odd behavior in their animals.

“Distemper is easily preventable if pets are vaccinated,” the City said.

The City stated that the community can aid the shelter through the following methods:

• Offering financial support for testing and treatment at cvpaws.org/donate
• Fostering at cvpaws.org/foster
• Adopting at cvpaws.org/adopt
• Owner redeem by contacting pets@cosatx.us

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