Two area animal shelters stop adoptions amid dog flu outbreak

The Montgomery Humane Society has closed its dog adoptions after an outbreak of dog influenza infected the canines. The illness has spread to all adoptable dogs and some puppies, said Lea Turbert, the humane society's marketing manager.

The Humane Society of Elmore County is also impacted by the outbreak. The shelter has suspended adoptions and is not accepting owner-surrender dogs at this time. The Prattville/Autauga Humane Society continues to function regularly.

The flu is life-threatening to the dogs, and all dogs are in isolation. No dogs have died from the illness.

Dog adoptions at MHS are closed until the shelter gets the outbreak under control, but cat adoptions are still open, and Turbert encouraged people to adopt kittens.

The Montgomery shelter currently has 54 kittens. Adoptions has been discounted to $10 per kitten to encourage people to adopt the kittens. “If anybody’s looking for a kitten, please (adopt)," Turbert said.

The shelter is also asking that people who find strays keep them while the outbreak is ongoing. “We’re not turning anyone away, but we highly encourage people to wait," Turbert said.

Turbert said the shelter is asking people to donate money for medication and supplies.

Animal lovers can donate to the Montgomery Humane Society at https://www.montgomeryhumane.com/donate/ .

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Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Two area animal shelters stop adoptions amid dog flu outbreak