Animal Rescue League in Reading, PA Forced to Euthanize Dogs as Disease Spreads in Kennel

Many dogs were euthanized due to dogs failing to respond to treatment for a respiratory virus

Photo byVictor GrabarczykonUnsplash

The Animal Rescue League of Berks County has had to put down nearly 20 dogs because of a virus.

Officials say they're dealing with a disease they haven't dealt with before in dogs. They said the pathogen isn't transferred to humans, but it spreads quickly among the animals.

After shutting down its dog adoptions on July 4, the Animal Rescue League of Berks County announced Tuesday that a contagious respiratory ailment has resulted in the deaths of 20 dogs that were failing to respond to medical treatment at the shelter.

“Since last Friday, 19 dogs have been euthanized due to their poor condition,” José Joel Delgado-Rivera, ARL chief communications officer, said in an email Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. John Hurst, an ARL staff veterinarian, said last week that the dogs were suffering primarily upper respiratory disease symptoms such as eye and nasal discharge, sneezing, and dry coughing that had progressed to pneumonia, fever, lethargy, anorexia, difficulty breathing and a productive cough.

The ARL has 383 animals at its shelter in Cumru Township and another 321 in foster homes and is seeking fosters for as many of the unaffected animals at the shelter as possible, including its barn residents, so they can isolate sick animals.

"This is a very heartbreaking illness to watch our dogs suffer with," said ARL CEO Alexis Pagoulatos. "And in this moment, we're fighting for their lives really."

Pagoulatos says shelters nationwide are getting backed up and overcrowded, which makes animals stressed. That makes them more susceptible to disease.

She says people can help by fostering dogs. She says healthy dogs leaving helps shelters make space and allows animals to de-stress.

The ARL is also asking for donations and for people to share their social media posts to reach more people.