The dogs at Plano Animal Shelter are now once again available for adoption.
Potential future “pawrents” can check out the adoptable dogs — and cats — here. There are Rottweilers, Shar-Peis, beagles, and Labradors of all ages eager to find a new home.
It was a long time coming. The shelter was closed to dog adoption and intake for nearly a month, Community Impact reported.
Like many shelters across North Texas, Plano Animal Shelter was forced to take measures to contain and treat an outbreak of canine influenza last month. As The Dallas Express reported, the virus hit Dallas Animal Services hard in December and required operators to get creative. In a bid to isolate the hundreds of large dogs that had been exposed to the flu at the shelter and protect the others, the shelter offered $150 to anyone willing to foster one of the dogs for at least two weeks.
While canine influenza is not usually fatal, it is airborne and highly contagious, per the CDC. Dogs need between two and three weeks to recover. Treatment for the virus often only involves lots of fluids and rest.
However, a very small percentage of dogs who contract the virus do end up with secondary infections that can lead to illnesses like pneumonia. Pneumonia requires a course of antibiotics and may be lethal.
According to the CDC, the virus is quite common among dogs housed in shelters or kennels.
When the Plano Animal Shelter went into lockdown last month, 98 of its 102 dogs were sick.
At this point in time, many of the dogs have recovered. Officials say that they have tested negative for influenza twice and can be safely adopted at no risk of infecting other pets, Community Impact reported.
There were 10 dogs still exhibiting symptoms last Thursday. Following protocol, these dogs will not be up for adoption until they test negative twice for canine influenza and no longer exhibit symptoms.
Symptoms of canine influenza include cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge, and reduced appetite, according to the CDC. However, not all infected dogs show symptoms, hence the need for testing.
The dogs at Plano Animal Shelter were tested for free by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, which has been instrumental in fighting the outbreak of canine flu in North Texas.
According to figures from Reform Austin, a news outlet, over 80% of dogs and cats that end up in Texas shelters are saved. The state is nonetheless one of five in the U.S. that account for the majority of animals euthanized nationwide each year.