PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — For the third time this year, the Prince George's County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center (AFSAC) is dealing with an illness that will temporarily restrict access to a portion of the facility.
According to ASFAC, the facility's placement rooms will be temporarily closed due to an undetermined illness. The placement room is where adoptable animals are held at the adoption center.
Testing is underway in order to determine what the actual disease is but officials say it does not appear to be spreading from dogs to other animals in the facility. Closing the placement room will allow staff to put the quarantine protocols in place to keep the disease from spreading and treat dogs that are already ill.
“We are continuing to operate at high and over capacity to serve the animals and people in Prince George’s County. As our numbers peak well above capacity, as is present in shelters nationwide, we are seeing more incidents of disease. However, quick actions from staff helped stop the spread of this disease outside of this room,” says Andrea Crooms, Director of the Department of Environment (DoE). “The best place for a dog to be now is with their owner.”
ASFAC says it will allow animals to leave the facility if:
- It is a return to the owner (RTO)
- An adoption is in process, and the pet shows no signs of illness
- An adoption is initiated for a pet that is not in the affected room
- The pet is considered for fostering and shows no signs of illness
Upon release, ASFAC will require paperwork to be signed by the pet owner that acknowledges the pet may be ill. Dogs will be treated with long-acting medication prior to leaving, regardless of signs of illness.
This is the third time in 2024 that illnesses have caused closures at the Prince George's County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center. In January, the entire shelter was closed to the public and dog adoptions were stopped until further notice due to an outbreak. Five months later, the shelter closed again for reports of another outbreak of an undetermined dog illness at the facility.
ASFAC is encouraging pet owners to keep their animals updated on vaccines and avoid communal water bowls to help reduce the spread of disease in the area. If your pet develops a cough or runny nose, ASFAC encourages you to seek medical advice from a veterinarian.
For more information or updates on when the facility will reopen, contact (301) 780-7200.