LARGO, Md. — Heads up. Anyone looking to adopt or surrender a dog in Prince George's County will have to wait, as the shelter is temporarily closed.
The closure comes after the Prince George’s County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) experienced an outbreak of an undetermined dog illness at the facility.
Staff will begin quarantine protocols immediately, in order to stop the spread of the illness and treat the affected animals.
Officials at the shelter say the disease is not spreading from dogs to other animals, and testing is ongoing.
“As we are seeing an uptick of disease strike shelters nationwide, we are acting quickly to help prevent this outbreak from further spread,” says David Fisher, Associate Director of the Department of Animal Services. “All staff are working overtime to quarantine and treat the animals in our care at this time. To do this most effectively, it is necessary for us to temporarily suspend taking in new dogs. The best place for a dog to be now is with their owner.”
ASFAC will allow pets 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 and
- The pet is considered for fostering and shows no signs of illness.
For all releases, ASFAC will have paperwork for the pet owner to sign acknowledging the animal's possible illness before release. All animals will be treated with long-acting medication before leaving, regardless of signs of illness.
To help reduce the spread of the disease in the community, ASFAC encourages pet owners to keep their pets updated on vaccines, avoid communal water bowls, and seek medical advice from a veterinarian if any symptoms like a cough or runny nose develop or worsen.
For more information or updates on when the facility will reopen, contact (301) 780-7200.
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