PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — An animal shelter in Prince George’s County is temporarily closing due to an outbreak of canine illness.
Effectively immediately, the Prince George’s County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) will be closed to the public and stop dog adoptions until further notice. During this temporary closure, staff members will initiate quarantine protocols to stop the spread of the disease.
Dogs that are currently ill will begin receiving treatment. According to the adoption agency, the disease is currently not spreading from dogs to any other animals within the facility. Testing throughout the facility is ongoing.
“As we are seeing an uptick of this disease strike shelters nationwide, we are acting out of an abundance of caution to help stop the spread of this disease,” says David Fisher, Associate Director of the Department of Animal Services. “The best place for a dog to be at this time is in a home being watched carefully by their owner.”
There are exceptions for which pets are allowed to leave the facility:
- It is a return to the owner (RTO)
- An adoption is in process, and the pet shows no signs of illness
- The pet is considered for foster and shows no signs of illness
In all circumstances of release, ASFAC will have paperwork for the pet owner to sign to acknowledge the possible illness of the animal before release.
To help limit the spread of the disease ASFAC is encouraging pet owners to limit their visits to dog parks, doggie daycares, groomers, and other public spaces.
For more information or updates on when the facility will reopen, contact (301) 780-7200.
Late last year a mysterious illness began affecting canine respiratory systems across the country. At this time, we do not know if this is the same illness that’s forcing the facility to close its doors.
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