Most serivces have been temporarily stopped at Miami-Dade County’s Animal Services because of a distemper outbreak in the dog population.
The suspension is being done to eradicate the disease from the facility, according to animal services. Distemper, in particular, has become a problem, officials said, and all dogs and puppies current at Animal Control are ill or considered exposed and at risk of picking up this terrible disease. The suspension of almost all services will last upwards of two weeks. The affected services are: the rabies/microchip clinic, intake of adult dogs and puppies by the public, stray-dog pickup by animal control officers, owner-surrendered pets, and spay and neuter surgery for current shelter dogs.
Basically all services are suspended or severely limited until further notice.
Services that will continue as normal are: investigations, buying licenses, paying citations, lost and found (only if the animal is currently there they will NOT pick up animals), intake of cats, cat adoptions, spaying and neutering of cats.
Adoption of dogs also will continue but with a disclaimer about exposure to distemper. If you do adopt a dog or puppy from Miami Dade Animal Control during this two week period assume the dog has been exposed to distemper and quarantine the dog or puppy appropriately.
The decision to suspend certain services was made after collaboration with veterinary experts in infectious disease from the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
THis is horrible..We just adopted two puppies from there two weeks ago..We were skeptical about adopting them so soon after losing our dear dog of 14 years, but figured it would also be a good thing to save puppies and give them all the love we gave our last dog..Now one of them has ben diagnosed with kennelcough today and the other has traces of a virus in their stool but no symptoms yet..The vet says the worse possible outcome is for them to develop distemper and to keep an open eye..We are giving them antibiotics..I am so nervous and scared after reading these articles!!
Anonymous – Most dogs leaving Miami Dade have Kennel Cough. While they shouldn't be sent home without medication they are and their new owners told they are fine. Kennel cough should be easily treatable with antibiotics. As for the unknown virus we will keep the puppy in our thoughts that it stays healthy.
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