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On Thursday, June 25, an APS dog in the shelter tested positive for canine distemper during a routine surveillance screening. We immediately isolated the dog and began implementing enhanced safety protocols. Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily paused most of our dog services (e.g., adoptions, routine intakes).<\/p>\n
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs and can impact the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or contaminated environment. Vaccination is the best protection against canine distemper.<\/p>\n
Canine distemper is a serious illness. If your dog is showing any of the above symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.<\/p>\n
If you have adopted a dog from the shelter since June 18 and they are exhibiting any of the above symptoms, please take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible and email medical@apsofdurham.org<\/a>. As we continue our investigation into the issue, it is extremely helpful if we know that other dogs were exposed.<\/p>\n Please do not bring the dog to the shelter. Once dogs are adopted, we are no longer able to treat them as we are not licensed as a clinic.<\/p>\n To protect the health and well-being of pets in our care, we have:<\/p>\n We are also consulting with recognized experts in canine distemper to ensure that our ongoing response aligns with best practices in the field. Our veterinary and operations teams are prioritizing the care of every animal in the shelter.<\/strong><\/p>\n The health and well-being of all the pets in our care remains our top priority. As we continue our expanded monitoring, testing, and treatment efforts, your support helps provide critical medical care for animals who need it most.<\/p>\nAPS response<\/h3>\n
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How YOU can help<\/h3>\n