TYLER, Texas — According to the Kurth Memorial Lufkin Animal Shelter Director Aaron Ramsey, the animal shelter is temporarily closed until further notice.
The shelter is not accepting animals to protect the health and safety of the animals currently housed at the facility.
During this closure, the shelter will continue to deep clean and provide medical care and testing for the animals housed in the facility. The shelter cannot introduce new animals into the shelter’s compromised population without a very high risk of exposing the animal to this deadly disease.
The shelter is seeing cases of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The shelter asked to ensure your pet is updated on vaccinations. Puppies require at least 4 booster vaccines for CDV before the age of 20 weeks (5 months). Older dogs still need boosters and need yearly boosters in an endemic environment.
Signs of distemper include watery/goopy discharge from the eyes, progressing to fever, lethargy, nasal discharge, coughing, and vomiting. The virus then attacks the nervous system, where symptoms include head tilt, circling to one side, muscle twitching, “chewing gum fits,” salivation, seizures, and partial or complete paralysis.
The shelter is working with a veterinarian to conduct PCR and titer testing to determine when it is safe to reopen.
