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Animal Shelter Now Open For Dog Adoptions

Fairfax County Police Department
Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030
703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253
FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
News Release: 09/261/LHC
September 18, 2009

UPDATE: Animal Shelter Now Open
For Dog Adoptions

               The Fairfax County Animal Shelter reopened their adoption kennels on Friday, September 18. Following weeks of comprehensive sanitizing procedures and careful isolation and quarantine of the dogs, shelter staff were able to stem the outbreak.

               The public is welcomed to visit the Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Tuesday-Friday, noon until 7 p.m. For more information about the Animal Shelter, or to view animals available for adoption, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/animal/adoption.htm.  

Canine Illness Closes Dog Section of Animal Shelter

Animal Shelter – The Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, will limit public dog adoptions due to an apparent outbreak of canine influenza that was confirmed Thursday, August 13. The pet adoption event planned for this weekend has been post-poned.

            “While this illness is not contagious to humans, it does spread among dogs and we are taking precautions to limit its spread,” according to Karen Diviney, Ph.D, Director of the Animal Shelter. “This illness is generally not life-threatening to dogs, however in some cases dogs can develop severe disease. Anywhere dogs congregate could be potential breeding grounds for the virus.”

            There are currently two cases of laboratory-confirmed canine influenza at the Animal Shelter, 12 that were not exposed and 29 that have potentially been exposed to the virus and are being closely monitored for signs of illness.

            Similar to strains of the human influenza viruses, there are steps pet owners can take to avoid their pet’s exposure:

• Temporarily avoid taking your dog to places where dogs gather
• Ask your kennel if they’ve had cases of illness prior to boarding your dog
• If your dog shows symptoms of respiratory illness (such as coughing or wheezing, runny nose or fever), seek veterinary care
• For more information and facts about canine influenza, see www.cdc.gov/flu/canine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no evidence of transmission of the virus from dogs to humans, or other household pets.