The Montgomery Humane Society will be closed until Saturday July 27th due to a case of the Canine Influenza Virus (H3N2). We currently have over 40 symptomatic dogs in our facility.
Dogs in the Adoption Center will have to be placed under isolation and will not be available for adoption for 28 days. Adoptions of exposed dogs will need to be halted for a period of four weeks. We will take the next few days to navigate our space and isolate any exposed animals. We will also be disinfecting other areas so we can safely and ethically house new emergent intakes.
Cat adoptions will resume this Saturday as normal.
The canine influenza virus mainly spreads from infected dogs to other dogs through respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing, barking or nuzzling) and through contaminated surfaces and clothing. It is not known to be transmissible to people. However, people can spread the virus to other dogs via their clothing, equipment or hands.
The symptoms of canine influenza are cough, runny nose, eye discharge, fever, lethargy and poor appetite. The signs range in severity between no signs at all and severe illness resulting in death.
If your dog is showing any symptoms of influenza, contact your veterinarian immediately for assessment and early supportive treatment.
Most dogs recover within two-to-three weeks, but some will develop secondary bacterial infections that can lead to more severe illness.
MHS is still accepting essential intakes during our temporary closure. Essential intakes include:
- Sick and injured animals.
- Dogs that pose a threat to public safety.
Residents who find a lost pet are asked not to bring the animal to the shelter for the safety of those animals. Tips on locating the owner of lost pets can be found on our website at www.montgomeryhumane.com
MHS will provide finders of lost pets who are willing to foster, with the necessary supplies as available to care for the animal until the owner can be located. MHS can list found dogs on our website with the hope of assisting with reunification.
The canine influenza vaccine is not typically required and is not considered a core vaccine for all dogs. However, with cases occurring in the Montgomery area, speak with your veterinarian about having your dog vaccinated.
Additional precautions to take to keep your dog safe: - Limit direct contact with other dogs when on walks. Do not allow them to sniff one another.
- Avoid using shared toys or dishes.
- Get advice from your personal veterinarians, daycares and boarding facilities.
Please be patient with us as we navigate this situation. It is our primary goal to remain accessible to the animals in the community we love and serve. Minimizing our population as we work diligently to reduce the loss of life in our current population gives us the best chance of minimizing its spread in our community.
If you have the ability to isolate and medicate for 28 days, please don’t hesitate to reach out to foster. Foster applications can be filled out on our website.