COMMUNITY

Shelter tweaks intake process, seeks foster families to help end distemper outbreak

Sun-News Reports
Austin Pets Alive!, a nonprofit organization, has been in Las Cruces to help the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley to recover from a recent outbreak of distemper.

LAS CRUCES - The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley says its working to end a distemper outbreak by getting sick or exposed dogs out of the shelter and is also reworking its intake process.

ASCMV, in a news release says the new intake process will involve housing new dogs separately to ensure that a canine distemper vaccine, given upon intake, has at least three full days to take effect before the dog ever enters the shelter population.

More:What you need to know about the contagious virus distemper

The protocol comes on the advice Austin Pets Alive! Lifesaving Academy, the shelter reported.

“Depopulation via euthanasia is a common solution among animal shelters facing this kind of problem,” ASCMV Executive Director Clint Thacker said. “I refused to consider that option. We are committed to saving lives and preventing the spread of infection. By working in partnership with Austin Pets Alive, we will enhance our operations through this temporary external quarantine area to positively impact the animals that are in our care.”

More:Las Cruces animal shelter trying to combat dog distemper outbreak

ASCMV and Austin Pets Alive! are asking the community for support, and have a list of needs: 

  • Fosters who can take dogs until adoption/rescue or hold a dog in their home for at least four days. The organizations are specifically looking for families who can provide a safe place for dogs who may already have been exposed to infection, as well as those who have not yet entered the shelter. The organizations are requesting that any animal from the shelter taken home be kept separate from all current animals in the receiving household. New fosters are asked to come to the facility to complete a one-page contact sheet.
  • Surrendered or found-animal care. As an additional safety measure, ASCMV has temporarily modified the admission process for pets being surrendered to the shelter to ensure they are protected from canine distemper. Owners wishing to surrender their dogs will be asked to first allow ASCMV to vaccinate their dogs for canine distemper for free, a week prior to surrendering them in order to allow time for the vaccine to work and for the pets to be protected. ASCMV is requesting people who find stray animals to follow the same process.
  • Rescue partners to support these efforts by taking healthy dogs to make space for the new dogs coming into the facility or helping to house and quarantine exposed dogs.
  • Donations to at www.ascmv.org to help care for the dogs that come into the organization. 

For information on this initiative or to request an interview, contact Thacker at 575-382-0018.