The Bladen County Animal Shelter has been closed to the public since Tuesday, May 9th. The reason for the sudden shutdown was an outbreak of the Parvo virus according to Shelter Manager Karen Suggs.
The Health and Human Services Director David Howard gave an update on the issue to the Bladen County Board of Commissioners Monday, May 15, at the regularly scheduled board meeting.
Howard explained an animal control officer with the county took four dogs from the same residence due to the owner’s inability to care for the animals. The four dogs were taken to the local shelter. Howard said, after the five day holding period the dogs were released to a rescue group.
According to Howard, the rescue group contacted the shelter staff to inform them the four dogs rescued came down with Parvo the day after they were released from the shelter. The shelter was immediately closed to the public after the report from the rescue group. The staff began sanitizing the shelter, giving booster shots, and the shelter animals were tested for the illness.
Howard confirmed two dogs located at the shelter died as a result of the Parvo virus, however, the illness was controlled and has been eliminated from the shelter.
Howard said, “There have been no new issues.” The shelter is scheduled to re-open to the public on Wednesday, May 17th.
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