In a step to curb the spread of a deadly feline disease, Broward County Animal Care has put a temporary halt on admitting stray cats. Feline panleukopenia, a contagious virus potentially fatal to cats, prompted this measure after at least two cats tested positive last month, as reported by Sun Sentinel. The shelter is not only suspending intake but also its trap-neuter-return and return-to-field services.
The agency's public information officer, Zachary Rinkins said, “We took this measure in an abundance of caution to protect our cat population.” As detailed by Local 10, the staff is now donning PPE as a barrier against the spread of the virus from one area to another. Rinkins also highlighted that the summer months often bring an increase in such infections within shelter communities.
A sign at the facility clearly outlines the new policies aimed at containing the disease. Inside, staff can be seen executing meticulous cleaning protocols and clothing themselves in protective gear as they navigate from room to room. "Each room, you need to put on proper PPE to make sure you are not contaminating from one room to another," said a shelter staff member, Vieira, as noted by Local 10.
The facility, hosting 170 cats - which surpasses their capacity, stands as a testament to both the generosity of care and the pressing need for containment. The call for community participation is now more dire than ever, with Rinkins urging, “One of the ways the community can help us is by adopting animals and foster(ing) animals that gives them a second chance so they can thrive,” as reported by Local 10. Despite the fear regarding disease transmission to humans, the National Institutes of Health maintains there is no evidence that the virus affects humans and dogs are also safe from this feline-specific ailment.
Amidst this outbreak, residents like Laritza, who found a stray feline companion, are facing the challenges of a system under duress. "I found her on the street,” Laritza told Local 10. “I bathed her, gave her a flea bath, flea treatment, but I just can’t keep her." She faced the unfortunate reality of being turned away by the shelter, a signal of the gravity of the situation. For concerned cat lovers, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers resources and guidance on how to treat and handle the virus.
