Dog lovers and supporters of the Dallas Animal Services have to take a pause, as DAS announced a grim situation. The shelter says it's now been forced to limit its acceptance of new dogs. The culprit? Some confirmed cases of the contagious Canine Distemper Virus among their dog population, which has put Dallas on high alert.
As per the City of Dallas, the city's shelter is quarantining exposed dogs and ramping up testing to assess the full impact. Admissions are now limited strictly to dogs that are critically sick, injured, or pose a danger to themselves or others. As they scramble to set the protocols and clean up, the shelter management has urged the community to avoid surrendering pets unless necessary. Advising those who are pondering it, the shelter suggested that pet owners visit its webpage, which lists owner surrender resources, attempting to avoid the spread of the virus in the community.
It's complicating things for strays, as well. DAS is asking residents who stumble upon a friendly lost dog to pitch in by temporarily housing the stray, if possible. This call to action could help mitigate the spread of the virus. But not everyone can foster a dog. For those who can't, the shelter advises to either dial 311 or filing a report online at Dallas 311 Home.
