Las Vegas animal shelter looking for adopters and fosters to help dogs fight germs

Author: Marvin Clemons.las vegas review magazine

3 hours ago

The spread of a highly contagious bacteria killed five dogs at an Animal Foundation shelter, and officials are asking people to adopt and foster dogs in an effort to clean out the shelter.

“We currently have 110 dogs that need to be removed from the shelter as soon as possible to prevent the spread of this highly contagious bacteria,” the shelter posted on its website Tuesday. “When dogs are affected by a contagious respiratory illness, they will Removing dogs from shelters can have a big impact.”

The shelter’s veterinary team began treating all the dogs with antibiotics to prevent the spread of strep bacteria at the zoo.

Since Sunday, five dogs have developed severe clinical signs consistent with zoonotic streptococci. Of these five people, two died and three died; test results for three are still pending.

All shelter dogs known to have been exposed to zoo dogs with strep have been quarantined for seven days.

“Symptoms of zoo strep include cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood,” the post reads. “Clinical signs may rapidly progress to pneumonia and may lead to sudden death. If your dog develops zoo strep cocci symptoms, please contact your veterinarian for immediate care.”

If you are interested in adopting a dog, the shelter says you can come directly to their adoption building Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can view adoptable and available animals here: https://bit.ly/2O2yDW7 .

If you can afford to foster a dog, please fill out the application at https://bit.ly/3ZnwZ3F and email foster@animalfoundation.com as soon as you are ready to take your dog home.

The shelter requires a two-week commitment. Dogs of all sizes are waiting. They provide food, leashes and cages if needed.