Aggressive Response to Canine Respiratory Disease Community Outbreak

The State of Delaware Department of Agriculture, on Friday, put in place restrictions regarding the movement of shelter and rescue dogs due to a canine respiratory disease outbreak. As of now, the new restrictions will be in place for 30 days, limiting adoptions and fostering of dogs from our Delaware Campuses to residents of Delaware only.

We have now learned that multiple dogs in the surrounding community have tested positive for canine influenza.

In light of this new information, and as a precautionary move, we are taking drastic measures to curb the spread of this virus. Starting today, we have begun vaccinating all dogs in, and who enter our shelters, for canine influenza. We have also recently reviewed and revamped our cleaning protocols to mitigate the spread of common respiratory illnesses such as the one we have seen in our shelters, where our dog population has been reacting well to treatment. 

This action goes above our usual intake protocols, and will mean a significant financial investment in the dogs who come into our care, but we feel this is a necessary step to do everything we can to protect them, and the community from any further spread.

And, although we have seen upper respiratory illness affecting our Delaware shelter dogs recently, it is not at a higher rate than what would be typical for our shelters during this time of year. In fact, the upper respiratory infections we have seen in our population are among the most common in shelters where large numbers of dogs from varied backgrounds are housed together and are transmitted much like colds in child daycare. Our veterinary team is also closely monitoring the current conditions of each animal and treating them accordingly. 

While we monitor the current conditions, our organization will remain open for adoptions and our regular shelter services, with plenty of healthy dogs and cats looking for new homes. This open availability has been pre-approved by the Delaware State Vet as it is their and our belief that: 

1. Dogs recover faster in a home environment should they fall ill, and 
2. Adoptions open space for the 27 animals a day, making up more than 70% of the state’s animal intake as the state’s only open access shelter, who come through our doors, and count on us in the state of Delaware, alone. 
   

How you can help:

• Donate to help offset the burden of the costly canine influenza vaccines, that we began administering today. Your generous donations also will be used to help cover costs of the  medical care we have been providing, and will continue to provide, to the animals in our population who have been affected by the upper respiratory infection.
• Shop Our Wish List to provide vital supplies as we continue to welcome more animals in need through our doors.
• Foster animals who are at higher risk of severe disease should they contract an upper respiratory illness.
• Adopt animals who have been cleared for adoption.
• Help Reunite Lost Delaware Dogs with Owners to cut down on unnecessary owned pets ending up in the shelter, by checking around the area where the dog was found for its family, and posting to Delaware’s State Lost and Found Pet Registry.

Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, BVSPCA staff will counsel adopters on separating their newly adopted dog from any dogs in the home for a period of time, and provide post-adoption support as needed. 

We appreciate your support.

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