The end is in sight for the quarantine that has shut down the Drumheller and District Humane Society shelter. It is estimated the building will reopen to the public in one to two weeks.
Roughly five weeks ago, animals began exhibiting upper respiratory and stomach flu-like symptoms. In response, the shelter was quarantined and the Valley Veterinary Clinic has been treating the animals. All of the animals at the shelter have been responding well to treatment.
“We sent away a sample [to identifiy the virus] and are waiting for the results. The animals are improving and are doing quite well. We put them in quarantine to control the infection in the shelter. I don’t want someone to take it home on their clothing and infect their animals,” said Heather Lehmann, a veterinarian with the Valley Veterinary Clinic. “I don’t think it will be long before the shelter is open.”
There are a number of factors that can accelerate the spread of infection, such as stress, crowded conditions, drafts, dampness, dust, and mixing of different age groups.
“When you keep animals in a contained area for a long period of time, and it can happen in a feral colony too, a virus can go around quickly and maybe mutate and do another round,” said Peggie Ginger, a volunteer with the Humane Society. “They have seasonal illnesses just like people do.”
Every precaution is being taken to ensure the infection does not spread.
“We can’t adopt out and we can’t let anyone in. If they come in, it could get on their clothes and they could take it home to their animals,” said Ginger. “The people who go into the shelter to work and clean, they have to be sprayed down with disinfectant before they leave the building.”
It is not known how the virus entered the shelter. Possible explanations include a new animal brought into the shelter or even from human contact.
“Someone could have brought it in on their clothing,” said Lehmann.
The area where animals are brought does not have a separate ventilation system, like most larger shelters. Though the animals are separated physically, airborne pathogens are not impeded. It is hoped with funding, the areas can be separated more in the future.
The volunteers of the Humane Society will be getting expert training and advice to help ensure the animals remain healthy in the future.
“We’re going to have shelter health come in to teach us some procedures and give us some training on how to help the pets we have on site,” said Ginger.
To help stop the spread of infection at home, pet owners are encouraged to wash and disinfect their hands between touching animals and vaccinate their pets.
The Humane Society is in need of willing homes to foster animals temporarily while the quarantine remains.
The Humane Society can be contacted at 403-823-8999 or 403-334-0894.
