SPCA of Texas re-opens Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center; other facilities remain closed as distemper outbreak continues
The SPCA of Texas is re-opening its animal shelter in Dallas for adoptions today (Thursday, July 14) after being closed for several weeks due to the canine distemper virus outbreak that began in early June. The Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center will resume its normal adoption hours, which means it will be open from noon-6 p.m.
seven days a week. Officials said this re-opening is for adoptions only at this one location, and the SPCA of Texas is not able to take in any animals at this time, including those previously adopted, those surrendered by owners and non-emergency stray animals from unincorporated Dallas County or Ellis County.
After the first cases of canine distemper were identified at the facility, SPCA of Texas’ medical team, led by Dr. Amber Alu and in consultation with veterinary viral disease expert Dr.
Cynda Crawford, “developed a proactive, broad-based response plan to maximize lifesaving, minimize further spread of the virus and protect the community.” Two weeks after testing all dogs exhibiting symptoms and isolating those that tested positive for CDV, the SPCA of Texas completed tests for all dogs in each of the three facilities affected by the outbreak. “Because up to half of all dogs infected with distemper are asymptomatic, this round of testing was critical to determine if any of the dogs in care are shedding the distemper virus without any observable symptoms,” according to a press release.
