Help Protect Our Shelter Dogs: Foster or Adopt Today to Prevent Respiratory Disease Spread
At The Animal Foundation, we’re facing a crisis. We have been at capacity on and off all year, which is a systemic issue shelters across the nation are facing. Because of this, an increase in respiratory diseases (IRD) is putting our shelter dogs at serious risk.
Respiratory diseases spread quickly in crowded conditions, leading to illness, increased stress, and even greater susceptibility to more deadly infections like Streptococcus Zooepidemicus (Strep Zoo). While the mortality rate of most respiratory diseases is relatively low, the consequences of infection are severe for the dogs and the shelter’s ability to care for them.
Right now, with 500 dogs in our care, every new case we encounter has an impact. Infected dogs require two weeks of isolation to recover, a process that limits available space and prevents us from bringing in or caring for new animals.
Every day, more dogs arrive needing help, yet space constraints from isolation demands put strain on our resources. The only way to reduce these numbers—and prevent a shelter-wide health crisis—is with your help.
Fostering and Adopting are Vital Right Now.
Dogs in isolation suffer not just physically, but mentally as well. We’re facing some tough decisions due to overcrowding, and we desperately need room for new arrivals. This is our heartbreaking reality, but we just don’t have room for the new animals that are coming in every day.
How You Can Help:
- Adopt or Foster Today: Our adoption and foster teams are ready to help you find the perfect pet. Visit our adoptions building from Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to meet available dogs. Browse adoptable pets here.
- Foster a Sick Dog: If you have no other dogs at home or have extra space to isolate a sick shelter dog, please consider fostering a dog with IRD. This will not only help the dog recover quicker and with less stress, but it will open up crucial isolation space for us to help more dogs. Learn more about fostering and fill out a foster application.
- Help Reunite Lost Pets: In the past two weeks, we’ve taken in more than 377 lost dogs, many were without identification like collars, tags, or microchips. If you find a lost dog, help by attempting to locate the owner before bringing them to the shelter. Learn more here.
- Microchip Your Pets: Ensure your pets have collars, tags, and microchips, which are essential for reuniting lost pets with families. Get a microchip at our low-cost clinic for just $25. Book an appointment here.
- Reclaim Your Lost Pet: If your pet is at The Animal Foundation, please reclaim them as soon as possible. We’re committed to working with families and reducing barriers to reunification.
FAQs About Canine Respiratory Disease in Shelters
Q: Why can’t we just allow all dogs to be exposed and recover?
Allowing all dogs to be infected may seem like a quick solution, but in reality, it creates a never-ending cycle of illness. Each newly infected dog would require two weeks of isolation, and as long as new cases appear, the clock keeps resetting. This “reset” effect means the shelter would remain in a perpetual respiratory disease crisis, with no end in sight.
Q: How serious is Canine Respiratory Disease (IRD) if it has a low mortality rate?
While IRD may not be fatal for most dogs, the disease compromises their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to secondary infections. Strep Zoo, for example, is a more dangerous infection that can be fatal if a dog’s immune defenses are down. In crowded shelters, IRD acts as a “gateway” disease, exposing dogs to more serious illnesses that could easily spread.
Q: Why do dogs need two weeks in isolation?
Two weeks is the minimum recovery and quarantine period for a dog with IRD to prevent further spread. During this time, they require dedicated care and separate living quarters, which places a strain on shelter resources and space.
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