Fort Worth Shelters Bounce Back After Canine Distemper Outbreak, Adoption Resumes with New Safety Protocols
After weeks of uncertainty due to a canine distemper outbreak, Fort Worth Animal Care and Control is reopening its doors to the public, allowing adoptions to resume at PetSmart locations across the city. This decision follows an intensive period of testing, quarantining, and ensuring that only low-risk dogs are made available for adoption.
The outbreak, which was first detected in late March, led the city to temporarily close its shelters to the public, placing a pause on adoptions. But now, after rigorous testing and careful management, the shelter system is making strides towards recovery, offering new opportunities for both adopters and rescued pets.
The Road to Recovery: Low-Risk Adoptions
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control officials have implemented stringent measures to ensure the health and safety of the animals in their care. The dogs being transferred to PetSmart locations for adoption are low-risk and meet several key criteria to prevent further spread of the virus. These criteria include:
A negative distemper test result (at least once)
A stay of at least 21 days at Fort Worth Animal Care facilities
Two rounds of vaccinations, including boosters
Clearance from shelter staff
These protocols are designed to ensure that only dogs who have been thoroughly vetted and pose no further threat to the public or other animals are available for adoption.
Behind the Scenes: Containing the Outbreak
The distemper outbreak has been a tough challenge for Fort Worth's animal shelters. Since the initial closure on March 24, shelter staff have worked tirelessly, sending more than 1,000 samples to an external lab for testing. The result was grim, with 68 dogs initially diagnosed with the virus. In a difficult but necessary decision, 26 dogs were humanely euthanized to prevent the virus from spreading to other animals.
Despite these setbacks, the shelter staff remains committed to the welfare of the animals in their care. Officials emphasized that the decision to euthanize was made with the utmost care, following ethical protocols to prevent suffering and further outbreaks.
What’s Next for Fort Worth Animal Care
While the shelters remain closed to the public and volunteers for now, Fort Worth Animal Care and Control has started processing the adoption applications that were put on hold during the outbreak. The focus is on giving these pets a chance at a new life while ensuring that each adoption follows the new safety measures put in place.
Fort Worth's quick response to this outbreak is a testament to the dedication and care of the animal control staff, who have worked around the clock to prevent further contamination and protect the health of the animals and the community.
A Silver Lining: Moving Forward with Caution and Care
As the shelters slowly reopen, officials are hopeful that the worst of the canine distemper outbreak is behind them. The PetSmart adoption events offer a silver lining for potential pet owners looking to give a loving home to a furry friend in need, all while ensuring the health and safety of both humans and animals.
For the Fort Worth community, this marks a new beginning — one where adoptions resume, but with safety and cautionat the forefront of every decision
