Dog flu outbreak shutters adoptions at Fort Worth TX center

Fort Worth

An outbreak of canine influenza at Fort Worth’s Chuck and Brenda Silcox Animal Care and Adoption Center has been contained, a city spokesperson said.

On Feb. 8, the city said that an outbreak of the dog flu shut down adoptions and surrenders at the Fort Worth animal adoption cente located at 4900 Martin St. Since the announcement, the shelter has been closed to the public.

Fort Worth Animal Care and Control found that a majority of dogs at the Silcox Adoption Center showed symptoms of the virus or had been exposed. Other shelters in the area experienced similar outbreaks, officials said.

[HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR DOG HAS THE FLU?]

Since shuttering the shelter, the city has thoroughly cleaned the facility and implementing new procedures to maintain a healthy animal population, said Lola McCartney, city communications coordinator.

The city told the Star-Telegram it will have more information Friday about its plan to reopen the Chuck and Brenda Silcox Animal Care and Adoption Center.

“What once was a shelter with mostly sick animals affected by the virus is now a shelter with mostly healthy adoptable animals,” McCartney said.

Since the Silcox Adoption Center was closed, the North Animal Campus at 351 Hilshire Drive has seen an increase in activity causing overcrowding of dogs, according to WFAA.

A list of adoptable dogs and cats can be found on the city’s website, including Fredo, a 5-year-old retriever/Labrador mix, Luna, a 4-year-old Alaskan husky/shepherd and Big boy, a 3-year-old Terrier/pit bull mix.

Adoptions from the city cost $49 and all dogs have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped by the city.

Other adoption centers across Fort Worth include:

• North Animal Campus — Open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday at 351 Hillshire Drive.
• Hulen PetSmart — Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 4800 SW Loop 820.
• Alliance PetSmart — Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 2901 Texas Sage Trail.