STEWART LUANA, BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, MICHELLE, THANK YOU. HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES HAS A BIG PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS TONIGHT. SOME OF THE DOGS IN THE SHELTER HAVE COME DOWN WITH A VERY CONTAGIOUS RESPIRATORY VIRUS. AND WHILE THEY TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON IT, THEY’RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TONIGHT. WESH 2’S. MICHELLE. MEREDITH IS LIVE IN STUDIO FOR US. AND MICHELLE, THE PNEUMOVIRUS IS IMPACTING QUITE A FEW DOGS. HOW IS THIS? WELL, IT COMES ON LIKE A KENNEL COUGH DOGS GET A FEVER OR THEY COUGH RUNNY NOSE AND IT CAN GET SERIOUS. THEY BELIEVE THE VIRUS WAS INTRODUCED BY A NEW DOG BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER. SO WHILE THE STAFF DEALS WITH THIS FOR NOW, THEY WANT FOLKS TO TO STOP DROPPING ANIMALS OFF. WE’RE TALKING STRAY ANIMALS, ANIMAL ALLS YOU WANT TO SURRENDER, INCLUDING CATS. EVEN THOUGH CATS CAN’T GET THE VIRUS, THE STAFF NEEDS TIME. AS OF RIGHT NOW JUST TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE WE’RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO WORK AND WE’RE DOING DEEP CLEANING, CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS. SO IT’S ALREADY A STRAIN ON OUR STAFF. IT’S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF OUR ANIMALS. A LOT OF THESE ANIMALS AREN’T EXACTLY 100% HEALTHY. SO EVEN IF THEY’RE SLIGHTLY, YOU KNOW, COMPROMISED, THIS COULD TURN INTO PNEUMONIA. IF YOU FIND A STRAY INSTEAD OF DROPPING IT OFF AT THE SHELTER, TRY TO GET THE ANIMAL BACK TO ITS OWNER THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. GOOD OLD FASHIONED FLIERS. ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES ALSO HAS A LOST AND FOUND PET FORM, OR IF YOU’RE FEELING SO INCLINED, YOU CAN FOSTER OR EVEN ADOPT ONE OF THE
Dogs at animal shelter in Orange County diagnosed with pneumovirus
Updated: 7:13 PM EDT Sep 8, 2023
Orange County Animals Services is dealing with an outbreak of a very contagious dog respiratory virus. And while the shelter tries to get a handle on it, they’re asking for your help. It’s called canine pneumovirus, and it comes on like a kennel cough. Dogs get a fever, cough and runny nose and it can get serious.They believe the virus was introduced by a new dog brought into the shelter.So while the staff deals with that, for now, they want people to stop dropping animals off, including stray animals and animals you want to surrender, including cats even though cats can’t get the virus.The staff needs time. “Right now, just to make things easier on us. We’re constantly having to work. We’re doing deep cleaning, caring for the animals that are showing symptoms. So it’s already a strain on our staff,” said Bryant Almeida of Orange County Animal Services. “It’s a big deal because it affects the health of the animals. A lot of these animals aren’t 100 percent healthy, so even if they are slightly compromised, it could turn into pneumonia,” Almeida said. So, if you find a stray, instead of dropping it off at the shelter, try to get the animal back to its owner through social media and good old-fashioned flyers.Orange County Animal Services also has a lost and found pet forum.Or, if you are feeling so inclined, you can foster or even adopt one of their healthy dogs.Top headlines: Hurricane Lee: The latest maps, models and paths Hurricane Lee barrels through open Atlantic waters after becoming season’s first Category 5 storm New poll shows how Florida voters feel about medical, recreational use of marijuana
Orange County Animals Services is dealing with an outbreak of a very contagious dog respiratory virus. And while the shelter tries to get a handle on it, they’re asking for your help.
It’s called canine pneumovirus, and it comes on like a kennel cough. Dogs get a fever, cough and runny nose and it can get serious.
They believe the virus was introduced by a new dog brought into the shelter.
So while the staff deals with that, for now, they want people to stop dropping animals off, including stray animals and animals you want to surrender, including cats even though cats can’t get the virus.
The staff needs time.
“Right now, just to make things easier on us. We’re constantly having to work. We’re doing deep cleaning, caring for the animals that are showing symptoms. So it’s already a strain on our staff,” said Bryant Almeida of Orange County Animal Services.
“It’s a big deal because it affects the health of the animals. A lot of these animals aren’t 100 percent healthy, so even if they are slightly compromised, it could turn into pneumonia,” Almeida said.
So, if you find a stray, instead of dropping it off at the shelter, try to get the animal back to its owner through social media and good old-fashioned flyers.
Orange County Animal Services also has a lost and found pet forum.
Or, if you are feeling so inclined, you can foster or even adopt one of their healthy dogs.
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