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Pasco Animal Adoptions Resume After Distemper Scare

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8

Published: December 23, 2008

Pet adoptions resumed today at Pasco County Animal Services after a distemper outbreak shut the shelter down for several days.

The agency had halted animal adoptions last week because animals tested positive for distemper, assistant manager John Malley said.

Malley said workers spent the past few days conducting a "deep clean" of the affected area and tested animals. Test results from the University of Florida showed that the last 18 animals tested were clear of distemper.

The Pasco shelter resumed cat and dog adoptions this morning. It will continue to take precautionary measures and actively look for any signs of distemper virus symptoms in animals and quarantine them.

Distemper is a virus that begins with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and progresses to attack the nervous system. Young dogs are most susceptible. The virus can be easily prevented by vaccination.

Animal Services workers said they believe the virus source was located, in the Tommytown area, north of Dade City.

On Jan. 11 Animal Services is planning a clinic offering distemper vaccinations at a reduced cost to the community.

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