Memphis Animal Services to euthanize nearly 100 dogs after CDV outbreak

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Nearly 100 dogs will be euthanized at Memphis Animal Services (MAS) due to an outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), according to MAS. 

MAS said on Friday that the CDV outbreak was in three of its eleven kennel rooms. Dogs in those rooms were exposed to the virus after a litter of 11 puppies was brought to the facility on December 31, according to MAS. One of those puppies began showing symptoms about a week after the litter arrived, MAS said. 

“After careful consideration, extensive discussions, and outreach to national shelter medicine experts, MAS has made the difficult decision to move forward with euthanasia for the nearly 100 animals in the exposed rooms,” MAS said in a news release. 

According to MAS, the exposed dogs had to be euthanized to prevent the further spread of the disease to healthy animals. MAS said that the shelter allowed a few previously committed animals to be adopted based on the adopter’s ability to safely quarantine the dog. 

“It is with heavy hearts that we have to make this difficult decision,” Shelter Manager Mary Claire Borys said in a news release. “Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs and other animals; this measure has been taken to contain the spread of the virus, protect the health of the remaining animals in our care, and protect the Memphis community.”

MAS said that healthy dogs are still available for adoption and fostering. Click here to learn more about how you can adopt or foster a dog from MAS.

MAS offered these tips on how to prevent and spot CDV. 

• Vaccination: Ensure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations. Distemper is preventable, and vaccinations are the best defense against this virus.
• Symptoms to Watch For: If your pet shows signs like sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing, or lethargy, please consult your veterinarian immediately.
• Keep Distance: Limit interactions with unfamiliar animals, and avoid dog parks until the situation is resolved.
• Spread the Word: Please share this message to help keep our community informed and our pets safe.

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