A local humane society is under quarantine until future notice after a deadly virus caused the shelter to lose animals.
The Clay County Humane Society is currently closed to the public due to a virus spreading around their feline population and officials say you can help.
New signs greet those visiting the Clay County Humane Society. The signs read “we can not take more cats or kittens at this time.”
The society filled is capacity which has caused an outbreak of feline distemper a virus that is highly contagious among cats.
“Just one of them can have it and then they start sneezing and it can past to the next four or five that are in the same kennel as them,” Clay County Humane Society Manager Lindsay Stevenson said.
Currently the shelter has 50 cats and kittens, down from their more than 75 cats that were in the shelter last week..
The virus has taken the lives of a handful of young kittens several of which are only 6 weeks old and too young to receive that vaccine for the virus.
Staff and volunteers have been working around the clock to make sure the disease doesn’t spread.
“We are cleaning good with bleach, keeping everyone quarantine and switching gloves often just to make sure everyone is staying healthy,” Stevenson said.
Officials say this is a good reminder for pet owners to have their pets vaccinated.
“Some days it is devastating but you have to look out how many you have saved, how many have gotten off the street and how many are in good homes now because you or a citizen found them and got them in time and put them into a good home,” Stevenson said. “That’s all the reward that you could possibly ever need.”
Officials say they will have the place locked down for at least another week or until all of the animals are in the clear. In the meantime if you are looking to adopt you can check the groups Facebook page for pictures.
If you would like to help the society is looking for donations of soft kitten food, formula blankets, medical cat litter and paper towels.
