Veterinarians in Madison County are trying to figure out how some of the dogs at
became sick. Two of them died and one has heartworm.Now the doors to the Humane Society in Anderson are closed indefinitely.
On Friday, Anderson residents like Becky Hill stopped by to donate supplies like paper towels, dog bowls, bleach and bedding.
"It breaks my heart to see this happening," Hill said.
The problem started about ten days ago. However, shelter leaders are unsure if the illnesses are related to the recently reported dog flu in the Chicago and Lafayette areas.
"Make sure we stay on top of it, and no matter what it is, we are containing it the best way that we can," said Carla Condon, manager of the Madison County Humane Society.
One of the dogs came into the shelter with severe anxiety. Another dog, a Schnauzer mix, spent about a week at the vet with pneumonia before dying. The shelter has also had some other dogs with upper respiratory problems and coughing.
The issues rang alarm bells at the shelter, which has a strong mentorship program with Purdue University. So on Wednesday, a veterinarian from Purdue came in to perform blood testing, throat and nose swabs on 17 of the 58 dogs at the shelter. The test results should be back on Monday.
"When the dogs come into the shelter, we don't know their history. So many of them, we don't know if they've been vaccinated ever, if they are ill before they come in, what underlying diseases they could have, we just don't know," said Susie Schieve, Executive Director of the Madison County Humane Society.
Though the virus cannot transmit to cats or to people, for now, the shelter will remain closed to protect other dogs until they know and can contain the cause.
"The staff here care deeply about the animals as if they are our own," Condon said.
"We could have taken a dog into our shelter which we thought was a very healthy dog, that could have spread to the other dogs very quickly. It's not a death sentence, but it does spread quickly throughout the shelter," Schieve said.
While they work to nurse the dogs back to health, they're asking for donations.
You can make them to their Paypal account.
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You may also donate items. The shelter needs Pine Sol, bleach scrub brushes, disinfectant spray, Chlorox wipes, paper towels, laundry detergent, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, foot covers, heavy duty trash bags and stainless steel dog bowls.
You may drop donations off at the office: 2219 Crystal St, Anderson, IN, 46013; 765-644-6484.
Follow the shelter's Facebook updates
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