EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) The Emporia animal shelter is quarantined as officials deal with an outbreak of distemper.
A temporary intake center has been set up at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in response to the outbreak, which has killed more than 60 dogs since February. Veterinarians say early test results confirmed the illness was distemper.
KVOE reports the Capital Area Animal Rescue Team will operate the temporary shelter for at least three weeks.
Animal Shelter manager Peggy Derrick says the remaining dogs at the animal shelter are healthy.
Emporia veterinarian Floyd Dorsey says the health issues began in February and March after stray dogs from northwest Lyon County were brought to the shelter. Derrick says the shelter has been thoroughly bleached several times but dogs began showing symptoms again early this month.