Fairfax County Animal Shelter Temporarily Suspends Intake of Dogs

by William Callahan 

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter has temporarily stopped taking in dogs after approximately 12 dogs at the shelter began showing symptoms of an unknown respiratory illness.

One dog has already died from pneumonia, according to a release from the police department, and staff fear the illness could be canine influenza.

Shelter staff is waiting for test results determining the illness to come back. They should be available by next Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the release. But until they know what’s causing the sickness, they can’t take in any more dogs.

Severe cases of canine influenza can result in fatal pneumonia, so officials are working to treat sick animals and shelter healthy ones.

They are seeking temporary housing until the sickness passes.

If you like to help foster a healthy or recovering dog until the illness is treated, please contact the shelter at 703-324-0208 or email Kristen.auerbach@fairfaxcounty.gov.