07/15/2024
‼️OUTBREAK UPDATE‼️ Last week, we shared that our Wilmington location would be closed for dog adoptions and intakes, as we awaited lab results to diagnose a severe respiratory outbreak in our kennels.
Today, we have received results indicating a strain of Canine Influenza, with 30 infected dogs being treated at our Wilmington location. For the safety of our dogs and community, we have suspended dog adoptions, intake & surrenders, as well as our Doggy Day Out program, at our Wilmington location until further notice. Our other HAP locations are not currently impacted. (Please note that our Stanton/Christiana campus is still undergoing renovation and does not currently have dogs on-site.)
On Friday, The State of Delaware Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Lopez, confirmed three separate shelters and one local rescue have been affected by this outbreak. Due to the severity of this illness, they have issued a control order mandating that all Delaware shelters and rescues suspend out-of-state transports, as well as out-of-state intakes or adoptions for the next 30-days. This means no dogs in Delaware can be adopted to or surrendered from out-of-state, regardless of their present health. This control order does not apply to cats. To learn more about this order, please visit the link in our bio.
As this illness has spread to shelters state-wide, it is likely within our community as well. If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, please seek immediate veterinary care: persistent coughing or sneezing, vomiting, lethargy, fever, nasal discharge, eye discharge, or loss of appetite. To learn more about this outbreak, please visit the link in our bio.
Our medical and animal care teams are doing everything possible to provide proper care, treatment, and recovery for the dogs affected by this outbreak. We have made the decision to hospitalize multiple dogs with Blue Pearl Animal Hospital, to ensure they receive the critical care they need for the best chance of recovery. Additionally, we have ordered Canine Influenza vaccinations for all of the dogs in our care, including foster dogs, as recommended by our Director of Veterinary Services.
If you are a Delaware resident, you are still able to adopt dogs from our Rehoboth center, as well as dogs from foster care, as they are not affected. All other services continue to remain open, including our wellness and spay/neuter clinics, as well as off-site wellness events, including upcoming vaccine clinics.
❤️We are especially grateful to all of our supporters and donors during this time! You are making such an impact by contributing many of our essential items, well wishes for our animals, and monetary gifts to cover emergency costs. THANK YOU!
⭐️HOW TO HELP
Our Amazon wishlists have been updated to reflect our essential needs, just in time for Prime Day! Please visit the link in our bio or click https://www.humaneanimalpartners.org/give/wishlists/ to view our wishlist!