Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter to Fully Reopen After Distemper Outbreak Kills 56 Dogs

The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter will fully re-open to the public after an outbreak of canine distemper led to a two-month quarantine and the death of more than 50 dogs.

The outbreak was detected in late June and the shelter locked down immediately, suspending rescues and outgoing adoptions after just two dogs tested positive for distemper - but the extremely contagious disease spread quickly and widely through the dog population still quarantined inside.

On Monday, the shelter will finally reopen to the public after battling the virus for two months - about four times longer than they first estimated.

Get our free mobile app

In a post to social media, the shelter said they conducted and analyzed more than 350 very expensive distemper tests. 58 canines tested positive, and all but two of those had to be euthanized because of the severity of their condition.

The two surviving dogs had low viral loads and were already in foster homes - the shelter said their families have chosen to keep them and provide the care they need.

Now, all dogs in the shelter have tested negative for the disease.

Starting today, the shelter is now fully open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Sunday and Wednesday, when they are closed with safeguards in place to ensure another outbreak does not spread.

"As we move forward, we remain committed to the health and safety of all our animals. For the next few months, we will continue to closely monitor incoming dogs for any signs of illness and will immediately test any dog exhibiting symptoms." the shelter said.

"We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our community for your unwavering support during this difficult time," they wrote. "Your compassion and understanding have been invaluable to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the shelter.
Thank you for standing by us and helping us continue our mission to care for the animals in our community."

The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter can be found at 3140 Investigator Dornell Cousette Street. It regularly needs foster families and adoptions of the animals it rescues and houses.