SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. -- The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) will be closing its doors to the public starting on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, and extending for an anticipated two-week period.
The sudden, unexpected deaths of two asymptomatic dogs prompted SCRAPS to collaborate with Washington State University in undertaking extensive diagnostic testing, the results of which were received today and identified the presence of Streptococcus Zooepidemicus (Strep Zoo). In an effort to safeguard the wellbeing of the SCRAPS shelter population and the community at large, SCRAPS is following recommended shelter medicine protocols and best practices, which have been informed by veterinary infectious disease experts specializing in shelter medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Strep Zoo is a bacteria that can cause respiratory disease and death in various species. In dogs, symptoms can include coughing, nasal discharge, fever, and retching (often mistaken for vomiting), but infected dogs may not show any clinical symptoms. The bacteria can be spread through the air, through bodily secretions, and through contact with common surfaces.
SCRAPS has undertaken preventive, antibiotic treatment for every dog in its care and is in the process of contacting guardians of dogs who have recently left the shelter. Until SCRAPS is able to safely reopen its doors, for the safety of all our animals it kindly requests the community’s assistance in reducing animal intake to the shelter as much as possible. SCRAPS will continue to take in Spokane County’s stray animals when absolutely necessary but is also asking that individuals who find healthy, stray dogs to please hold on to them to prevent potential exposure while looking for their guardians.
Though the SCRAPS facility will be closed to the public for entry, SCRAPS staff will remain onsite to assist with community needs. For more information or specific questions, please feel free to contact SCRAPS at 509-477-2532 or [email protected].