LAWRENCEVILLE - The Gwinnett County Animal Shelter will reopen this weekend following a voluntary quarantine after one dog died and several others were affected by kennel cough.
According to Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Michele Pihera, the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine determined the illness was in fact kennel cough.
"All the animals that were infected with some of the symptoms or all the symptoms have since recovered, and are in the process of going out to rescue groups," said Pihera, noting that the exception was the one dog who died from the illness.
"Because of the recent situation... the animal shelter director Chip Moore has initiated several different proactive steps in order to prevent anything like this from happening again," said Pihera.
Pihera said one of those steps is the intake procedure. "If an animal is brought in from an animal control officer, or owner surrender, that animal is going to be vaccinated with a certain type of medication - for the dogs, they'll be given DAPP and Bordetella, and the cats are going to be given a feline Bordetella in addition to FVRCP - and those animals will receive those vaccinations prior to going in to general population, prior to even going in to a pen."
The shelter will reopen Saturday, but before that can happen, the final stages of cleaning are wrapping up. Pihera said the facility is undergoing steam cleaning Wednesday, and Thursday a specialist will come in to further sanitize the air and surfaces of the building. By Friday, all animals that remain at the temporary shelter will be brought back to the main shelter.
The grand re-opening will be Saturday at 11 a.m., and pets will be available for adoption, with a low adoption fee, and can be taken home that day, all up to date on shots and are spayed or neutered.
