MIDLAND, Texas —
The City of Midland held a press conference Thursday to talk about what Midland Animal Services is doing to reduce canine distemper in their shelters. One way is to partner with other West Texas rescues.
Distemper is something that no one wants to see a dog have to go through. Midland Animal Services Manager Melissa Griffin-Hobson explained.
“So distemper is a virus that is highly contagious, it’s a respiratory virus that affects multiple organs and it is often deadly," Griffin-Hobson said. "Unfortunately for those that survive they do continue to shed the virus for several months.”
Since the virus spreads so easily, MAS can’t accept new dogs into their shelter, nor can they adopt any dogs out.
So what happens if Midlanders need to re-home a canine? They can contact Fix West Texas via email at surrenders@fixwesttexas.org to join its Finder to Foster Program.
“Fix West Texas started almost two years ago, a Finder to Foster Program, which is where any person who finds an animal becomes the foster and we at Fix West Texas provide crate food, toys, bowls, any necessities that are needed for the person to be able to foster. We also vaccinate, we also spay or neuter, we deworm, we treat for fleas and ticks. All of that is in our Finder to Foster Program,” said Beth Meeks, director of adoptions at Fix West Texas.
The city said that through their combined efforts with nonprofits and the general public, they can help the dogs get through this outbreak.
"We would not be able to get this situation under control or save as many dogs without the community's assistance," Griffin-Hobson said. "It's essential that they get their dogs vaccinated; this virus is preventable with vaccinations."
The hope is to care for the animals at the shelter and in the community. Also, avoid euthanasia whenever possible.
So how can you help? The City of Midland and Fix West Texas are encouraging all pet owners to get their pets a DAPP vaccination to protect against parvo and distemper. It is the single most important vaccination for the health of their pet.
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