Athens Reporter

The ACCGov Animal Services Department has announced that they will not be accepting owner-surrendered dogs until April 8 due to three confirmed cases of canine parvovirus and space constraints. The puppy area will also be closed to visitors during this time, and some dogs in affected spaces may not be available for adoption until that date.

Kristall Barber, the Animal Services Director, explained, "Animal shelters all over the country have the same challenges with animal viruses due to the numbers of stray and community animals that come through facilities like ours. Our physical layout, cleaning protocols, and department policies help minimize the impacts, but there are required changes to our operations whenever cases occur."

Residents seeking to surrender dogs prior to April 8 are advised to contact Animal Services by phone at 706-613-3540 for advice. General dog adoptions and owner reclaims of dogs will continue, although some dogs in affected areas may not be available for adoption until April 8.

The three puppies that tested positive for parvovirus were recently brought into the Adoption Center. One puppy tested positive on March 18, while two others tested positive on March 21. Animal Services have taken the necessary steps by contacting the Georgia Department of Agriculture and implementing specialized cleaning processes to minimize the spread of the virus.

Animal Services staff has been in communication with the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division and other area facilities to ensure proper protocols are followed. The Animal Services Adoption Center’s normal hours remain Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

For more information about Animal Services and the Adoption Center, visit www.accgov.com/animalservices or call 706-613-3540.