By Coalition for Animal Rights and Education in Polk County, Florida
Animals entering a shelter should not be put at risk of leaving sicker than when they arrived — or dying from a highly contagious disease.
What is being done about the 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗸𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮 outbreak at Polk County Animal Control?
What protocols are in place for:
Testing and identifying exposed cats
Isolation and quarantine
Cleaning and disinfection
Updated vaccination protocols consistent with guidance from the University of Wisconsin and UC Davis
Protecting new intakes
Adoptions, rescue transfers, and notification of possible exposure
Public reports and concerns involving panleukopenia appear to go back approximately 𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦.
So what is being done 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 to stop further spread?
If that timeline is accurate, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴?
When Animal Control takes custody of an animal, that animal depends on the facility for its health and safety. With custody comes a responsibility to protect animals from preventable exposure to disease — not to return them to the community sick, exposed, or at risk of dying.
