The City of Columbia’s Animal Shelter is experiencing an outbreak of Pneumovirus in canines, which we believe was brought in from an outside source.
Due to this outbreak, in an effort to protect the shelter population as well as community pets, the shelter is limiting all intakes to emergencies only, which will include the sick and injured, or animals related to animal cruelty investigations, for the next fourteen (14) days.
Pneumovirus is a virus that causes respiratory illness, in which symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and difficulty breathing. There are no vaccinations to protect or treat canines from this virus, therefore it is critically important the shelter exercise immediate quarantine and treatment of its infected population.
At this time, the shelter will be unable to accommodate pet relinquishment on behalf of owners. The shelter is able to offer resources to pet owners who need to rehome their pets, to include basic vetting, food and pet rehoming resources. Citizens who find stray animals are encouraged to house the animal and seek the animal’s owner or exercise self-rehoming if efforts to find the owner are unsuccessful. The shelter can offer resources for suggested efforts.
Shelter leadership would like to take this opportunity to remind pet owners of the importance of spay and neuter, as it is healthier for pets and helps reduce overcrowding in shelter populations, which can lead to viral outbreaks. City of Columbia and Richland County residents can request a spay/neuter voucher from the shelter, which will reduce cost of spay/neuter at select locations.
Please visit Columbia Animal Services online at www.animalservices.columbiasc.gov for more information on available resources or call the shelter at (803) 776-PETS (7387).