In February 2007 an outbreak of canine bacteria caused the euthanization of almost 1,000 animals at the Lied Animal Shelter in Las Vegas.
Now, May of 2008, the same bacterial strain is being detected in dogs at another shelter, almost 2,000 miles away.
The Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County in Wisconsin reported that seven of their current shelter dogs died this week as a result of a bacterial infection called streptococcus equi zooepidemicus. This bacteria affects the respiratory system of the dogs and can cause death if not properly treated. Kate Hurley, director at the University of California-Davis’ Kort Shelter Medicine Program was interviewed by a reporter for the Associated Press and said that the bacteria affected “dogs of all kinds and ages and [that she] couldn’t rule out cats as being susceptible to it.”
The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison reported to the shelter in Waukesha County that the animals there succumbed to the same strain of bacteria found in the Las Vegas shelter animals from 2007.
So far the Wisconsin shelter has seen seven dogs die as a result of the disease. They are currently treating two other dogs at the shelter as well. All of the shelter’s dogs have been isolated and the shelter will remain closed for the next three weeks to ensure that the bacteria will not be passed any further.
