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February 21, 2008

MOSES LAKE, Wash. – A mystery disease has temporarily kept the Grant County Animal Shelter in Moses Lake, Wash. closed since Feb. 12.

The disease has claimed the lives of 31 dogs, including four litters of puppies, at the shelter operated by Animal Outreach.

With the help of Washington State University’s veterinary school, the shelter is trying to identify the disease. Symptoms include coughing, thick nasal discharge, lethargy and diarrhea.

In the meantime, staff is sanitizing the facility, which normally houses more than 100 dogs, 40 cats and a number of rabbits, guinea pigs or other small animals up for adoption.

Shelter Manager Mary DeHerrera hopes they will be able to re-open their doors next week.

If you would like to help, contact the Grant County Animal Shelter at 509-762-9616.

Tell us what you think under this story. Post your favorite pet videos at the zootooTV tab. E-mail us your story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.

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1234 comments found.

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Morgan (kcovey)
3 months ago

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They'll make a come back

Patricia C. (lovepuppy227)
3 months ago

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How sad that the shelter has remained closed for so long!

Karen M. (Karemel)
3 months ago

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I'm happy to hear that steps were taken to sanitize the facility. Poor animals.

Alex J. (roadisland49)
3 months ago

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how sad

Denise D. (DoubleD)
3 months ago

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Would like to know if they have discovered the disease.

hymcheng
3 months ago

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Would love an update. Did they find out what the mystery illness was?

jfoxmu78
3 months ago

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A sad situiation for this shelter or any shelter. This has happened several times
in recent weeks. Hope they find the cause and Zootoo will let other shelters know
the reason so we can be on the lookout for it.

Scott J. (Scott9843)
3 months ago

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that's such a sad thing to happen to everyone.

Gretchen B. (Gretchen71)
3 months ago

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I hope they got this all cleaned up- so sad!

gr8fuldead
3 months ago

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I'm sorry for the staff and volunteers,as well as the animals involved.

Sharon S. (sfsanders)
3 months ago

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First this and then the Galveston area shelter having almost the same problem. What is going on? Someone needs to find out what is happening. I hope the animals are safe. Maybe they can share their experience with other shelters in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.

Heather (littlepeeps)
3 months ago

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Wish the gov't would extend more support to shelters.

hymcheng
3 months ago

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I agree! Governments never seem to want to help animal shelters. It's sad that the community has to bear all of the financial responsibility.

DonLong
3 months ago

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What a tragedy! We would love to hear an update on this story. What disease was identified? How are they doing now?

Jill D. (demingj)
3 months ago

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How tragic--what a difficult thing to deal with for the staff.

Michelle H. (sinbad90)
3 months ago

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These dogs have had such sad lives. It is terrible that they have to go through this as well. I am sure some people will be scared to adopt from this shelter until it is know what caused the death.

Tara E. (tarbear16)
3 months ago

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thats a really scary thing to happen..its odd that they don't know what bacteria was doing it..i'm curious if there was an atopsie because someone could have poisoned them..which is even more scarier

babygirl o. (babygirl121764)
3 months ago

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sad

kd1969
3 months ago

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As if their poor lives weren't bad enough. What a shame. Hopefully they will find the cause soon.

Ken C. (KenCochran)
3 months ago

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What a shame, I hope they get things cleaned and ready to more dogs.

RoseLong
3 months ago

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I feel so sorry for these animals. I hope they were able to quickly figure out what was going on. I would love to hear the latest on this story.

kristie n. (sweettart)
4 months ago

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very sad

andrew22
4 months ago

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This sounds very terrible. It's scary to think how something like that just happens for no reason it seems.

Marissa N. (Marissa1992)
4 months ago

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This is just too bad. I hope they find out what it is.

hauler
4 months ago

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That is a bad deal. It would be so hard to get everything clean enough to bring in more animals and know they wouldn't get this disease too.

Jill6Johnson
4 months ago

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This is a very sad story and very scary. Hope all works out

Ashlee S. (ashleerdh)
4 months ago

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How sad!! Hope this works out

Lisa B. (LBowen)
4 months ago

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I hope they get to the bottom of this soon. Very sad story.

LynnLucyDoris
4 months ago

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This must be an extremely frustrating situation for shelter volunteers...and unknown ailment. At least they are in good hands with the research dept. In the meantime, what do they santize with? Hopefully bleach...it will kill anything if used properly.

chris a. (carmstrong84)
4 months ago

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that's really too bad

rszink77
4 months ago

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sad and scary

Carrie R. (croe)
4 months ago

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I heard earlier that the dogs had pneumonia. But there can be strains for kennel cough that cause the immune system to be compromised and dogs can die from that too. Especially if they are weakened by stress which is often the case in the shelter environment. It does not sound like they are dealing with some new disease that is unknown and going to spread as an epidemic. But still a very sad situation.

hymcheng
3 months ago

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Is that the official report? That is was pneumonia? Wow!!! That's pretty scare that it would threaten the entire shelter like it has.

WickedPineapple
4 months ago

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That's really scary. I'm glad they shut down the place to sanitize it.

Sue K. (skasson)
4 months ago

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so sad. I'm glad they did the right thing and shut down to sanitize and find the root cause.

LoriHill123
4 months ago

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I'd like an update

WickedPineapple
4 months ago

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I'd also like an update!

Elisha C. (constable73)
4 months ago

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This is so heartbreaking. You wonder why these animals could not get a break.

jdarunner
4 months ago

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omg!....thats sooooo sad, knowing that those dogs died because of a mystery disease!.....i hope they didnt die in pain!

daryl b. (darylob)
4 months ago

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it sound almost like shipping fevor in horses

Carrie R. (croe)
4 months ago

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Can you provide more information on shipping fevor? I have not heard of that and have some horse experience.

Val (GeoGerm)
4 months ago

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I hope they do a follow up. We all have to be careful.

Gemma M. (foxywench)
4 months ago

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sounds very much like a parvo outbreak...

itll be a pain to clean up, parvo is persisent!

Carrie R. (croe)
4 months ago

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Not parvo and thank goodness. As while this situation was deadly it did not sound like they have parvo which can be so devastating because of how difficult it is to disinfect after. It can live in the ground and other surfaces for years. Yes, years.

Billie (theworkmans)
4 months ago

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This is such a sad story. My heart goes out to the workers at this shelter, this has to be a hard time for them. I hope they can find out what the disease is and get the shelter reopened.

tammy b. (tammyfaye)
4 months ago

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Did any of the workers get sick?

Sthurby
4 months ago

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Hope we get an update on what it was- so many things are popping up Blasto and parvo especially- SOO dangerous- protect your aniumals and prevent

Erin S. (eRiNaShLeY)
4 months ago

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This is crazy and soooo sad

Chrissy (blondiestlouis)
4 months ago

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this is terribly sad.

april8sue
4 months ago

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This is so sad and I hope they find out the cause. So many little lives lost.

tinbush
4 months ago

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This is tragic. The shelter workers are one of the most stressed out group you can find. Dealing with low budget, pay, and having to make life and death decisions of innocent and scared individuals that did not choose to be there in the first place. How devastating for a dog that holds it's owner in high esteem and is a 'good' dog...but not good enough and left at a shelter or left to fend for itself. Don't every complain that no one loves YOU.

hymcheng
3 months ago

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Well said!

Tic T. (TicTac)
4 months ago

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Scroll down - another zootoo member posted an update. It was pneumonia that killed those dogs....

hymcheng
3 months ago

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Have they been able to treat the dogs for pneumonia?

Justin (Footey)
4 months ago

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How sad!!! Hopefully, with time they will discover the disease.

Hughie
4 months ago

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I hope they find out what this is in order to prevent this from happening again. This is such a sad story.

Sassifrass
4 months ago

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What a sad story. Hopefully an answer to what killed these animals will be found soon.

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Mystery Disease Kills 31 Dogs, Closes Wash. Shelter

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