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Courtesy Multnomah County Animal Services
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR – Multnomah County Animal Services has fully reopened after the Oregon Department of Agriculture lifted a quarantine imposed earlier this month following a bacterial outbreak.
The quarantine, issued February 12th, was lifted Monday, allowing the shelter to resume all services, including dog adoptions and standard intake of stray animals.
In coordination with the state veterinarian, shelter officials reported no additional unassisted deaths since the outbreak of Streptococcus zooepidemicus was first identified and reported February 12th.
Two dogs died from the bacteria prior to the quarantine. On the day the quarantine began, the shelter humanely euthanized a third dog experiencing a declining medical condition with symptoms similar to the first two.
Under the direction of the state veterinarian, the shelter partially lifted restrictions February 19th, resuming dog adoptions while continuing to pause stray dog intake. During that period, the adoption process included added safety precautions. Adopters were asked to limit interactions to two dogs per visit, observe a 14-day home quarantine after adoption and review an informational sheet about the bacteria.
Shelter officials credited the community with helping limit the spread of illness by keeping stray dogs out of the facility during the closure.
With full intake resuming, however, the shelter anticipates a surge in stray arrivals following the 10-day pause.
“The safety of the animals in our care remains our top priority and we are grateful for the community’s patience, as well as the dedication and vigilance of our staff and volunteers as we worked with the state veterinarian to contain this outbreak,” said Erin Grahek, director of the Animal Services Division. “However, to maintain this healthy environment and provide relief for good Samaritans in the community holding found dogs, we need to find homes for our dogs currently at the shelter to make room for those arriving in the next few days.”
Animal Services officials warned that a rise in intakes could increase the risk of disease transmission if shelter capacity grows too quickly. They are urging residents to prioritize adoption to help reduce crowding and maintain a healthy environment for animals in their care.
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Tim Lantz
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