Animal shelter halts dog adoptions amid outbreak at Prince George’s Co. facility

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md.
(7News) — A Prince George’s County animal shelter is stopping dog adoptions due to a spreading illness at the facility, officials said Tuesday.

The Prince George's County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) said it's stopping dog adoptions until further notice, as shelter staff work to identify the illness, stop the spread of the disease and treat the dogs who are ill.

READ| Outbreak of dog illness prompts temporary closure of Prince George’s Co.
animal shelter

Officials said the disease is not spreading from dogs to other animals at the facility.

“As we continue to see overcrowding in our shelter we are seeing an uptick of disease, as are other shelters nationwide, and we are acting quickly to help stop the spread of this disease,” says David Fisher, Associate Director of the Department of Animal Services.
“The best place for a dog to be now is with their owner.
If you have no pets and would be willing to short-term foster a dog not showing signs of illness, please reach out to fosterpgcpets@co.pg.md.us."

Officials said the dogs can leave the shelter under certain circumstances, including:

• They are being returned to the owner
• An adoption is in progress and the pet shows no signs of illness
• The pet is considered for foster and shows no signs of illness

For more information or updates on when the facility will reopen, call (301) 780-7200.