LENOIR, NC (WBTV) - The Caldwell County Animal Control shelter remains closed to the public until officials can determine more about a mystery illness which is affecting dogs at the facility.

Officials closed the shelter on Wednesday, March 16. They will not be conducting adoptions, taking in any additional animals, or giving rabies vaccines until further notice.  

As of Monday, March 21, 26 dogs have had to be euthanized due to the severe illness. Symptoms of the illness include drooling, neurological problems, and seizures. The illness, however, does not appear to affect cats.

“We are working closely with Dr. Dan and Beth Jones of Lenoir Veterinary Hospital to determine the cause of the illness. We have sent blood and spinal samples to the North Carolina state lab for testing and, so far, have confirmed that the disease is not rabies,” said Greg Greene, Director of Caldwell County Animal Control.

Dr. Dan Jones said the animal hospital notified animal control about the illness earlier in the week after examining two sick dogs that were recently adopted from the facility.

This weekend, animal control staff sanitized the shelter by pressure washing the entire facility using Clorox and another sanitation product.

Animals currently housed at the shelter are being quarantined to one area and will remain there until the situation is resolved.

“I would like to ask the public for their support during this time as we work to determine what this illness is and eradicate it,” said Greene. “Please keep your dogs and cats contained, as we will not be able to respond to calls for pick up of strays. If someone is missing a pet, we will still certainly allow them into the shelter to see if their pet is here, but other than that, we will be closed to the public temporarily.”

For more information, contact Dacia Hudson with the Caldwell County Health Department at 828-426-8506 or Greg Greene with Caldwell County Animal Control at 828-757-8625.

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