17 dogs die at St. Louis shelter due to virus

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis animal shelter said seventeen dogs have died at the facility after an outbreak of a virus called distemper.

Stray Rescue founder Randy Grim said most of the dogs are puppies.

About 24 dogs at the facility have tested positive for the virus.

The virus can affect a dog's respiratory and central nervous systems. The virus is treatable, but there is no cure, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Grim said he believes the outbreak was caused by distemper-infected raccoons in the area and introduced to the facility by a pregnant dog that was rescued about two months ago. The mother and her puppies were among the dogs who died.

According to Grim, it's customary not to vaccinate pregnant dogs when they arrive at the shelter. Dogs with lower immune systems and no vaccinations carry the highest risk of infection.

"I have cried so much," Grim said about the outbreak. "I mean, I love them. I rescue them."

The animal shelter usually cares for as many as 400 dogs at a time but will not be accepting any rescues for the next 30 days.

For dogs at the shelter, staff are taking precautions by quarantining ill dogs and ensuring all dogs are tested and vaccinated.

Stray Rescue is hoping to raise $100,000 to cover treatment costs and is requesting towels and cleaning supplies, such as laundry detergent and bleach.

"This could bankrupt us," Grim said.

Shelter staff have been calling families who have adopted dogs from them in the last two months to warn them their dog could be at risk of distemper. The shelter team may have to call at least 300 people who have adopted or fostered dogs from their facility since September.

"This is 100 percent preventable if people vaccinate their animals," Stray Rescue manager Valerie Strobo said.

Grim suggested pet owners vaccinate their dogs so the disease doesn't spread to other dogs.

Distemper cannot be transferred to cats or humans.

According to an employee at Banfield Pet Hospital in South City, the distemper vaccination is one of the core recommended vaccines by veterinarians, but it isn't required by law.