Unknown Virus shuts down animal shelter

 By Mandy Catoe
May 10, 2017

The Lancaster County Animal Shelter has been shut down and quarantined, and it will accept no strays until further notice, County Administrator Steve Willis said Tuesday.
He said the shelter has been working for about two weeks to contain an outbreak of some undetermined respiratory virus, but has not been successful.
"We are closing the shelter, not taking any dogs or cats in and not letting any dogs or cats out," he said.
Willis said the shelter staff followed veterinary advice and placed the animals in outside pens and with rescue groups. Despite steps taken so far including administering antibiotics, cleaning the HVAC system, and having the shelter professionally sanitized, the airborne disease is still infecting animals.
Willis said one veterinarian has advised that the remaining animals at the shelter may need to be euthanized, followed by a two-week period with no animals housed there.
"Before we take a step like that, we will get a second opinion," Willis said.
He is hopeful that continued testing will determine what the illness is and how to deal with it.
"This means that we will be unable to respond to stray animal complaints for the next few weeks," Willis said. "We regret the inconvenience but must contain the virus to protect future animals that come into the shelter."
He said York County has agreed to hold any dogs involved in court-related cases from this point on.