Anyone looking to adopt a dog will have to wait after a city-wide outbreak of kennel cough has the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society offering restricted services for dogs and potential owners.
Humane Society executive director Deb Cooper said no dogs can come or go from the society for at least 14 days.
" We’re not taking any dogs in or letting any of our dogs out," Cooper said.
Cooper said unless it’s an emergency situation, owners looking to bring their dog to the humane society are asked to wait until the outbreak is over. Ten dogs at the humane society are currently being treated for kennel cough, a virus with similar symptoms to the common cold for humans. The dogs are in quarantine for up to 20 days. Cooper said if a dog starts to show symptoms such as a dry cough, the owner should take their dog to a veterinarian right away.
Local veterinarians, who offer an optional vaccination for kennel cough, are advising dog owners to keep their pets away from open areas such as dog parks until the outbreak is over Cooper said.
Cooper said to her knowledge this is the first outbreak of kennel cough in the city.
