Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Taking Action to Combat Canine Influenza Outbreak at Shelter

Hillsborough County, Fla. (June 25, 2024) – Hillsborough County Pet Resources had to temporarily relocate all dogs from the Pet Resource Center and closed for several days last week to deal with an outbreak of canine influenza.

Pet shelter managers are taking a number of actions to protect the health of the approximately 290 dogs in their care:

• On Wednesday, June 26, staff will begin moving all dogs from the Pet Resource Center, 440 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619, to another location owned by Hillsborough County. Most dogs are expected to be returned to the shelter by mid-July.
• From Wednesday through July 14, the shelter will not accept new dogs nor will it place dogs through adoption or by placement with a foster family.
• The Pet Resource Center will be closed from Wednesday, June 26, through Saturday, June 29, and will reopen Monday, July 1. (The shelter is closed on Sundays.) The shelter will be cleaned and disinfected during this time to make sure the entire facility is virus-free.
• To help prevent transmission of the virus, shelter staff will be split into two groups, with one group assigned exclusively to the Pet Resource Center and one group to the location where the dogs are being temporarily housed.
• All dogs at the offsite location will be tested for the presence of canine influenza and will not be returned to the Pet Resource Center until they have received a negative test result.

When the shelter reopens July 1, the Pet Resource Center will offer cat adoptions, foster placement, intake, and other cat-related services as normal. Dog operations will not resume until July 15.

Canine influenza, sometimes called dog flu, is a respiratory disease that can cause a persistent cough, nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, and a reduced appetite. Most dogs experience mild symptoms and recover within two to three weeks; about 20 percent of dogs show no symptoms. In rare cases, canine influenza can cause more serious health issues or even death.

Canine influenza is extremely contagious because dogs do not have natural immunity to the virus, meaning the transmission rate is near 100 percent unless a dog has been vaccinated or previously exposed. People cannot contract the virus but can transmit it if the virus is on their clothes or skin.

Is your dog up-to-date on his/her vaccinations?

Call now or check your dog’s vaccination status on your app to see if current on vaccine.

To view the Hillsborough County Animal and Pet Resources Department, please click here.