The Walker County Animal Shelter has reopened following a 30-day quarantine after a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus.
The shelter closed temporarily after all eight puppies in the litter contracted the highly contagious virus and later died. Officials said no other animals at the shelter experienced health issues during the quarantine period.
Canine distemper virus is an airborne illness that spreads easily among animals. Due to the shelter’s open-concept design and limited ability to properly isolate and quarantine exposed animals, officials determined a full closure was necessary to protect the remaining animals in the facility.
During the shutdown, shelter staff completed a thorough cleaning of equipment throughout the building, along with all entry and exit points.
The shelter currently has more than 60 animals available for adoption. Staff are asking for patience as they work through a backlog of stray animals and owner surrenders following the closure.
The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 North Marble Top Road outside of Chickamauga and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.