Euthanized dogs spark protest

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Some members of the community are planning a protest outside of the Mobile County Animal Shelter Saturday, February 2, at 10 a.m.

They said the goal is to raise awareness about the 49 dogs that were euthanized at MCAS January 28 due to the distemper disease according to county representatives.

49 dogs euthanized at Mobile County Animal Shelter

“I hope it does raise awareness about these killings and how the community can adopt more animals or take all the necessary actions needed to better fund the animal shelter so these animals, these cats and these dogs, have better facilities and are treated better,” said protest organizer Bryant Gilley.

Gilley is questioning why the infected dog was not tested before it was taken into the shelter and why it was not quarantined once officials discovered the virus.

Veterinarian Jennifer Eiland said the test for distemper could cost anywhere between $80 and $125.

If the animal tests positive, she said there's a possibility it will recover but there's no cure. There's also a 50 percent chance the animal will die.

“The dogs that do come down with distemper and recover from distemper may show symptoms years down the road of the disease,” Dr. Eiland said.

Symptoms of distemper:

Dr. Eiland said the symptoms appear within the first one to two weeks of contracting the virus. She said the dog may have a fever and start acting lethargic. Then it will begin show signs of severe upper respiratory problems which could lead to pneumonia.

“If the dog isn't able to fight off the disease, it can lead to neurologic disease. It will start to have seizures, tremors, weakness and then it's typically lethal after that,” Dr. Eiland said.

Because the virus is airborne, Dr. Eiland said the dogs don't have to be nose to nose to contract the virus - they just have to be in the same environment.

“If you have the capability of isolating those dogs, monitoring them for a minimum of three weeks, which would be a possibility. But you have to look at the shelter situation, the space that's available and the funds available,” Dr. Eiland said.

She said distemper is a very aggressive virus and the dog with the virus is most contagious within first two weeks of contracting the disease.

According to Eiland, humans can contract the virus from animals but it will not make you sick.