Rescue groups react to distemper outbreak at MCAS

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - On Thursday animal rescue groups reacted to the news of 49 dogs being euthanized due to a distemper outbreak at Mobile County Animal Shelter January 29.  

Every month, the Mobile County Animal Shelter meets with its rescue partners and on January 31 the partners wanted answers.

The shelter said its decision to euthanize 49 dogs after a distemper scare was made after consultation with several vets.

In a statement Dr. Beth Overton said she approves of the actions of the shelter staff.

She says in part:

"The other alternative would have been to shut down the shelter and quarantine (no intakes or adoptions) of animals in the shelter for a period of 30 days or longer."

To which she said was just not feasible.

Dr. Jeni Knizley was also consulted.

"I recommended shutting down adoptions for a couple of days. See if anybody else came out with an outbreak. And I would come back out and reevaluate,” said Knizley at the meeting.

Rescue groups wish the shelter would have let the vets consult each other and find a solution.

"Consultation between the two could have helped definitely,” said Lindsey Carter with ARF.

Humane Resource Officer Carmelo Miranda made the decision to have the dogs put down.

The county commission said it was not notified prior, and two commissioners are now investigating the actions.

A notice issued on January 30 stated:

"Commissioners Connie Hudson and Jerry Carl will evaluate whether the best practice was used to contain the deadly virus and determine why commissioners were not notified about the crisis in a timely manner."