Broward County Animal Care suspends cat services due to disease concerns – NBC 6 South Florida
Broward County Animal Care has decided to suspend select cat services due to concerns over feline panleukopenia disease.
Effective immediately, the following services will be suspended until further notice:
Cat intake
Trap-Neuter-Return
Return-to-Field
According to the facility, the decision comes “out of an abundance of caution and to protect the health of animals in its care.”
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease that affects cats.
It is caused by the feline panleukopenia virus, also referred to as feline parvovirus.
Kittens are the most severely impacted, and symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
According to the Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Medicine, outbreaks of the disease, also known as distemper, rise during summer months.
“Seasonal upticks demand aggressive action. These temporary changes are part of our proactive approach to ensure the well-being of the cats in our care and to prevent any further spread of this serious disease,” said Doug Brightwell, Broward County Animal Care Director.
“We are working closely with our veterinarians and regional partners to monitor the situation and determine when it is safe to resume full services,” Brightwell said.
