Kennel cough discovered at

animal shelter

By Candice Boutilier

Herald staff writer

Staff work to

vaccinate,

treat disease

MOSES LAKE - Several adult dogs and puppies at the Moses Lake/Grant County Animal Shelter contracted kennel cough.

Kennel cough is a contagious, treatable respiratory disease causing the dog to cough uncontrollably.

"The dogs will be vaccinated for kennel cough and if an animal shows symptoms of kennel cough it would be diagnosed and treated accordingly," Grant County Animal Outreach President Harmony White wrote in an e-mail. "Kennel cough is an ongoing issue in many shelters and boarding facilities."

An outreach board member administered vaccinations to the dogs at the shelter previous to the new manager, she said. The new shelter Manager Mary DeHerrera is now performing the vaccinations.

DeHerrera was rehired this month. Several months ago she was the operations director under the Grant County Humane Society.

"Animals are not euthanized for kennel cough, but rather for secondary infections, other illnesses or to make space for incoming animals," White noted. "The number of animals euthanized is directly relative to the number of animals surrendered or impounded at the shelter and the condition they are in when they get there."

In the past, the shelter was afflicted with parvo and distemper, she added.

"We have been researching and consulting with local vets to determine the best possible way to eliminate these," White wrote. "Many shelter upgrades and changes are being undertaken to do this, including the vaccinations."

Several rooms in the shelter are being repainted and resealed for sanitation purposes.

"Combining increased sanitizing methods with these building improvements and vaccinations will enable us to restore the shelter to a healthy environment for the animals," she wrote.

The shelter is accepting bleach, gift certificates to local feed stores to purchase vaccinations, low odor Kilz paint, concrete sealer and paint supplies to reach their sanitation goal.