UPDATE (September 16, 2022):
FWACC will continue to divert cat and kitten intakes due to parvo outbreak
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control will continue to divert cat and kitten intakes when possible due to the ongoing panleukopenia outbreak in the community.
FWACC says that the number of positive cases has slowed in the shelter, but space is limited as cats spend more than two weeks in the shelter’s care waiting to receive two rounds of vaccinations.
Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control released the following:
Anyone needing to surrender their cat(s) will be offered the option to get the cat vaccinated at the shelter then keep it at their home until the shelter is ready and able to take the cat or kitten. Citizens bringing in stray cats or kittens will be offered the same service, vaccinations then the option to hold them in their home to prevent further spread of the disease.
FWACC is an open access shelter, so if the citizen does not wish to take the cat or kitten home we will take it in.
As we continue to combat this deadly disease, pet owners are encouraged to make sure all of their pets are up-to-date on vaccines to protect pets in our community.
Future updates regarding the status of the intake process and the panleukopenia outbreak can be found HERE. Citizens are encouraged to visit our website or call our front office if they need assistance.
UPDATE (August 31, 2022):
Due to longer holding periods to fully vaccinate cats being cared for at the shelter and capacity issues, Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control says that cat intakes will be diverted until Sept. 15 or until shelter medical staff determine it is safe to resume normal operations.
It comes after an outbreak of feline panleukopenia, also known as the feline distemper or feline parvo. It is a highly contagious virus that mostly affects unvaccinated kittens.
FWACC released the following:
Citizens will be offered options to get the cat vaccinated against panleukopenia at the shelter and then keep the cat at their home until the shelter is ready and able to take the cat or kitten. Citizens bringing in stray cats or kittens will be offered the same service, vaccinations then the option to hold them in their home to prevent further spread of the disease.
FWACC is an open access shelter, so if the citizen does not wish to take the cat or kitten home we will take it in. Anyone looking to rehome their pets are encouraged to do so outside of the shelter. To learn more about re-homing assistance click HERE.
Every cat leaving the building through adoptions must receive two vaccinations to prevent panleukopenia. The vaccines must be given 14 days apart, meaning cats are staying in the shelter nearly three times longer than normal. Due to the extended length of stay at the shelter, kennel space is very limited. Currently, there are 136 cats being housed at the shelter which is nearly 45% over capacity. There are 174 cats in foster care.
“As an open access shelter Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control cannot turn away animals coming in from the city or Allen County for any reason. That is why we are asking that pet owners be patient and hold onto their cats a little longer as we work to protect the cats in our care to prevent further spread of panleukopenia in our community,” Director Amy-Jo Sites said. “When we run out of space for animals, we have to make difficult decisions and the last thing we want to do is euthanize animals simply because we do not have space to house them.”
Feline panleukopenia, also known as the feline distemper or feline parvo, is a highly contagious virus that mostly affects unvaccinated kittens. Symptoms include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. It is spread when a cat or kitten comes into contact with infected feces, vomit, nasal discharge and other bodily excretions. It does not affect people or other types of animals such as dogs.
All community cats will continue to be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia before being returned to their colony for the foreseeable future. Cats on a pathway to adoption that have received two vaccines are available to adopt at the shelter and off-site locations.
Feline panleukopenia is a preventable disease. Kittens can receive the first round of vaccines to prevent the deadly disease at 4-6 weeks and should receive boosters as recommended by a veterinarian. Adult cats should also be vaccinated to prevent illness.
The shelter is seeking the community’s immediate help with donations to the Angel Fund to help cover the cost of the additional vaccines needed for community cats and tests to ensure the cats at the shelter are healthy and able to be adopted.
Those wishing to donate can help by either purchasing needed supplies via the shelter’s Amazon Wishlist or making monetary donations through the shelter’s website.
UPDATE (August 24, 2022):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The adoptions of kittens and adolescent cats are resuming at Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control after an observation period, testing, and increased disinfecting efforts at the shelter following a feline panleukopenia outbreak.
The intake of cats and kittens is still being diverted until Sept. 1 when shelter medical staff determine it is safe to resume normal intake operations.
FWACC says that shelter staff have been working to test, observe the cats/kittens for symptoms and deep clean the shelter since the panleukopenia outbreak was announced on August 18.
Cats and kittens currently available for adoption have not displayed symptoms and/or have tested negative for the deadly virus. A small population of cats will remain unavailable for adoption the remainder of this week as they complete an observation period. Potential adopters can view a list of all available cats and kittens here. Adopters are still encouraged to monitor their new pets once at home as a precaution.
FWACC released the following:
Feline panleukopenia, also known as the feline distemper or feline parvo, is a highly contagious virus that mostly affects unvaccinated kittens. Symptoms include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. It is spread when a cat or kitten comes into contact with infected feces, vomit, nasal discharge and other bodily excretions. It does not affect people or other types of animals such as dogs.
Intake staff will continue to work with citizens needing to surrender cats and kittens to hopefully divert the intake of more animals to prevent further infections until Sept. 1. Citizens will be offered options to get the cat vaccinated at the shelter then keep it at their home until the shelter is ready and able to take the cat or kitten. Citizens bringing in stray cats or kittens will be offered the same service, vaccinations then the option to hold them in their home to prevent further spread of the disease. FWACC is an open access shelter, so if the citizen does not wish to take the cat or kitten home we will take it in.
All community cats will continue to be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia before being returned to their colony for the foreseeable future.
Feline panleukopenia is a preventable disease. Kittens can receive the first round of vaccines to prevent the deadly disease at 4-6 weeks and should receive boosters as recommended by a veterinarian. Adult cats should also be vaccinated to prevent illness.
The shelter is seeking the community’s immediate help with donations to the Angel Fund to help cover the cost of the additional vaccines needed for community cats and tests to ensure the cats at the shelter are healthy and able to be adopted.
Those wishing to donate can help by either purchasing needed supplies via the shelter’s Amazon Wishlist or making monetary donations through the shelter’s website.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Effective immediately Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control says it is suspending the adoption and intake of adolescent cats and kittens due to a recent outbreak of feline panleukopenia.
Feline panleukopenia, also known as the feline distemper or feline parvo, is a highly contagious virus that mostly affects unvaccinated kittens. Symptoms include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. It is spread when a cat or kitten comes into contact with infected feces, vomit, nasal discharge and other bodily excretions. It does not affect people or other types of animals such as dogs.
FWACC is in the process of containing and decontaminating the shelter, and staff are testing and watching all cats currently at the shelter. All cats and kittens are vaccinated upon arrival at the shelter. To ensure the disease does not continue to spread to cats in our community, all adoptions of adolescent cats and kittens will be suspended until Tuesday, Aug 23 or it is determined safe by the shelter medical team.
Anyone who has adopted a cat or kitten from Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, whether the shelter location or off-site, since Aug. 1 should monitor their pet at home. If it has or is showing symptoms please call FWACC at 427-1244 option 1 immediately. Staff are working to contact adopters that may be affected by the outbreak.
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control released the following:
To prevent further outbreak of panleukopenia in the shelter, the intake of cats and kittens will be diverted until Sept. 1 or until shelter medical staff determine the shelter can return to normal operations. Citizens who currently have an appointment to surrender an at-risk cat or kitten will be contacted and offered options to get the cat vaccinated at the shelter then keep it at their home until the shelter is ready and able to take the cat or kitten. Citizens bringing in stray cats or kittens will be offered the same service, vaccinations then the option to hold them in their home to prevent further spread of the disease. FWACC is an open access shelter, so if the citizen does not wish to take the cat or kitten home we will take it in.
To further stop the spread of the disease in our community, all community cats will be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia before being returned to their colony.
Feline panleukopenia is a preventable disease. FWACC is urging all pet owners to ensure their cats are up-to-date on current vaccines. Kittens can receive the first round of vaccines to prevent the deadly disease at 4-6 weeks and should receive boosters as recommended by a veterinarian. Adult cats should also be vaccinated to prevent illness.
The shelter is seeking the community’s immediate help with donations to the Angel Fund to help cover the cost of the additional vaccines needed for community cats and care needed for affected cats.
Those wishing to donate can help by either purchasing needed supplies via the shelter’s Amazon Wishlist or making monetary donations through the shelter’s website.
