At least 15 dogs are being quarantined for six months after being exposed to a colony of bats at an animal shelter in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metropolitan area of southeastern Virginia.
The dogs stayed at a makeshift animal shelter at a recreation center in Edenton as Hurricane Irene battered the east coast, according to WTKR News Channel 3. When the families went to pick up their pets after the storm, they learned the shelter literally had bats in its belfry.
Some of the dogs had not received their rabies shots because they were not old enough, reports stated. Owners of the dogs that were not vaccinated were told they had to surrender their pets for quarantine or face arrest. Now some Chowan County officials are facing questions about why the dogs were housed in a building with bats.
The regular shelter is already maxed out. Animal rescue workers are now concerned that they will have to euthanize more pets. The quarantined dogs are taking up 15 of the 30 available spots.
Due to space constrictions, the shelter already euthanizes about 20 dogs a week, WTKR reported. The news channel helped get the shelter dogs taken to the Norfolk SPCA.
Pet owners can avoid problems by having an emergency preparedness plan for pets. The ASPCA and other animal advocacy groups recommend having a plan in place before disaster strikes. Although it is not always possible to carry out the plan in every case, it can allow pet owners and pets to avoid a lot of hassle and heartache.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also advises pet owners to always take pets with them in the event of an emergency or violent weather. Never leave pets behind.
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