Following the announcement of a canine distemper virus outbreak at Dallas Animal Services (DAS), resulting in the municipal shelter to limit animal intake, Operation Kindness reached out to the Dallas shelter on August 9 to provide support through its Friends of Dallas Animal Services initiative.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of dogs. To prevent exposure of non-affected dogs and provide timely care for those impacted, Operation Kindness has committed to covering the cost of PCR distemper tests through Purdue’s Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for every dog at DAS. The tests are highly accurate diagnostics that detect the virus’s genetic material and support early detection, even before symptoms appear. Priced at $68 each, it’s estimated that testing the entire dog population at DAS will cost approximately $35,000.
To help dogs with canine distemper recover more quickly, reduce the risk of exposure to healthy dogs, and relieve space at the shelter, DAS is in urgent need of temporary fosters. To support volunteers fostering dogs with distemper symptoms, the Friends of Dallas Animal Services initiative of Operation Kindness is supplementing external veterinary care costs, up to $250 per dog, at Preston Center Animal Clinic. You can learn more about fostering with DAS at https://bedallas90.org/foster/.
For community members interested in supporting, monetary donations are welcome and will be used specifically to help Dallas animals. Visit support.operationkindness.org/friends-of-DAS to make a gift.
