WATERVILLE — The cat wing on the Humane Society Waterville Area shelter on Webb Road has been closed briefly because of the presence of feline calicivirus in a few of the cats there, a spokeswoman mentioned Friday.
Malena Gatti, president of the organization’s board of administrators, mentioned 11 of the 99 cats on the shelter have confirmed circumstances of the virus and the shelter staff is working to comprise the virus and assist the cats recuperate.
Feline calicivirus is a extremely contagious virus that causes delicate to extreme respiratory an infection and oral illness in cats, in line with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. It is frequent in shelters and breeding colonies, in line with the faculty, and most cats recuperate from the virus, though uncommon strains might be deadly.
Gatti wrote in an electronic mail Friday that when shelter officers discovered there was an sickness among the many cats, they determined to self-quarantine, resulting in the closure of the feline wing. Officials reached out to the state’s animal welfare veterinary staff for steering, Gatti mentioned.
“We’ve also been working closely with the leadership team at another Maine shelter to compare our policies and ensure that ours are reflective of current best practices,” Gatti wrote within the electronic mail. “As always, we continue to be committed to doing everything we can as a staff and as a facility to prevent and effectively contain illnesses if and when they arise.”
Gatti mentioned shelter officers hope to reopen the cat wing to the general public within the subsequent couple of weeks, however the precedence is making certain the well-being and restoration of the cats.
She mentioned she couldn’t verify the variety of dogs on the shelter, however mentioned the canine inhabitants is wholesome.
Rae-Ann Demos, who served till Friday as government director of the Humane Society Waterville Area, mentioned at a fundraising event in June the nonprofit shelter operates on greater than $1 million a 12 months and counts on donations and grants to outlive. Many folks assume the shelter will get state and federal money, however it doesn’t, Demos mentioned.
The shelter had 11 staff on the time, however actually wanted 15, with Demos doing the roles of about 4 folks, she mentioned.
Donations of any quantity assist the operation, she mentioned, including that folks can donate by sending contributions to: Humane Society Waterville Area, 100 Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901, or donate on the shelter’s web site or Facebook web page.
The organization’s board of administrators mentioned not too long ago that Demos was instrumental in introducing initiatives to enhance the work of the organization and the standard of lifetime of animals within the area.
Directors mentioned Demos helped broaden low-cost spay and neuter providers for the neighborhood, helped procure a brand new car for canine transports, oversaw enhancements together with the development of a feline consumption room and collaborated on the event of a brand new feral cat program.
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