Madison County Humane Society to reopen shelter Friday; dogs didn't have canine virus

ANDERSON — A local animal shelter closed since May 20 will reopen Friday after testing has determined that two dogs did not die of canine influenza virus.

Susie Schieve, executive director of the Madison County Humane Society, said an autopsy of two dogs that died and 17 others that became ill came back negative for the deadly virus. Testing and treatment of the 17 dogs continues.

“I wanted to give an update because people were fearful throughout the community,” she said.

A strain of virus known for about 10 years, the canine influenza virus was localized to Thailand and other Asian countries until it recently surfaced in the Chicago area. In April, nine dogs tested positive with the virus in Tippecanoe County.

There is no cure for that particular flu virus, which is highly contagious. That virus is not believed to be contagious to humans.

The death of an 8-month-old terrier mix likely was due to a genetic cause, Schieve said.

“It came back that she had a condition she was born with that caused pneumonia,” she said.

A year-old husky, she said, likely grieved to death, refusing to eat and drink, Schieve said.

The 17 other dogs, all of whom appeared to have upper respiratory symptoms leading to the initial belief they may have contracted the flu virus, are recovering well, Schieve said.