-
Felines had stopped being accepted at the shelter on May 26 due to a virus outbreak.
Cats and kittens are once again being accepted in and adopted out at the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter.
The felines had stopped being accepted at the shelter on May 26 due to an outbreak of panleukopenia, a highly infectious virus that the American Veterinary Association states infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing.
The virus caused the Stephens County shelter to close for almost a month as it had to remain closed until 14 days had passed without a new positive case.
"We lost a dozen (cats and kittens) that either passed away or that we euthanized because we didn't want them to continue suffering," said shelter executive director Jeff Roberts.
Roberts said the shelter reopened to feline intakes on June 22.
"We've taken in 33 cats and kittens since last Tuesday," he said, adding that 18 had been adopted out.
Roberts said that three or four animal shelters in the region have experienced a similar outbreak.
"It's a problem that is presented to us with animals that have been presented to the shelter," Roberts said.
As of June 29, The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter had a population of 194 animals that it's responsible for, with 150 at the Scenic drive location and 44 under foster care.
"We're on the higher end (of population) of where we'd like to be as far as manageability," Roberts said.
The shelter also has remodeled its kitten room.
"It's more like a kitten playground," Roberts said. "It's a real fun area.”