After five dogs housed at the county shelter tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), officials said. The action, announced Wednesday, suspends routine operations while staff focus on intensive sanitation, isolation and medical monitoring to limit further spread.

County and shelter leaders said the affected animals were taken into Sumner County Animal Services between Nov. 10 and Nov. 21, a window officials cited as the population at risk while additional testing is completed. Shelter staff are working with veterinary and animal health professionals to analyze further results and provide on-site care for the dogs confirmed positive.

“We have increased sanitation measures,” Sumner County Sheriff Eric Craddock said, noting the shelter expects the heightened response to run about 14 days as they work to complete testing and ensure conditions are safe. The shelter’s statement said normal dog operations will not resume until veterinary clearance is obtained and additional testing is complete.

One of the animals that tested positive had been fully vaccinated prior to intake and did not show symptoms while in care, the shelter added. Officials emphasized that routine vaccination on intake is standard practice but that contagious viruses can still present challenges when animals from varied backgrounds are housed together, necessitating a coordinated response.

Canine distemper virus is a highly contagious viral disease. Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, nasal and eye discharge (ranging from clear to yellow or pus-like), coughing, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhea; in severe cases it can cause neurological signs such as seizures, ataxia, head tilt, paralysis or muscle twitching. Treatments are largely supportive and focused on managing symptoms and complications while the animal’s immune system fights the virus; veterinary teams typically provide fluids, nutritional support and care for secondary infections as needed.

Officials described steps shelter staff are taking, which include isolating affected animals, enhanced disinfection of kennels and common areas, and heightened monitoring of all dogs on site. Those measures align with outbreak-response guidance issued by shelter medicine experts and veterinary centers, which recommend temporary pauses on adoptions and intake, targeted testing, and quarantine periods to protect animal and public health.

Helping shelters prevent and respond to disease outbreaks: Update note that CDV outbreaks in shelters commonly trigger “adoption paralysis,” with a sharp decline in adoption activity as facilities pause operations to contain the disease. Such pauses can lead to temporary closures that last weeks or longer, depending on the course of the outbreak and the time needed to confirm negative tests and obtain veterinary clearance.

Sumner County Animal Services said the pause applies specifically to dog adoptions and new dog intakes at the county facility while staff complete testing and determine next steps for all animals involved. Shelter managers said employees are prioritizing daily health checks, symptom tracking and treatment when indicated, and are consulting external veterinary partners for case management.

Understanding and Preventing Canine Distemper is crucial for pet owners to maintain preventive care with their veterinarians. Keeping dogs up to date on vaccinations, including the distemper series given to puppies beginning at about 6–8 weeks with boosters every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks and follow-up vaccinations as recommended by a veterinarian, is a key step in reducing the risk of spread in the broader community.

The county notified the public Wednesday and said it will provide updates as test results and veterinary reviews are completed. Meanwhile, Sumner County Animal Services remains the lead organization managing care for affected animals and the operational pause, with shelter staff continuing intensified cleaning and monitoring until health authorities clear the facility to resume normal dog services.