The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society has been put under medical quarantine after several animals became sick with an undetermined illness.
Adoptions have already been suspended for a week and there’s no end in sight.
This comes after several animals at the facility were found to have abnormal and alarming symptoms.
James LaFlamme of the K-W Humane Society says “We’ve experienced a few animals with some hair loss. We ran some cultures because we were concerned. The loss of hair can indicate it might possibly be ringworm.”
Ringworm is a fungal infection on the skin. It causes sores and is highly contagious in humans and animals.
LaFlamme says “you can actually carry a spore on your clothes and then pass it on to your pet.”
Shelter officials are also exploring other possible causes. There are more than 200 animals at the K-W Humane Society right now, but they say until this medical quarantine is over. None of the animals will be going to new homes.
The Humane Society says it will reassess its safety protocols by the end of this week.
