Adult dogs can now be adopted at SCRAPS

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — After being closed for the majority of January due to five parvo cases, SCRAPS animal shelter reopened Tuesday for adult dog adoptions.

The shelter implemented extensive safety measures to reach this milestone, according to Regional Director Ronnie Schlabs.

“It was a lot of steps. It took a lot of work, but we got through it,” Schlabs said.

For weeks, all of the adult dogs at shelter remained in strict quarantine while staff sanitized affected areas and increased cleaning protocols.

Staff members had to wear extra outerwear and disposable booties to prevent contamination spread.

“It was tough. It kind of limited which staff went into which parts of the building because we don’t want any cross-contamination to take place,” Schlabs said.

Community members looking to adopt dogs had to wait until it was safe to visit.

Peyton Garza who adopted a dog from SCRAPS recounts her struggle the outbreak strained on her adoption.

“I originally came in to look at a dog named Buttercup. She was also like a lab mix. But, I tried coming last week, but then the parvo outbreak. And then I came today, and she was already adopted,” Garza said.

The shelter’s primary goal throughout the outbreak was ensuring all adult dogs remained safe and healthy, despite the challenges staff faced.

“It’s never fun to see any animal that’s sick. Before we get to lose a couple of, you know, they were too far gone to save, a lot of them responded very well to treatment, which is always you know, encouraging for staff. And it’s also hard on our staff to see all these dogs sitting here that want to get into new homes and unfortunately can’t let them out,” Schlabs said.

SCRAPS urges pet owners to consult their veterinarians, follow recommendations and keep pets current on vaccines and boosters, in hope to prevent another outbreak.

Spokanimal, which closed for weeks due to a different respiratory virus, has also reopened for adult dog adoptions. However, visits are by appointment only.