8 dogs adopted from Mesa shelter, avoid being euthanized

PHOENIX — Eight dogs who needed to be adopted from a Mesa shelter by the end of Thursday all have new homes.

The Maricopa County Animal Care and Control East Valley shelter said the dogs were required to be adopted by 7 p.m. to avoid infecting other dogs or they would be euthanized.

Jose Santiago, a spokesman for the rescue at 2630 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa, said 11 dogs tested positive for the distemper virus.

“These 11 dogs need to get out of the shelter as soon as possible. They need to be getting out either through a foster system, or better yet, by adoption,” Santiago told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The adoption and license fees for the dogs have been waived.

Santiago said only two of the 11 dogs are showing outward signs of the virus, but they are still a threat to other dogs at the shelter because it is an airborne illness.

He said dogs who are properly vaccinated should be safe around the affected dogs, as long as they don’t have compromised immune systems due to old age.

Three dogs had been adopted by 1 p.m., leaving eight still needing homes.

Santiago said the dogs can’t go to any homes with small dogs or cats and are better off at homes with no other dogs.

He said due to the urgency of the situation, those interested must agree to adopt a dog before meeting it. The shelter will not allow meet-and-greets before the adoption is finalized.

The shelter, currently holding about 170 dogs, has been under quarantine since June 6 due to the distemper outbreak. Santiago said they have already had to euthanize 55 dogs since June 1.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Raegen Petzold contributed to this report. 

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