North Philadelphia SPCA shelter to reopen

A Pennsylvania SPCA adoption center in North Philadelphia will reopen this weekend, after a canine respiratory-illness outbreak prompted a month-long closure.

The SPCA said the center at 350 E. Erie Ave. will be open for adoptions again starting Saturday.

Another shelter in Danville, Montour County, will also reopen this weekend.

Both centers had been closed since March 12, when the shelters began seeing a surge in cases of canine infectious respiratory disease complex, which affected more than 150 dogs.

The disease is sometimes called "kennel cough" and infected dogs show respiratory symptoms that include nasal discharge and sneezing.

No animals died or were euthanized during the outbreak, though several dogs were diagnosed with pneumonia, according to the SPCA. They have since recovered.

The SPCA said Tuesday that all dogs at the shelters are now healthy and ready to be adopted. There are no health risks to families adopting the animals.

The North Philadelphia and Danville buildings were closed for cleaning and disinfecting efforts, and the infected dogs were quarantined for two weeks after symptoms were resolved, which is standard procedure, the SPCA said.

To celebrate the reopening, the SPCA said, dog adoption fees will be reduced to $20 on Saturday and Sunday.

The Erie Avenue shelter will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Other activities, including food trucks, face painting and music, are also planned.

Limited adoptions of healthy dogs were conducted at other locations during the outbreak. The center's cat population was not affected by the outbreak.