FORT WORTH, Texas -
Forty-five dogs at the Fort Worth animal shelter were euthanized after testing revealed an outbreak of distemper.
The city said the animals had been quarantined because of respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing. Then one of the sick dogs tested positive for the disease that's highly contagious and almost always fatal.
The decision to put them all down was tough but necessary because of the exposure, the city said.
"We find that very distasteful to have to make that kind of decision, but in this situation we felt like that was for the sake of the animals coming in and animals currently there. That was the best thing to do," said Dr. Michael Morris, a veterinarian at the animal shelter.
Every dog that comes into the Fort Worth shelter is vaccinated for distemper right away. Dr. Morris believes the infected dog's immune system may have already been compromised when it received the vaccination.
