The Squamish branch of the B.C. Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is closed temporarily to give staff a chance to treat animals affected by ringworm.
It's not known how long the shelter's closure, announced in a statement issued on Thursday (Sept. 6), will remain in effect. “We'll reopen as quickly as possible, but it is important that we take every precaution to ensure other animals are not exposed,” Dr. James Lawson, chief animal health officer with the B.C. SPCA, said in the statement.
Lawson said cases of ringworm are “inevitable.” The malady usually comes to shelters when infected animals are brought in from the community, he said.
“It is especially challenging for shelters at this time of year because we receive so many abandoned and surrendered kittens, who are particularly susceptible to ringworm,” he said.
The Squamish SPCA still has kittens available for adoption at Bosley's, Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital and Eagleview Veterinary Hospital, officials said.
SPCA officials reminded citizens of the importance of spaying and neutering their pets as a way to reduce the number of unwanted animals. “The B.C. SPCA takes in more than 6,000 abandoned or unwanted kittens during the summer and this wave of kittens creates many challenges, as we are seeing with these incidents of ringworm,” Lawson said.
The temporary shelter closure will not affect the Scotiabank and B.C. SPCA Paws for a Cause walk on Saturday, Sept. 15 at noon at Pavilion Park. The fund- and awareness-raising walk will go ahead as planned, officials said.
For more information, visit www.spca.bc.ca
