DPH URGES THE PUBLIC TO ATTEMPT TO REUNITE STRAY PETS July 16, 2024

Because the Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex Outbreak has put a strain on shelters across Delaware, DPH encourages finders of lost pets to explore all options before impounding.

DOVER, Del. (July 16, 2024) - The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) requests the cooperation of the public at this time to assist in making every effort to reunite stray dogs with their owners before contacting the Office of Animal Welfare's (OAW) Delaware Animal Services for pickup or taking them to Brandywine Valley SPCA, the state's contracted animal shelter. This urgent plea is a result of the recent strain on local animal shelters as a result of a Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex outbreak. Recently, the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued an order prohibiting shelter and rescue dogs from moving in or out of the state due to the outbreak. The impact on local shelters from the outbreak is significant.

"Stray dogs are usually found very close to home and by walking the dog around the neighborhood or checking with neighbors, the dog can often be reunited with their owner(s) with no need for impoundment," said OAW Executive Director Christina Motoyoshi. "We ask that all finders post the dog on the State Lost and Found Pet Registry so the owner(s) may quickly find their pet. Additionally, posting the dog on the Nextdoor app and other forms of social media can be extremely effective. We thank the public for their assistance as we try to limit the number of impounded dogs and work to reunite every lost dog with their owner."

OAW and Delaware Animal Services (DAS) is committed to creating a safe community that celebrates the human-animal bond, where animals are free from abuse and neglect, every pet has a home, and animal caretakers have access to the tools and resources needed for their companions. Their mission is to make Delaware communities safer for animals and the public through the professional delivery of animal related services, innovative problem solving, and cooperative partnerships.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e. TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.