Published: December 21, 2018

A VIRAL OUTBREAK AMONG ANIMALS IS TO BLAME FOR THE TEMPORARY SHUT DOWN OF AN ATHENS FACILITY.  MEDIA SOURCES REPORT VOLUNTEERS AT THE ATHENS LIMESTONE ANIMAL SHELTER ALERTED THE PUBLIC ON WEDNESDAY THAT ADOPTIONS AND UNVACCINATED OWNER TURN INS WOULD BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY SICKNESS MAKING IT'S WAY THROUGH THE SHELTER.  DR. ROBERT PITMAN, OWNER OF LIMESTONE VETERINARY CLINIC AND THE VETERINARIAN WHO TREATS THE SHELTER ANIMALS, ADVISED THE VIRUS IS CANINE DISTEMPER, A RELATIVE OF THE HUMAN MEASLES VIRUS TYPICALLY FOUND IN UNVACCINATED DOMESTIC DOGS.  THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR OUTBREAK THE SHELTER HAS SEEN.