The Mesa location of the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control animal shelter is closing temporarily after several dogs tested positive for distemper.
Shelter officials say multiple animals have tested positive or shown symptoms for distemper, a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs.
The shelter will close at 5 p.m. Sunday as veterinarians test about 300 dogs.
Even if not showing symptoms, dogs can run a fever, be lethargic and have discharges from their eyes and nose. Infected animals also can transmit the virus to other dogs.
The Phoenix shelter near the Durango Curve and Interstate 17 remains open.
All adoption fees are being waived, and potential adopters will be counseled about the risk of taking in an animal on medication.
