By Kyle Marshall, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Burlington Humane Society (BHS) will be resuming intakes and adoptions on a gradual basis following an outbreak of ringworm in their animal shelter that started in the fall.
The outbreak began in October and started with a single, isolated case. Then came a couple more; from there, it quickly spread to infect up to 12 cats, temporarily putting a hold on adoptions and any additional intakes, posing a substantial test for staff and volunteers.
Ringworm (feline dermatophytosis) is one of the most frequently-occurring skin disorders affecting cats and other animals around the world. Despite the name, it’s a fungal infection that has nothing at all to do with worms, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center. The only thing ring-related is the circular, itchy, and rashy area that will typically appear on the skin of an infected animal.
The disease could resolve itself over time if left untreated but can take anywhere from nine months to a year, during which time the animal will lose its fur, exposing the skin to further infection. More importantly, as a zoonotic disease, it can be passed to other animals and even to us humans.
“The contagious nature of ringworm saw the infection spreading rapidly despite the relentless efforts of the shelter’s team,” said Lindsey Evely, Animal Care Supervisor for BHS. “Faced with an escalating crisis, Burlington Humane Society made the tough decision to temporarily halt intakes, redirecting all stray calls and surrenders to neighbouring rescues.”
During the closure, BHS shelter staff and volunteers implemented inflexible precautions to help prevent further spread. Knowing how serious the situation was, BHS enlisted the expertise of a doctor who specializes in shelter outbreaks of ringworm and worked closely with local vets to build an exhaustive plan to fight the outbreak.
The shelter responded by treating every feline affected with external treatments and overseeing a very thorough deep cleaning of the whole facility. This broad approach, while challenging and resource-intensive, ended up being a crucial step to bringing the outbreak under control and preventing it from spreading to additional wings that held other types of animals.
“We at Burlington Humane understand the emotional toll this closure has had on the community, and we are incredibly grateful for the understanding and support we have received,” Evely added. “Our primary concern has always been the well-being of our animals, and we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our residents.”
“The support received from the local community, combined with the collaboration between the shelter and veterinary professionals, has paved the way for a positive outcome.”
The outbreak was not easy, but Evely and the rest of the staff are optimistic about upcoming happy endings for their animals and look forward to connecting families to new furry family members.
“As Burlington Humane Society emerges from this challenging chapter, the triumph over adversity serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the staff, volunteers, and the entire community to the welfare of animals in need.”
