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Animal shelter closed for cleanup

Chilliwack Times
Published: Tuesday, February 13, 2007

CHILLIWACK - Fifty animals have been temporarily removed from the Chilliwack SPCA shelter because of a spread of two contagious diseases -- parvo and ringworm -- brought to the shelter by incoming animals, according to Lorie Chortyk, general manager for the B.C. SPCA.

The 40 cats and 10 dogs, some of which were healthy, have been relocated to some of the 36 B.C. SPCA shelters in the province while staff disinfect the Chilliwack shelter. Some were sent to the Sunshine Coast because they have more available space than most, according to Chortyk.

Those who have animals they would have otherwise brought to the Chilliwack shelter should use the facility in Abbotsford in the meantime.

The diseases were inadvertently brought into the shelter a couple of weeks ago, and the animals were removed on Friday. Chortyk said she wasn't sure how long it would take until the Chilliwack shelter would be reopened, but it would likely be a couple of weeks.
© The Vancouver Sun 2007