Strays still accepted, adoptions temporarily halted

A ringworm outbreak is forcing the Lewis and Clark Humane Society to temporarily restrict access to its Custer Avenue building, and halt adoptions until at least May 1.

Shelter Director Gina Wiest said the outbreak isn't life threatening, but the highly contagious fungus is making life difficult for shelter workers. She adds that the shelter still is accepting strays, which are kept separate from the infected cats and dogs, and people who have lost animals should continue to check at the shelter by calling 442-1660.

The 22 cats in the shelter's "cat room" are infected, as are the nine long-term dogs at the shelter. Some shelter workers also were infected.

"We're all being treated, but it's pretty contagious and the incubation period is anywhere from four days to four weeks, so there's a rather long period of time we have to watch this," Wiest said. "We'll be reassessing at the end of April to see where we are at."

Ringworm is a fungus infection that has nothing to do with worms. The name comes from the red ring that appears on an infected person's or animal's skin.

Laurel Riek with the Lewis and Clark County Health Department said ringworm can be spread from direct contact with an infected person or animal, as well as by indirect contact with an object or surface touched by an infected person or animal.

"It's uncomfortable, but it's not dangerous," Riek noted.

Wiest said bleach kills 80 to 85 percent of the spores related to ringworm, so they're using it to give the shelter a thorough cleaning. But since the spores can be spread through an animal's grooming, they need to wash down the facility about every day.

"We're accepting donations of bleach," she said with a laugh.

But she turns serious when considering the implications for the often-financially stressed center, which temporarily closed on April 6.

"We're losing adoption fees of about $4,000 to $5,000 per month, so it will hit us n although our expenses are lower because the adoption expenses are down," Wiest said. "... We also might get the furnace and ducts cleaned as a precaution."

"We are going to feel it, so donations would be welcome."