THE ARK WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC MARCH 17th-MARCH 21st

*Kennel cough and upper respiratory infections*

During these months, it’s common for us to catch colds…and sadly, it’s common for our pets, too!

We have a few cases of kennel cough and some upper respiratory infections at our shelter.  It’s important that we do not have the public going from one room to another and passing the infections onto other animals. We also have two cats getting ready to have kittens and we need to ensure the absolute best health for all of our Ark pets.

Please do not be concerned; “Kennel Cough” is unfortunately very common among our canine friends, and is more easily transmitted to dogs when they share close living quarters, are being transported long distances with drastic changes in temperatures, and being held in poorly ventilated areas during transport (like our Puerto Rican pups)! Often, kennel cough goes away on its own and other times, we do have to get medication for our furry friends.

Please keep in mind that at the Ark, we do everything we can to prevent illness and the spreading of disease among our pets. We will be spending the next few days ensuring the safety of our pets, the cleanliness of our entire shelter, and making sure that everyone is happy and healthy for our re-opening on March 21st.

Additionally, with widespread concerns regarding COVID-19, we feel it may also be beneficial to our staff and the public to reduce  possible exposure to the virus, while focusing on getting our Ark pets feeling better.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at (207)546-3484 or administration@thearkpets.org.

Thank you,

Shaina R. Mugford, Shelter Administrator