PONDERAY — The Panhandle Animal Shelter announced on Wednesday that it is temporarily suspending dog adoptions after a puppy tested positive for canine distemper.

Cat adoptions are unaffected because they cannot contract the disease. It is also not transmissible to humans.

“While this is an extremely rare incident, we can’t be too careful when dealing with a virus as deadly as canine distemper,” said Mandy Evans, executive director of the shelter.

It’s the first time the viral illness has ever been detected in a Panhandle Animal Shelter facility, according to Evans.

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