UPDATE: January 7 at 6:05 p.m.
Ronnie Schlabs, director of SCRAPS, provided an update on the confirmed cases of canine parvovirus at the animal protection agency.
SCRAPS has announced that if conditions improve, the agency plans to reopen on January 14, following a two-week monitoring period.
The agency previously reported that five cases of parvovirus were confirmed on December 30. Unfortunately, three of those dogs did not survive, with one being euthanized.
Two dogs remain under treatment and are responding well, according to SCRAPS.
UPDATE: December 30, 2025 12:01 p.m.
Spokane County Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) reported two more cases of Canine Parvovirus. The County said this means there have been five confirmed cases at the agency.
Spokane County announced the newly confirmed cases in a press release on Tuesday around noon.
SCRAPS said it would quarantine affected dogs, expand sanitizing protocols and halt the adoption of adult dogs for the next 14 days.
Puppies, cats and kittens are still available for adoption because they are housed in separate rooms than the exposed dogs.
“As an animal control facility, we administer the Parvovirus vaccine as part of our intake protocol. Unfortunately, vaccines do not provide complete protection immediately, and most require a booster shot before they are considered fully protected. This is why we are taking extra steps to prevent the spread of the virus,” SCRAPS Regional Director Ronnie Schlabs said.
“The best advice we can give pet owners, especially dog owners, is to ensure their pets are current on all recommended vaccinations,” Shlabs added.
Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease spread by dogs coming in contact with infected feces. It is difficult to eliminate and can live for years on contaminated surfaces.
The disease can be prevented easily with proper vaccinations, Spokane County said in its release.
SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane County Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) is aware an isolated case of Parvo in a dog, the shelter announced.
Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter from SCRAPS said that while some stray animals brought in are sick, they are not affected by the virus impacting SpokAnimal.
“As an animal control operation, we often get animals that are already ill/injured or have been exposed to unknown contaminants and/or sources of infection,” she said.
In response to the situation, SCRAPS has enhanced their cleaning and sanitizing protocols. They are also closely monitoring the animals for symptoms, according to Wheatley-Billeter.
Wheatley-Billeter noted, “At this time, we have one dog that has been diagnosed with Parvo. The animal is isolated, undergoing treatment and is responding well.”
The shelter remains open.
Article originally published December 29, 2025 4:37 p.m.
