Best Friends Chestnut Ridge , New York center recently experienced an outbreak of canine influenza. This influenza is a recently discovered virus for which there is no vaccination (see related article, "Pet Health Alert").

In late August, a number of the Chestnut Ridge pet guests developed cough and sneezing symptoms and were taken to a local veterinary clinic for treatment. The dogs were diagnosed and treated for canine cough and returned to the Chestnut Ridge center. As other pets developed symptoms, a local veterinarian visited the Chestnut Ridge center and treated all pets with symptoms.

During the following week, more dogs began to show symptoms and several developed pneumonia serious enough to require hospitalization. In an effort to prevent additional pets from being exposed, the decision was made on September 10 th to close the facility temporarily. The company arranged for all of the pets to be taken home or released to other caregivers.

On September 12, the Company reached out to veterinarians in and around Chestnut Ridge in an effort to determine the nature of this illness and learn about treatments that were effective. In conjunction with this outreach effort, Best Friends learned on September 13 th that the New York State Department of Agriculture had issued an alert regarding the new virus, canine influenza. Best Friends also moved quickly to share the information about this new disease with others in the pet care community. Best Friends veterinary consultant began working closely with veterinarians in the New York area to share information about this new canine influenza virus.

As soon as the last pet had left the Chestnut Ridge center, the staff began a comprehensive cleaning program to sanitize the entire facility -- from the front door to the back of Doggy Village. The facility reopened on September 30.

Best Friends has also reached out beyond the New York area, to approximately 1,400 animal hospitals across the 18 states where it does business, sending them information from Cornell University and the University of Florida about canine influenza, along with a white paper regarding diagnosis and treatment.

"We want to disseminate the information widely," said Dennis Dolan, President and CEO of Best Friends, "to help ensure that all pets with cough symptoms are treated to avoid a secondary infection (pneumonia). We also want to encourage veterinarians to assist researchers with serum tests, etc. in an effort to learn everything possible about this new disease."

The company has also advised the ABKA (American Boarding Kennel Association), the membership association for U.S. boarding kennels, so the information can be shared with all boarding facilities.