Cody has been at Miami-Dade Animal Services for close to two years and is one of its longest residents. He’s had almost no adoption interest and hardly any pawventures. After almost two years at the shelter, Cody’s behavior began to deteriorate due to his long stay. In June, I took Cody out on foster care to give him a break, allow him to be a dog again, and hopefully find him a home.

From the beginning, I advised the foster office that I would be leaving town towards the end of July. The original plan was either find him a temporary foster or, if all else fails, to leave him at the shelter for the 10 days I would be out of town.

However, as the trip approached, Miami-Dade Animal Services discovered a DEADLY and extremely contagious bacterial infection sweeping through their shelter.

The shelter is currently experiencing an outbreak of Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus (Strep Zoo) among their dogs. This highly contagious bacterial infection spreads quickly in overcrowded environments. To date, several young dogs have passed away due to the strep outbreak. There is currently NO vaccine for strep zoo and the dogs at the shelter are in desperate need of temporary fosters to either avoid getting sick or to heal from their strep.

Due to the current outbreak, putting Cody with a temporary foster could lead to the illness or death of another dog. Cody also cannot be returned to the shelter without risking illness.

So, I have no choice but to place Cody in boarding for the duration of my stay outside the city, for both his safety and the safety of other dogs who need to get out of the shelter.

Please, help me pay for Cody’s board and train, so that he is not forced to return to the shelter during this deadly outbreak. The board and train will not only keep him out of the shelter, but socialize him to other dogs, so that he may be adopted into a safe, loving forever home and no longer have to worry about every going back to Miami-Dade Animal Services.