Sioux Falls humane society pauses dog adoptions and surrenders

After pausing dog surrenders and adoptions earlier this week, the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society has confirmed a case of canine distemper in one of its dogs – and the dog has died.

The organization said in a Nov. 3 social media post that its staff sought emergency veterinary care over the weekend when a dog began to show signs of illness, and the discovery also prompted a pause on all dog surrenders and adoptions.

Now, in a follow-up post confirming one case of canine distemper and "one life lost to this devastating disease," the humane society said it is taking steps to test for the disease in any high-risk dogs in its care, though it noted many of its dogs are medium to low risk because they're vaccinated at intake.

"Until further notice, we will not be adopting out in-shelter do