State veterinarians have approved the adoption of dogs and cats at the Savannah-Chatham police department's Animal Control Shelter, despite an outbreak of upper respiratory illness there, police reported.
The facility was placed Tuesday on minimal 14-day quarantine after an inspection by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
However, police spokesman Julian Miller reported Wednesday that adoptions will be allowed despite the quarantine.
While members of the public cannot enter the facility to inspect or interact with the animals, he said they will be allowed to select them from two animal rescue computer sites, www.petharbor.com and www.poundpupsinneed.com.
Adopters will be advised that the virus was present in the facility while the pet was housed in it, Miller said.
Those interested in adopting pets during the quarantine period should call Friends of Animal Control Team Savannah, or FACTS, at 912-484-4438 or Pound Pups at 912-401-2991.
The upper respiratory issues were noticed Tuesday and reported by Animal Control officers in the outside kennels. The illness is common in shelters and animal facility, according to officials.
During the quarantine, police said the public will have no access to the center and the intake of animals will be limited. But Animal Control officers will be able to respond to emergency-based calls.