Greene County Animal Control is still operating despite a parvovirus outbreak in its main facility on Hal Henard Road.
The outbreak of the virus that impacts canines was reported on July 8, and normally the agency would have to completely cease accepting dogs at its facility for two weeks while waiting for the outbreak to clear. However, Animal Control has been able to maintain canine intake operations thanks to its second facility which used to house the Humane Society.
The local Humane Society moved out of the building and into a new facility on North Rufe Taylor Road in early 2023, and the organization’s former building on Hal Henard Road reverted back to the ownership of Greene County. The county provided the land for the construction of the shelter in the 1980s. After some fixing up, the old shelter once again began housing animals through Animal Control in January.
That facility is now playing a key role in keeping canine intake operations going. While the parvovirus is being contained at Animal Control’s main facility, dog intake and housing operations are continuing at the former Humane Society building.
Animal Control Director Chris Cutshall told the County Animal Control Committee on Thursday that while canine operations are ongoing at the former Humane Society building, sanitation efforts were underway at the main facility. He noted the kennel at the main facility was going to be pressure washed over the coming days, and bleached in an effort to kill the parvovirus remaining on any surfaces.
Animal Control is closed to the public on Saturdays through September 8 due to the outbreak, and due to being down an officer currently.
Meanwhile, Greene County Animal Control saw one of its busiest quarters ever through April, May, and June with the agency responding to 1,000 calls for service regarding animals. There were 689 calls for service in the first quarter of 2026.
Cutshall said that the agency continues to get busier as the county’s population grows, and he does not expect calls for service to decrease any time soon.
“You get population increase you get more calls,” Cutshall said.
The agency picked up 711 animals through April, May and June. A total of 69 animals were claimed and another 493 were rescued. One hundred and forty-nine animals were euthanized. Out of those 149 animals, 101 were aggressive and 40 had health problems. Eight adoptable animals were euthanized, including five cats and three dogs.
