Photo: City of Columbia     COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– The City of Columbia’s Animal Shelter is limiting intakes as the shelter deals with an outbreak of Pneumovirus in canines. Officials believe the outbreak is due to an outside source. So in an effort to protect the shelter population as well as community pets, the shelter is limiting all intakes to emergencies only which will include the sick and injured, or animals related to animal cruelty investigations, for the next 14 days. At this time, the shelter will be unable to accommodate pet relinquishment on behalf of owners, according to officials. Anyone who finds stray animals are encouraged to house the animal and seek the animal’s owner or exercise self-rehoming if efforts to find the owner are unsuccessful. The shelter can offer resources for suggested efforts, say officials. Please visit Columbia Animal Services online at www.animalservices.columbiasc.gov for more information on available resources or call the shelter at 803-776-7387. Pneumovirus is a virus that causes respiratory illness, in which symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and difficulty breathing. There are no vaccinations to protect or treat canines from this virus, therefore it is critically important the shelter exercise immediate quarantine and treatment of its infected population.  Categories: Local News, Richland Tags: City of Columbia Animal Services