Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester will be closed to the public on Saturday, for what is being called “a precautionary deep clean” of the organization’s main Fairport location and adoption center in the Greece Ridge Mall.
Officials at Lollypop Farm say that a number of kittens admitted to the shelter were diagnosed by the facility’s veterinary clinic as having feline panleukopenia virus (also known as feline distemper), a highly contagious viral disease that can threaten the life of kittens and cats.
They say that out of abundance of caution and to ensure these cases remain isolated, Lollypop Farm will close both locations for an exhaustive cleaning. Any cats potentially exposed to the virus have been quarantined and the health of all cats in the shelter will continue to be monitored closely.
“With hundreds of pets in our shelter’s care, our top priority is always to treat and prevent the spread of any illness,” says Gillian Hargrave, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Lollypop Farm. “Closing our doors to the public will allow us to deeply clean the entire facility and help ensure every pet’s safety.”
Hargrave is also urging all cat owners to get their pets vaccinated.
Lollypop Farm is seeking donations of towels during this time to help with their cleaning effort. Community members can also make donations at lollypop.org/donate to support the organization’s efforts.
