College Park dog day care voluntarily shuts down after dog flu cases

ORLANDO, Fla. — The owner of a College Park dog boarding business said in spite of the growing popularity of the dog flu vaccine, some of the dogs in her facility got sick anyway, and it may be due to a common misconception about the vaccine.

University of Central Florida researchers are calling Orlando a dog flu hotbed.

"We describe it as feeling like we've been, like, in the apocalypse," said Michelle Olds, Co-owner of Woof! Orlando, a usually busy dog day care, boarding and grooming shop.

It’s been that way for her since Thursday, once she got confirmation a past client had dog flu.

“It was almost like every hour. Another dog that was here started coughing and then another one,” she said.

More than two dozen dogs caught the virus.

Because the infection is so contagious, Olds said she and the owner voluntarily shut down the business.

“We’re pulling everything out of the building and just sanitizing it all,” she said.

Watch: Dog flu fast facts

Robots with sanitizing UV lights will be at the business Wednesday.

It’s a step Olds isn’t required to take, but hopes will set an example.

“We will be hospital-grade clean when we open Thursday,” she said.

Dogs without documentation of proper vaccinations won’t be allowed at Woof! Orlando.

“We could do nothing and reopen, or we could do this. We feel that morally and ethically, this is what needs to be done,” said Olds.

Dog flu: What you need to know

Varsity Vets and Winter Park Veterinary Hospital dealt with outbreaks in July.

The vaccine won’t keep your dog from getting the flu, but will lessen its impact and duration.

It’s also a necessary two-step process, with two shots, two to four weeks apart.

If you don’t follow through with both, the effort is wasted, veterinarians said.

Cox Media Group