Dog Flu Outbreak Closes NAWS' Kennel Area Until April

MOKENA, IL - A flu outbreak at the NAWS Humane Society in Mokena has resulted in a lock down of the shelter’s kennel area and a decision to not accept any dogs for boarding there until early April.

“A boarder exposed our dogs to a flu virus,” said Stacy A. Gaskins, chairman and CEO at NAWS, located at 9981 190th St. in Mokena. “The virus appears to have run its course but we are using this opportunity to sanitize the dog areas and to perform our annual spring deep cleaning, maintenance and repairs.”

The lock down was called “to avoid any potential risk of exposing dogs to the virus,” Gaskins said.

A Mokena resident found out about the outbreak Thursday morning when she went to NAWS to drop her dog off in daycare and was told they will not be accepting dogs until April 3 due to what was called “an upper respiratory outbreak.”

The lock down was called over the weekend when NAWS staff suspected a flu virus. They received confirmation on that Wednesday night, Gaskins said.

Gaskins also said she expects the boarding area to be open again during the first week of April.