ELIZABETHTOWN — David Howell, director of the Bladen County Health & Human Services Agency, told county commissioners on Monday that the local animal shelter was on schedule to reopen after a Parvo infestation earlier in the month.

“We had four dogs come in that had not been properly taken care of or vaccinated,” he said. “We ended up sending them to a rescue facility and they notified us of the Parvo.”

Howard said the shelter immediately stopped taking in dogs and began watching for signs of the disease in the remaining dogs.

“We did begin to see some signs — which includes vomiting and diarrhea — and it became necessary that we euthanize two dogs,” he said. “Since then, we ‘ve thoroughly cleaned the shelter and we always make sure to vaccinate any new dogs coming in or give them a booster against Parvo.”

The shelter was closed on or about May 10 and was set to open on Wednesday.

In other action Monday, the board:

— Approved a special meeting to discuss the fiscal-year 2017-18 budget for Monday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m.

— Approved a first right of refusal for property being offered by the Bladen County Board of Education to the Bladen Youth Focus Project. The property includes .63 of an acre and includes a gymnasium at the site on MLK Boulevard in Elizabethtown.

— Approved are change order request from Howard to transfer $5,000 from the Health & Human Services Agency’s transportation budget to its child care budget.

— Renewed a clinical affiliation agreement between Bladen Community College and Bladen County EMS.

— Scheduled a public hearing on the proposed fiscal-year 2017-18 budget for Monday, June 5, as well as a public hearing on the proposed fiscal-year 2017-18 economic development appropriations. Both public hearings will be held at 6:30 p.m.

— Approved financial advisory services agreement with First Tryon, Inc.

— Approved a statewide mutual aid agreement.

— Approved the county’s summer recreation program.

The next meeting of the county commissioners will be Monday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com