Although drug companies already have developed vaccines for canine influenza -- the virus that closed the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania -- it could take time before they're licensed for use.

	Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Dan Musher of the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania escorts Sarge, an 11-month-old Rottweiler mix, past the empty cages and back to his pen at the shelter's kennel on Hamilton Avenue in Larimer. Sarge has recovered from the dog flu, which closed the kennel for three weeks. Click photo for larger image.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Veterinary Biologics in Ames, Iowa, is reviewing submissions from drug companies seeking licenses for the vaccines.

"I cannot provide a timeline," said Karen Eggert, spokeswoman for USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services. "It's not cut and dried. There is still new information being gained about canine influenza. But we have a team of personnel dedicated to it."

Closed three weeks to all dogs but strays, the Animal Rescue League in Larimer plans to reopen at 11 a.m. today, now that the virus there has run its course.

Six dogs at the shelter died from the outbreak, including four that had to be euthanized after contracting pneumonia. Five dogs were relocated to the league's Rosedale facility in Penn Hills and volunteers provided foster care for 25 infected dogs.

Executive Director Charlotte Grimme said the shelter is seeking donations to cover the costs of the outbreak that could reach $30,000.

Dr. Donna Hughes, the shelter's medical director, said the outbreak was a learning experience.

"The virus is relatively easy to eliminate, although in a population of 100 dogs, 80 show symptoms and five are likely to die. That's pretty much what we saw," she said. "All of a sudden every dog was sick, with three or four cases of pneumonia. That was unusual."

Vigilance from shelter staff is key to preventing another outbreak, she said.

At Misty Pines, a pet day-care, grooming, training and boarding facility in Franklin Park, all dogs were sent home after one was diagnosed with the flu Feb. 17. The final dog was shipped out of the facility Feb. 20. No dogs died, but many fell ill.

Misty Pines plans to reopen Monday.

"We only had one case that made it as far as pneumonia, but that dog recovered rapidly," said Christin Bummer, facility office manager. "The rest ended up with a cough and some -- about 25 percent -- had a mild fever."

The rescue league and Misty Pines cooperated with drug companies and Cornell University, which tested nasal swabs from infected animals to confirm diagnoses of canine flu. Samples will be used in research.

Allegheny County's dog flu might be an evolved strain of virus that's more contagious than those in Florida, New York City, Kentucky and Colorado.

Edward J. Dubovi, director of the virology section of the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, said vaccines will be important in preventing the virus from evolving into more virulent strains.

"The move into the Pittsburgh area is somewhat significant because it's the largest focus of infection of canine influenza in the last year, and we can assume it will move to other places," Dr. Dubovi said.

All dogs are susceptible to the flu, he said. Symptoms include a green nasal discharge, a cough and a low fever. Some dogs become lethargic and exhibit loss of appetite. The cough is similar to symptoms of Bordetella, also known as kennel cough. But with the flu, dogs can cough for as long as 30 days.