TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- The adoption process is closer to being reopened as fury friends at the Tupelo Lee Humane Society near the end of their quarantine.

However, other pets in the community could still be at risk.

According to a local veterinarian, distemper is preventable, but if detected in your community, which it has been in Lee County, your pet could be at risk.

"We took in a couple of weeks ago a litter of puppies and a few adult dogs that presented with some very odd cases of GI issues and some upper respiratory issues," said Rachel Allred.

Director of Operations of the Tupelo Lee Humane Society Rachel Allred explained after testing, these puppies looking for a forever home tested positive for distemper.

This infection put all other fury residents except cats at risk of death, according to veterinarian Kimberly Kelly.

"Distemper is a very highly contagious infection," according to Kelly.

She added the infection can attack all of your pet's vital organs.

The outbreak halted adoption for two weeks and forced all dogs into quarantine.

Now, your pet at home could still be at risk.

"Distemper is more of a community concern," said Allred.

Both Allred and Kelly are urging the community to make sure your pets are vaccinated now.

"Holiday season's coming up I know a lot of people are going to get new puppies. If they have other pets at home they want these new puppies to be quarantined from other pets in the household," said Kelly.

"Ferrets can get it, dogs can get it, and small vermin in the community can carry it," Allred added.

According to Allred, cats can catch distemper. However, it is species-specific meaning the strain detected in the community right now can only affect dogs.