The Central PA Humane Society has closed the dog side of its operations to visitors to stop the spread of a virus.

Humane Society officials posted on Facebook that the decision to close was made due to the number of dogs coughing. The closure began May 23.

“The only way to stop the spread is to shut down,” the society posted on Facebook.

The humane society will not be accepting dogs at all until the quarantine is lifted, nor will any dogs be sent out for adoption.

Anyone who recently adopted a dog is urged to keep the dog at home for two weeks to ensure it is not sick and/or to prevent the virus from spreading, according to the post.

All of the dogs being housed at the humane society are being moved to one area for quarantine while workers and volunteers sanitize the lobby and small dog room to accommodate small dog/puppy intakes beginning June 1. Large dogs will remain closed for intakes until June 6, the society posted.

Anyone scheduled to finalize a dog adoption can still be accommodated, and humane society officials will come to your car if the dog is due for vaccinations. Paperwork can also be brought out to vehicles as well.

The humane society is in need of towels, blankets or sheets as due to the virus, the society will be discarding used items instead of washing and reusing them.