Commissioners to hire consultant to look at distemper outbreak

Franklin County commissioners want to find out how distemper spread through its dog shelter, resulting in 99 dogs being euthanized, and will pay $50,000 or more to find out. Commissioners agreed on Thursday to seek an expert consultant to study of distemper outbreak at the shelter and how the shelter's response could have been improved and to recommend any changes to ensure it doesn't happen again.