( KTRS ) Officials with the Stray Rescue of St. Louis say they will hopefully be open again on Thursday.

The animal shelter forced to close recently due to a deadly distemper outbreak. Stray Rescue founder Randy Grim first reported the outbreak on social media in October. Distemper is a respiratory disease that also attacks the nervous system.

It cannot be transmitted to humans. Officials at the shelter report 43 dogs died of the virus.

A ceremony to commemorate reopening the facility will begin at 11 a.m Thursday at the shelter on Pine Street.