Residents in three homes near 13th Circle and Dearborn Street in Aurora were given the OK to return home this evening after a sick dog started a Haz-Mat scare.
When several reports suggested many dogs in the area were ill and an Aurora Animal control officer became sick, the Aurora Fire Department Hazardous Team evacuated three homes for testing.
Canine vomit samples and air samples from the homes came back negative for any contaminants, and residents were allowed to go home about 7 p.m. The reports of several sick dogs turned out to be unfounded.
The animal control officer became sick after responding to a report of a possible dog poisoning in the area around 5 p.m. The officer found the sick dog, and was in contact with its vomit.
As she transported the dog to the animal shelter, she became ill herself.
The Aurora Fire Department responded to the animal control officer, and performed a decontamination procedure on her and isolated the truck in which she was driving.
The animal control officer was transported to the University of Colorado Hospital for observation. No word has been released on her current condition.
