ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A place that tries to avoid euthanizing stray and unwanted animals put down 30 dogs this week. A widespread distemper outbreak has hit Orange County Animal Services (see map). It's heartbreaking for those who showed up Friday looking to adopt a new animal.

For the first time in recent memory, the normally packed Orange County Animal Services shelter has some empty cages and it's not from adoptions, but a deadly disease.

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SHELTER INFO: Details On OCAS Animal Adoptions

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"These animals are coming in with the disease from our community," said Vanessa Bouffard, Orange County Animal Services.

Canine distemper is an airborne virus that can easily be prevented with a vaccine. Unfortunately, some of the strays picked up and brought to the shelter didn't have their shots, got sick and had to be put down.

In July, there are five confirmed deaths at the shelter and 30 others who also could've died from the distemper outbreak.

"We want everyone to make sure they vaccinate their animals and not let them run wild," Bouffard said.

The shelter workers clean the kennels every day, but now it really is all hands on deck to try to keep any other dogs from dying. Joyce Parker hopes they got the disease before it claims anymore of the dogs' lives.

"I feel so sorry for them. I would adopt them all if I could," she said.

Instead, Parker will take just one home, complete with vaccines for distemper, a life-saving vaccine.

"I just lost my mother," a crying Parker told Eyewitness News. "I would like to have a pet."

Thirty dogs didn't get the chance for a new owner, because they were not vaccinated by their old owner. It's a lesson the shelter wants everyone to hear to protect their pet.

One year ago this week, Marion County closed its shelter for five days and put down more than 80 animals. Orange County Animal Services will not close, but has been giving refunds to people who adopt pets that get sick after they've left the shelter.