ST. LOUIS COUNTY — The veterinary medical director at St. Louis County's animal shelter is out, just a week or so after an outbreak of a potentially fatal canine virus led to the euthanizing of 19 dogs.

"I'm resigning because I can't really work there," the director, Doug Pernikoff, said Friday night in a brief telephone interview. "I'm too old to fight."

"I'm cool," he added, and then ended the phone call.

Pernikoff didn't elaborate on why he left or what fight he was referring to. He also didn't say whether his departure had anything to do with the parvovirus outbreak at the facility, on Baur Boulevard in Olivette.

Doug Moore, a spokesman for County Executive Sam Page, said Pernikoff left Friday, but didn't comment on the reasons for his exit.

The parvovirus outbreak and Pernikoff's departure come on the heels of a rough transition for the county, as it ramps up operations at the shelter after taking over management again just a few months ago.

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The nonprofit Animal Protective Association, which also runs its own shelter in Brentwood, had run the county shelter for the past two years. The county contracted with the APA following various problems over the years under county management, including euthanasia scandals , overpopulation, poor conditions and other problems.