Among the crowd of people closely watching the health of a small dog caught up in the Ebola frenzy are two Texas A&M University professors who specialize in emergency veterinary care.

Dr. Wesley Bissett and Dr. Deb Zoran, professors at A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, are consulting on the care of Bentley, a 1-year-old King Charles spaniel whose owner was the first person in the United States to contract the potentially fatal disease.

Nina Pham, a Dallas nurse, is reportedly responding to treatment at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

Her dog has been in quarantine since Oct. 11 and is being monitored for 21 days, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus, according to a news release from the city of Dallas.

Bentley is in a "home-like setting," where he has a comfortable bed and toys, all of which will be disposed of according to biocontainment procedures, Eleanor M. Green, dean of A&M's veterinary college, said Monday by email. Bissett and Zoran are on site to monitor the dog, Green said.

"The public must know that while there have been no reports of dogs becoming ill or of playing a role in the transmission of Ebola, because of the nature of this virus, Bentley is being handled and monitored with an abundance of caution," Green wrote. "So far, he appears to be a normal, healthy dog and is being very cooperative."

Starting Monday, the dog's urine and feces will be collected periodically and tested for the virus. It's expected that the specimen collection will happen three times before the quarantine period ends, according to the city's statement.

He will be placed in the special kennel only as long as it takes to collect the samples and then will be returned to his usual kennel, the city's statement said.

Dallas Animal Services is overseeing Bentley's care in partnership with the Department of State Health Services, A&M's veterinary college, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus apparently was brought to Texas by Thomas Eric Duncan from Liberia. He developed symptoms after his arrival in September and died Oct. 8. Duncan was treated at a Dallas hospital by a team that included Pham.

In response to an outpouring of support from around the world, the City of Dallas has partnered with Dallas Companion Animal Project to establish a fund to help Bentley and other pets in future emergencies.

The Dallas Pet Emergency Transition Services (PETS) fund will help defray costs of pet care associated with natural disasters or possible future Ebola cases, the city's statement said.

To donate to the fund, visit www.DallasAnimals.org and click on "Donate." Choose the Dallas PETS fund.