Jason Whitely

WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth

DALLAS — The dog of a Dallas nurse diagnosed with Ebola tested negative for the deadly virus, according to results released Wednesday.

When Nina Pham, upgraded from fair to good condition Tuesday, fell ill earlier this month with Ebola, her Cavalier King Charles spaniel was placed in quarantine with Dallas Animal Services.

"The test results show that Bentley has tested negative for the virus," Dallas city officials said in a statement. "Specimen collection will be conducted again before the end of the 21-day quarantine period. Bentley will be monitored for a full 21-day period, similar to people exposed to the Ebola virus."

Bentley was seized from Pham's apartment Oct. 11, and he will be monitored until at least Nov. 1, 21 days from the time of Pham's diagnosis.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has had no reports of dogs or cats falling ill with Ebola and said it has no evidence that pets can spread the virus to other people or pets.

After a Spanish nurse was diagnosed with Ebola, authorities decided to euthanize her dog, Excalibur. But Dallas officials pledged to do everything they could to avoid that fate for Pham's spaniel after Pham's family appealed to city officials, saying the dog is very important to the 26-year-old.

"We are hopeful that Bentley's journey will contribute to what we know about Ebola and dogs since they play such an important role in so many peoples lives," Cate McManus, Dallas Animal Services operation manager, said in a statement.