photo - Hartford Animal Shelter

It was announced yesterday that a dog at our local shelter was euthanized after testing positive for Canine Parvovirus. He was only about a year old. Had he not gotten sick, he had a decent chance of being adopted. 

Volunteers who knew him described him as a goofball who took treats gently and was non-reactive to other dogs. He could have made a great family pet, but instead his life ended before it really had a chance to begin. He will never get to experience the love and joy that comes with being part of a family and the family he never had will never know the unconditional love and devotion he could have offered. It is a heartbreaking situation all around.

The canine Parvovirus, also known as CPV, is spread through contact with infected dogs and is highly contagious. Puppies and certain breeds are more susceptible. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, dehydration, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. It is treatable if caught early but the dog’s immune system may be compromised for life. If treated, there is a 70% chance of survival. The treatment is costly, but without it the virus causes the animal considerable suffering and can be deadly. Sadly, many municipalities do not have the resources to treat animals with significant medical needs.

As a precautionary measure, all of the dogs currently at the shelter are under quarantine and, despite some interest from adoptive families, they cannot leave the shelter until the threat is over and they are medically cleared. We can only hope that the virus was contained and the other dogs were not infected.

As if this news was not devastating enough, perhaps the saddest part is that all of this could have been prevented with a simple and inexpensive vaccine.

So, today I implore you, because it cannot be stressed enough - please be sure your pets are up to date on all vaccinations. If you need assistance, there are many low-cost clinics and community resources available. Take the time to learn which organizations in your area can help and do not hesitate to reach out. Contact local rescues and humane organizations for information and guidance. This is why they are there.

Our pets depend on us to provide the basic care they need. We must look out for them and protect them. What they give us in return cannot be measured in dollars and cents. This dog was failed on so many levels. He was abandoned in the streets, he became sick while at the shelter, he was denied potentially life-saving medical treatment and ultimately he lost his life. This should never have happened. He deserved better.

As a lifelong resident of Connecticut and an animal lover, it was with a heavy heart that I posted back in May about the budget cuts in our capital city of Hartford, specifically those made to Animal Control. Two dedicated Animal Control Officers, one a twelve year veteran and another a seventeen year veteran lost their jobs and the system was thrown into chaos.

The remaining Animal Control staff was overwhelmed, unable to return calls or schedule appointments with potential adopters. Dogs lingered in cages with no attention, no love and no behavior evaluations.

When volunteers from a local advocacy group were finally able to work out a schedule to come in and photograph the dogs, the pictures were taken through the cage bars, some so dark that the dogs could hardly be seen. Pleas to the city from local residents, businesses and animal lovers fell on deaf ears.

​It seems the city has finally come to the realization that it cannot handle the stray animal population with the current staffing levels and. to its credit has taken some steps to prevent healthy, adoptable dogs from being unnecessarily killed.

The city has recently begun to reach out to local rescues and animal welfare groups for help and, of course these organizations have been more than happy to work with the city to save the shelter dogs.

That is the good news. The bad news is that every day there are more dogs coming into the shelter and it is becoming more and more difficult to find placements. The rescues want to assist but, unless they have a place to put the dogs, there is only so much they can do.

​For this reason, I felt it was a good time to remind people that foster homes are urgently needed at all times.

​If you have a home and love to give, this is where you can truly make a difference in the life of a homeless animal.

Fostering is free and it is temporary.

If you feel you are unable to afford a pet, consider fostering. All veterinary expenses will be covered by the rescue. Many rescues also provide food, treats, collars, leashes and other supplies.

Perhaps you have recently lost a pet and are not sure you are ready to adopt again. Fostering is a perfect way to honor your beloved pet’s memory by giving another animal a chance to experience a home, a family and what it means to be loved.
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Another scenario - we all know that adopting a pet is a long-term commitment and perhaps this is something you are not sure about. In that case, foster. It may be several months or only several weeks until your foster pet finds a permanent home and during that time you can provide a safe haven for a deserving pet who otherwise would not have that chance.

I have found rescues to be ready and willing to support their foster families by offering free training and other resources, should foster families need assistance. 

​Speaking from experience, do you get attached? Yes. Is it hard to let them go? Yes. But is it the best feeling in the world knowing you have played a part in saving a life and giving an animal the happy ending every pet deserves? A resounding YES!

Don’t wait. Contact rescues in your area and open your home to a lonely shelter pet. It is one of the greatest kindnesses you can offer. It costs you nothing except time, patience and love but you will be rewarded many times over.

The dogs pictured here have all been fostered in my home and I am happy to report that they now all have amazing families. It was truly a joy and a privilege to have played a part.