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.
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.
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