Local Animal Shelters Banding Together To Help Humane Society With Outbreak
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A highly contagious canine virus, called parvovirus, is taking its toll on the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.
Now, other local animal welfare organizations are stepping in to help.
"There was a dog that came that a few days later tested positive and then a few days after that, another one tested positive, so it was from a stray dog that came in," shelter director Mary Withrow said.
Already, six dogs have died. More are sick and because of that, the Humane Society is making some temporary changes.
No new surrenders are being accepted.
The number of surgeries in the clinic has been cut down.
The at-risk dogs or dogs with an unknown history have been moved into quarantine in a separate part of the shelter.
"When you have a shelter, you don't always have vaccine history and sometimes a dog could come in with parvo and they don't show any clinical signs," Withrow said.
This outbreak has not shut down the Humane Society entirely. It is still open for adoptions and there are a number of animals available.
Nine puppies that were just brought to Pittsburgh from an overcrowded shelter in Mississippi will also be available for adoption this weekend.
They are being spayed and neutered in the Animal Friends Mobile Resource Center.
The Humane Society is using the vehicle because operating on the puppies in the shelter is just too risky with the outbreak.
"We were more than happy to help. This is saving lives and if we can step in and provide our vehicle and get these guys spayed and neutered and into homes, it helps all of us," Kathleen Beaver, of Animal Friends, said.
The Animal Rescue League is also helping out by taking in surrenders.
In the meantime, the Humane Society is in desperate need of donations during this tough time.
Employees are reminding people to vaccinate their animals because parvovirus can be prevented with regular vaccines.
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