Washington Area Humane Society Shuts Down Due To Parvovirus, Giardia
EIGHTY-FOUR, Pa. (KDKA) -- A case of two separate illnesses at the Washington County Humane Society has some animals quarantined at the facility and the doors of the shelter closed for a time.
But a new state of the art facility will soon make a sick closure like this one, a thing of the past.
Closed for fourteen days, a case of Parvo and another of Giardia means there are no dogs and cats coming and going right now at the Washington County Humane Society.
A viral outbreak at the shelter has both the kennel and cat department shutdown for a time.
One-year-old Cina, a Vizsla mix, who came in as a stray developed Parvo, a highly contagious virus spread from dog to dog thorough contact with feces.
If left untreated, it can be deadly.
"They're not being taken care of properly if they have Parvo they've been left untreated," said Chrissy Sowers, a veterinary assistant at the shelter.
As a puppy, Sina likely never received a single vaccination from a vet.
Now she is receiving emergency care off-site while the facility undergoes major cleaning as a safety precaution.
"We want to make sure that nobody comes in right now, none of the animals to make sure it's not exposed to anybody else," Sowers said.
A kitten and the rest of its litter were brought to the shelter after someone discovered they had been left to fend for themselves.
They developed Giardia a virus causing diarrhea and lethargy in cats.
"A lot of them are dumped and abandoned. There is a big crisis with cats, feral cat population and just kittens being born and people not knowing what to do with them," said Executive Director Kelly Proudfit.
But soon a shutdown for common but concerning viruses will be a thing of the past.
On the hill behind the current shelter is a new $4.5 million shelter
"We're going to have holdings for sixty dogs and sixty cats, it's going to be a beautiful new space," Proudfit said.
Executive Director Kelly Proudfit gave KDKA a tour.
The facility will include sick isolation units as well as animal holding area for 60 dogs and cats, a Community education room, play yards for enrichment and a Cat colony room.
Most of all for sick outbreaks like this there will be no hold on adoptions and abandoned strays like Cina and the kitten litter can continue to come in.
The Washington County Humane Society is looking forward to this multi-million Dollar facility to open this fall.
To find out how to donate, visit their website here.
