Parvo outbreak at Pomona animal shelter; 50 puppies & dogs euthanized

An outbreak of canine parvovirus at a Pomona animal shelter has led to 50 infected puppies and small dogs having to be euthanized.

The virus moved swiftly through kennels at the Inland Valley Humane Society last week. The highly contagious disease can easily be passed from dog to dog through contact, and puppies are especially vulnerable. Once infected, chance of survival is slim.

Brian Sampson, supervisor of animal services at the shelter, stressed that this is why visitors are strongly urged not to pet the dogs.

"Someone rubs a puppy and goes three cages down and pets other animals because they're cute," Sampson told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "Animals with weak immune systems can catch it [parvo] easily. We have signs up for people not to touch the animals."

The virus can also be spread when infected shelter animals are adopted to new homes and pass the illness along to other dogs.

This unfortunate incident is a strong reminder of the importance of vaccinating pets.

-- Kelly Burgess

Comments

[Anonymous Dog Lover]

So the public shouldn't touch the dogs? It's their fault that IVHS doesn't vaccinate their intakes, and doesn't practice effective sanitation measures? Give me a break!

"A strong reminder of the importance of vaccinating pets."

Unless, of course, you are the Inland Valley Humane Society. Then, it isn't important.

Yet, these folks think that they need to push their limit laws, excessive license fees and mandated sterilization on the general public. Despite the fact that intakes for IVHS have dropped...from 27% per population in 1976, to 2% in 2006! This is from their own statistics!

And let's not forget the fact that the majority of owned pets are already sterilized. Wow guess what, education is the answer! NOT nanny government strongarm tactics.

IVHS should be ashamed of themselves.

[anonymous dog lover]

With over $5 million annual income they should be able to buy some vaccine, dontcha think?