Dog dies from parvovirus after Brandywine Valley SPCA's mega adoption event in Harrington
Jessica BiesEditor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that parvo is not rare, though it is not often seen at Brandywine Valley SPCA.
A puppy adopted during Brandywine Valley SPCA's Mega Adoption Event in Harrington has died from canine parvovirus, a highly contagious illness that affects dogs and is especially fatal in young puppies.
A total of six dogs have been infected with the virus so far, according to the nonprofit. The event placed 1,181 animals, many of whom came from overcrowded shelters where they had little chance of survival.
Cyndi Hill Truitt of Whaleyville, Maryland, took to Facebook this weekend to warn people of the parvo outbreak.
"We went to the Mega Adoption Event in Harrington and adopted two beautiful puppies," she posted on the social media site. "After one day the smallest pup's health began to decline. We took him to the vet right away. He was diagnosed with parvo."
"To make this long story a bit shorter, after several days at the vet and several nights at the pet ER our pup, 'Little Man' passed away after putting up one heck of a fight. Yesterday our other pup, 'Daisy,' became symptomatic."
Linda Torelli, Brandywine Valley SPCA's spokeswoman, said the nonprofit is immeasurably sad about the outbreak. Parvo is an unfortunate reality in shelters, she said, and the SPCA does everything they can to prevent the virus' transmission.
"Our hearts break for the six puppies impacted by parvo and their families," she said in an email. "Each family has had the opportunity for free care at our clinic or a VCA hospital, and all adoption fees have been or are in the process of being refunded.
"We’ve also proactively reached out to families that might have a risk of disease spread, such as littermates of the affected puppies. These are unfortunate cases that are a small minority representing 0.5 percent of the population in an event that has saved thousands of lives in its three-year history."
MEGA ADOPTION EVENT HELD IN HARRINGTON
145 dogs flown in for mega adoption event
About 1,200 cats, dogs available at Brandywine Valley SPCA'sMega Adoption Event
849 dogs, cats find homes on first day of Mega Adoption Event
Filling a void
Truitt said she adopted the puppies to help fill the hole her last dog's death left in her life.
"When our last dog passed away six months ago, I swore I wouldn't go through the sadness of losing a pet again," she shared on Facebook. "However, that feeling was soon replaced by a void. A void that could only be filled with a new furry baby."
"Not wanting to shop, I chose to adopt."
Truitt said she is now working to save Daisy. She used bleach and threw away all the puppies' toys to try to keep the virus from spreading but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Daisy is now in the ER, she said.
"This is NOT what was supposed to happen," Truitt said on Facebook.
She started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay the medical expenses for any dogs infected in the outbreak but said Brandywine Valley SPCA reached out to her Monday morning offering to pay her and the others' vet bills.
Still, she expressed concern over how the nonprofit initially handled the situation.
"The reason being EVERY puppy there had been exposed," Truitt said. "It took them three days to return my call, and (they) said if I wanted to take the pups to (the) West Chester clinic, they would treat them. I stressed it was not just us affected.
Kiarah Christmas said her dog Nahla also has parvo. Brandywine SPCA has not offered to pay or refund any fees, she said.
Her family has spent $2,000 so far and will have to put the puppy down unless things drastically change.
"My family and I thought we were the only ones suffering," she said. "Our dog Nahla has been hospitalized since Thursday evening fighting this virus, as well. We contacted the Brandywine Valley SPCA and left a voicemail. The director returned our call and offered for us to go to the West Chester facility with free of charge. We let her know we were already headed to our vet in Middletown since her health was declining rather quickly."
Dr. Sheri Wood, Brandywine Valley SPCA's Medical Director, said the shelter sees few parvo cases and that testing is not always very useful. All puppies available for adoption through the BVSPCA receive age-appropriate vaccines
“Vaccinations for puppies involve a process staged in time phases over a period of months, and a puppy isn’t fully vaccinated until four months of age," Wood said in a statement. “Properly vaccinated puppies can be susceptible to various diseases even when all the proper protocols are followed.”
Wood continued, “Parvo testing is known to be unpredictable. Usually, a dog doesn’t test positive until it’s symptomatic. We see very few parvo cases, and the ones we do have a high treatment response and survival rate. All of the puppies at the event were examined several times by veterinary staff, and none were symptomatic prior to or during the event.”
The SPCA said the veterinary community is divided on whether to quarantine dogs with parvo, as doing so can increase the risk of stress and disease outbreak while also delaying the lifesaving process.
That said, all the puppies at the event had been held at least five days and, in many cases, two weeks or more by either the BVSPCA or their home rescue. In addition, any puppies transferred from another shelter or rescue had health certificates issued by a veterinarian.
On Facebook, the Delaware Humane Association said it had not been notified about the parvovirus, though the Dover Post reported that at least one of the dogs was from their shelter.
"But we are working on calling all adopters a second time to verify," the nonprofit said.
There were a total of 1,200 pets – 800 dogs and 400 cats — at the event in Harrington on Dec. 8 and 9. It was held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds, and adoption fees were reduced to just $25 per pet.
Several local shelters participated, including Brandywine Valley SPCA, Animal Rescue League of Berks County (which brought only cats), Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Center, Crossing Paths Animals Rescue, Currituck County, Delaware Humane Association, South Jersey Animal Shelter, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center and Northeastern SPCA North Carolina.
MORE THAN 1,000 PETS FIND NEW HOMES
1,181 cats and dogs find homes during Brandywine Valley SPCA Mega Adoption Event
Senior dog atshelter for 358 days one of several adopted during Mega Adoption event
Mega Adoption Event's lone remaining dog gets home at last
What isparovirus?
Parvovirus affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts and is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces, environments or people, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Puppies are particularly susceptible and even when vaccinated can develop the disease. Adult dogs can also contract parvo, according to AVMA,
Even trace amounts of feces from an infected dog may harbor the virus, which is readily transmitted from place to place on the hair or feet of dogs or via contaminated cages, shoes, or other objects.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include:
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain and bloating
- fever or low body temperature (hypothermia)
- vomiting
- severe, often bloody, diarrhea
Most deaths from parvovirus occur within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of clinical signs, according to AVMA.
If your puppy or dog shows any of these signs, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA has several clinics. Call the health center nearest you:
- Malvern, PA : (610) 482-4289
- New Castle, DE: (302) 516-1004
- Georgetown, DE: (302) 516-1004
Find clinic hours and more information online at bvspca.org.
MORE FROM DELAWARE ONLINE
Murder suspect may walk without trial because of prosecutors' 'egregious' snooping
In Wilmington's Southbridge, talk of new industry turns to jobs, community benefits
Dead humpback whale washes ashore in Lewes
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.