Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
    From “Wikipedia: Canine parvovirus is a particularly deadly disease among young puppies, about 80 percent fatal, causing  gastrointestinal tract damage and  dehydration as well as a cardiac syndrome in very young pups. It is spread by contact with an infected dog’s feces. Symptoms include lethargy, severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, and dehydration.”
    I share this definition with you because the local veterinarian offices have seen an alarming increase in the number of Parvovirus cases in the last several weeks and asked me to make sure to let you know that this is a totally preventable disease. You need to have your pets are vaccinated, that’s all it takes.
    It is brutal what this disease does to dogs, especially puppies, and there is no denying the rancid smell of the bloody diarrhea that it causes. Parvo is often deadly and it is a horrible way for a puppy to die. I can’t word this strongly enough, there is no reason for your dog to get sick, there is no reason for any dog to suffer from this disease, just call your vet and make an appointment for vaccinations if you haven’t already.
    We think we are bulletproof up here. Seldom do we hear of an epidemic tearing through our community. The weather seems to be in our favor, keeping heartworm and rabies and other issues to our south. But the sad fact is, we are seeing more cases of rabies moving north, more cases of heartworm, and more cases of Parvo. Whether it is changes in the weather, or just an increasingly strong strain of a virus or disease, we are no longer living in a protected zone, we must be vigilant in caring for our pets. It costs so little to vaccinate, it takes very little time, and yet vaccinations will save your pet’s life. 
    If you are an animal lover, then please mark your calendar to join us for the following events: May 16, Dine out for the Animals at the Horn of Plenty Restaurant (reservations are recommended), May 19 join walkers in the River Front park at 10:30 am and register to strut your mutt. The walk is 11 a.m. and there will be prizes and free lunch for all registered participants. Pledge forms can be picked up at the shelter, the Varney agency or Northern Musical Supply. Pledge forms can be faxed or emailed to you if you call 532-2862 and give Heather your information. 
    We would encourage your business to challenge a competitor to see who can bring in the most pledges, it’s a great way to show community spirit. Not just this walk, but the many walks throughout the year for such good causes.
    Also on May 19 there will be a Pampered Chef fundraiser at the shelter from noon to 3 p.m., on the 16th of June there will be a dance at the American Legion, and we will soon be announcing our first spring yard sale.
    Keep an eye on our Facebook page as we will be showcasing our dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, in the very near future. Our purpose in raising funds is to help us care for these animals until new homes can be found.  You can help by adopting, or sharing our information with friends looking to adopt.
    So no funny stories today, just a plea, take care of your critters, make sure they have proper identification so if they become lost they can easily be returned to you; make sure they have all of their vaccination in order and on time so that they don’t become sick and/or make the neighborhood animals sick; make sure your pets are spayed and neutered so that no more unwanted animals are brought into this world; support your local pet rescue or shelter, all of which are run by dedicated individuals who volunteer their time, resources and energy to help animals that don’t even belong to them.
    If you can skip your cappuccino this morning and donate that dollar to a Shelter, you would be surprised how far that dollar can be stretched. If you can volunteer an hour a week, we have all kinds of projects from cleaning cages to making posters to walking dogs.
    Most importantly, pick up the phone today, check with your vet to make sure Rover is up to date on his shots and if not, make that appointment, make it now, please.