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

8:30 AM, April 23, 2009
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