Shelter locked down dog section to prevent spread of disease
FARMINGTON – None of the 17 dogs at the Franklin County Animal Shelter were showing any signs Monday of canine parvovirus. The shelter will be back in full operation by Wednesday.
It brought a smile to “overly cautious” Manager Patty Lovell’s face. She imposed a voluntary quarantine on dogs at the shelter 18 days ago. The shelter was not letting any dogs in or out.
Lovell said a stray dog developed symptoms of parvovirus, a disease that is in the intestines and could be fatal to a dog if untreated. Symptoms of the disease, which occur more frequently in young dogs, include vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, Lovell said. Dogs are treated intravenously during treatment, which includes antibiotics, she said.
The stray dog was tested and was positive for parvo, she said.
“We had to quarantine a minimum of two weeks and maximum of three weeks,” Lovell said. “We are overly cautious and we did that for the protection of ourselves and protection of the community.”
Lovell, of New Sharon, said she talked to local veterinarians and shelter directors to see what they recommended.
The shelter remained open and it continued to adopt out cats, she said, because cats are not subject to canine parvovirus.
However, the dog room was off limits, she said. Anyone entering the shelter had to dip the bottoms of their shoes into a watered down bleach solution in the lobby.
Jen Lyon, a kennel cleaning assistant, said she and others have scrubbed and disinfected the shelter. New dog run doors were installed.
“If we haven’t scrubbed it, it doesn’t exist,” Lovell said. The disease is not contagious to people.
“Not only do I work here,” Lovell said, “but I also have two dogs at home, so that’s why I’m being overcautious. Not only do I want to protect dogs here but the community dogs as well.”
Lovell said she and others kept a close eye on all dogs to make sure they were doing all right. Dogs are vaccinated in annual checkups for parvovirus.
“Everybody is doing well,” she said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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