- April 18, 2024
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Amy Carotenuto, director of Flagler Humane Society, administers an IV drip of fluids with two antibiotics, B12 and pain meds to Xena, diagnosed with Parvo. Photo by Jacque Estes
Puppies from Saffari Rescue wait it quarantine at Flagler Humane Society until they can be spayed and neutered and adopted. Photo by Jacque Estes
Xena, peeks out from her bed, following a Parvo treatment. She receives two treatments a day. Photo by Jacque Estes
Amy Carotento places Xena back in her crate in quarantine at Flagler Humane Society. Photo by Jacque Estes
Xena, diagnosed last Thursday with Parvovirus, is able to sit on her own, giving the Flagler Humane Society staff hope she will survive the disease. Photo by Jacque Estes
Amy Carotenuto started her week sitting on a blue tarp stretched across the floor of the humane society’s education room. A white towel was draped over her legs, and a small black and white Labrador, Xena, on her lap. An IV bag provided much needed fluid and nourishment to the ailing dog.
Xena, one of two dogs diagnosed with the Parvovirus, would be the only dog Carotenuto, director of the Flagler Humane Society, would come into contact with on this day. This was one of many precautions implemented to ensure the other animals in the shelter were not exposed.
Ten-week-old Xena, quarantined alone in a room, so far from the kennels you couldn’t hear the other dogs barking as their breakfast was served, was one of the 25 dogs surrendered by Ruth Rupprecht of Saffari Rescue on July 12. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant to inspect the property after receiving an anonymous complaint about the facility. No charges were filed.
The pup on Carotenuto’s lap was one of two dogs diagnosed with Parvo less than two days after they were taken to the shelter. One pup died, and while Carotenuto said they weren’t out of the woods with Xena, there were encouraging signs.
“There were two dogs that were puny, that we were watching when we brought them in,” Carotenuto said. “The dogs were full of hookworms, which are not uncommon in puppies, but needs to be treated, and we were hoping that was the problem.”
On Monday afternoon Rupprecht said she was unaware of the confirmed diagnosis, and death of one of the dogs, but she was aware that there had been two dogs that were being watched.
“Everybody was isolated here, and I am sure at the shelter,” Rupprecht said. “It was really a shock, nothing was ever seen. I did tell Amy that they had been wormed and would need to be again. It was a very stressful day for all.”
The first thing the shelter staff did when the 25 dogs (21 puppies and four adults) and nine cats were brought to the shelter from Saffari, was to administer vaccinations.
“Every dog and cat that comes in here is vaccinated upon arrival, unless we can prove for a fact they have been vaccinated,” Carotenuto said. “Anytime you add a new animal to your home, even if you are just babysitting it, you want to make sure it’s vaccinated and your pets are vaccinated.”
The shelter requested the animals’ vaccination records from Rupprecht, but since they were not all available on July 12, the decision was made to revaccinate.
Rupprecht said her policy is to keep new animals 10 days in isolation, have them see a veterinarian, vaccinate and deworm them.
The humane society planned to put the dogs up for adoption after their initial quarantine period. All of the animals were put in kennels in a room away from the general population. The nine cats were healthy and are currently up for adoption.
“We were hoping to spay and neuter the dogs and put them up for adoption,” Carotenuto said. “But we don’t want to compromise their immune systems and will wait until they are stronger.”
Walking near, but not into the area where the other dogs were housed, a kennel attendant told Carotenuto that another dog from Saffari wasn’t eating, and had become lethargic. Carotenuto told the attendant to let her know if the dog refused breakfast. The dog is now receiving the same medications as Xena.
Carotenuto and Katie Share, animal control officer, said they want to get together with Rupprecht and hopefully help her incorporate animal sheltering guidelines into her nonprofit.
“We are working with the county to get a permit,” Rupprecht said. “They are guiding us through this.”
The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in two different forms. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite (anorexia). The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvovirus infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.
PetMD.com
The Flagler Humane Society is a 501© 3 nonprofit. Financial donations to help offset the cost of the Parvo treatment are appreciated.
