Contact: Susan Lee. Acting Director                     For Immediate release
Humane Society of Morgan County
Phone: 304-258-5592
Email: hsmc-wv@peoplepc.com

HUMANE SOCIETY HAS QUARANTINED ITS KENNEL; UNABLE TO TAKE IN OR ADOPT OUT DOGS

The Humane Society has imposed a 21-day quarantine (through September 20) on its kennel due to the canine parvovirus-related deaths of two puppies at the shelter. Another puppy already adopted from the shelter did contract the disease but, thankfully, recovered from it. The tragedy is that the puppies who died were 14 weeks old when they came to the shelter. They should already have had shots at 6 weeks of age and then again every 2-4 weeks until they were 12-16 weeks old. They could and should have nearly completed the series of shots before they were brought to the shelter. Unfortunately for them, and for the shelter, one puppy had been given one shot and the other puppy had received none when arriving at the shelter.

It is a terrible fact that most of the animals brought to the Humane Society of Morgan County come without current immunizations. In fact, many of them have never received any immunizations. Not knowing what animals may have been immunized against or what they have been exposed to before coming to the shelter presents a very real challenge. The Humane Society begins a series of immunizations with every animal that comes to the shelter. Unfortunately, sometimes the series cannot be completed before the animal becomes ill. Administering immunizations, combined with judicious sanitation practices at the shelter, accounts in large part, for the shelter not having to enforce quarantine periods more frequently.

Parvovirus is very prevalent in Morgan County. A few puppies live through it, usually those that have had some shots and have built up some immunity, but many do not. Most veterinarians recommend vaccinating puppies every two to four weeks for this virus starting at 6 weeks of age and continuing until they are at least 12 weeks of age. Some say preferably until they are 20 weeks of age. It is important for young animals to receive their full series in order to adequately stimulate a protective immune response. Most veterinarians recommend a yearly booster vaccination for parvovirus.

The shelter remains open for kitten and cat adoptions, spay/neuter information and assistance, and lost and found reporting. The kennels will reopen for adoptions and intake as soon as possible.