Community rallies to help nine puppies sick with parvovirus

The community has rallied to help nine sick puppies turned over to the Brant County SPCA.

In early May, the SPCA placed 12 mastiff-mix pups into foster homes. Not long after, staff got calls from concerned volunteers reporting the puppies were ill. Two of the pups were rushed to an emergency vet clinic.

Two dogs tested positive for canine parvovirus (parvo), a highly contagious disease passed from dog to dog, which has a 91 per cent mortality rate when left untreated.

Nine pups required treatment – ​​three managed to avoid the disease – both in a vet clinic and at the shelter and in foster homes, said Nadine Dwinnell, director of animal care for the Brant County SPCA. One of the pups, named Billy, eventually needed a feeding tube.

“Even with treatment, parvo is awful,” said Dwinnell. “Billy and his brothers and sisters endured days of non-stop diarrhea and vomiting. This makes it tough for them to keep food down and absorb much-needed nutrients.

“Our hard-working staff and incredible foster families were working tirelessly 24-7 to ensure the puppies received the care they needed. We’re so grateful for our local veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians at Paris Veterinary Clinic and Brant Norfolk Veterinary Clinic who provided the emergency treatment and ongoing support to help us provide the best inpatient and outpatient care.”

When vet bills to treat the pups reached $6,000 and climbing, the SPCA reached out to the public for help.

“Wow, did the community answer our call,” said Dwinnell.

Donations have reached $10,000, including help from Scotlynn Group whose staff hosted bake sales at the company’s Brantford and Vittoria locations. The company raised $4,500 for the SPCA’s Project Patchwork program, which supports animals needing extensive medical care.

“At Scotlynn, we take pride in fostering a culture of teamwork and community spirit,” said Scott Biddle, company president and CEO, in a media release. “The generosity and dedication of our team truly embody the values ​​that we strive for at Scotlynn. We hope our efforts inspire others in the community.”

All but one of the dogs, a puppy named Sammie who died after treatment failed, are doing well, said Dwinnell.

One of the pups has been adopted and two, named Hank and Jolene, are up for adoption on the Brant County SPCA website.

Those still recovering will also be placed for adoption once they are healthy enough to be spayed and neutered.

Donations for their care are still being accepted at www.brantcountyspca.com.