Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter Extends Parvo-related Closure

The Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter will remain closed this week to due another parvo outbreak.

Board Member Dr. Pam Stone tells WLHR News the Shelter staff had to extend the quarantine due to a subsequent case of parvo resulting from the original outbreak.

Dr. Stone said they’re hoping to re-open this Friday or Saturday. The shelter announced the required two-week closure on August 10.

The shelter staff has been working hard to raise money to build a new adoption wing, which would eliminate having to quarantine healthy adoptable dogs from any parvo outbreak.

But until that wing is completed, the shelter, by Georgia law, must close for two weeks and quarantine existing dogs to keep the virus from infecting any new dogs or puppies coming to the shelter.

The Merck Veterinary Manual classifies parvovirus as a disease of the stomach and small intestines, where it destroys cells, impairs absorption, and disrupts the gut barrier. Parvo in puppies also affects the bone marrow and lymphopoietic tissues, and in some cases can also affect the heart.

This virus is highly contagious in dogs and puppies and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object.

A puppy is exposed to the parvovirus every time he sniffs, licks, or consumes infected feces.

That’s why it’s so important to keep litters of puppies in a clean, warm environment and pick up any dog feces, and disinfect the area where the puppies and adult dogs are kept as soon as possible.

Indirect transmission occurs when a person who has recently been exposed to an infected dog touches a puppy, or when a puppy encounters a contaminated object, like a food or water bowl, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs.

Meantime, Jourdenais said due to the outbreak, they are in more than ever of cleaning supplies, and dog and cat food.

Anyone with donations can contact Jourdenais on her cell at 706-988-4148 to set up a time to drop them off.