A parvovirus outbreak in the Cambridge dog pound has been likened to Covid in the way it should be managed.
Waipā Compliance manager Karl Tutty confirmed animal control staff had put down four puppies several weeks ago and more cases have become known.
This Jack Russell is waiting for a new home after being abandoned. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The virus was widespread in the community, and it was only a matter of time before dogs brought it into the pound.
Karl Tutty
“That makes it very much like the Covid response, keep it out as long as possible and if it is in, manage it,” he told The News.
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs that commonly causes acute gastrointestinal illness in puppies. The disease most often strikes in pups between six and 20 weeks old.
“It’s a known risk,” said Tuttty.
“We mitigate it as much as possible but there is no way of knowing what dog may be carrying it as obviously we don’t know the history of dogs coming in and many, particularly puppies, probably haven’t had a lot of veterinary attention.”
A total of 65 dogs were impounded in the council’s two pounds in the first three months of the year – 39 were claimed by their owner, eight rehomed and 11 euthanised.
Tutty said the council had litters of pups signed over to the pound in recent weeks and one was in extremely poor condition.
One litter of week-old pups were abandoned in a reserve with a bucket of water and a blanket.
These dogs – a mum and three of her five-week old pups – were dumped recently and are now at the Cambridge pound. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“With cheap desexing programmes available to the community via local charity Pound Hounds Rescue, it is disappointing to see so many litters of unwanted pups.”
Animal Control had 673 calls in the quarter – 17 were reports of dog bites on other animals and people – while most were for more information and barking complaints.
There are still overdue payments for dog reregistration trickling in, but low staffing levels – two Animal Control officers recently resigned – slowed the process down until Administration staff helped.
Now 97.2 per cent of the district’s dogs are registered.
“Keeping fees to an affordable level really helps us to achieve this level of registration, and likewise reasonable fees assist with achieving a high claim rate of impounded dogs, which in turn reduces the costs of euthanasia or rehoming of unclaimed dogs,” said Tutty.
This Jack Russell is waiting for a new home after being abandoned. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
