MISSOULA — The Humane Society of Western Montana needs the help of pet owners in Missoula, for the third time this year, the facility is treating a litter of puppies for parvovirus.
Those numbers are raising concern at the shelter. Instead of focusing on being a safe haven for animals, the rapid spread of the disease demands their attention.
“I have been the director for eight years. I have never seen parvo cases three times in a row," Humane Society of Western Montana Executive Director Marta Pierpoint said.
The third litter of eight pups will be quarantined since four have tested positive. All will require treatment because of how highly contagious the disease is.
“Parvo is here in our community," Pierpoint said, insisting it is vital for pets to be vaccinated.
Pierpoint says that while parvo is in the community, the shelter offers free vaccines on Monday and Tuesday evenings by appointment.
“It really is a community-wide problem if people aren’t able to afford to have their animals vaccinated then there are fewer animals in our community that are vaccinated which poses a risk to all the animals in our community," Pierpoint said.
The other major concern is that treating these puppies limits the shelter availability, resources, money, and labor that could be devoted to stray animals and other common needs of Missoula’s animal owners' beloved pets.
“The treatment is unfortunately is extremely expensive,” Humane Society of Western Montana Director or Medicine Dr. Sam Mitchell said.
The status of the latest litter has significantly improved since receiving treatment.
Because the shelter began treatment while the pups were in the early stages of having parvo, they were able to change the fate of the puppy's lives.
"They're all eating, they're playing, looking like normal puppies, which is amazing," said Dr. Mitchell.
If the litter continues a positive healing trajectory, in seven to ten days adoption is what is next for these puppies.
The Humane Society of Western Montana is accepting donations for the costly treatment saving the litter online.
You can also book an appointment to get your pet vaccinated.
