More than 2 dozen dogs put down after Parvo outbreak in Salem

[TribalRats]

By PAT DOORIS, for kgw.com

SALEM -- A mixture of support and criticism surrounds the Marion County dog control and shelter after workers euthanized 27 dogs Monday February 5th and Tuesday February 6th.

The dogs were exposed to a puppy (pictured) at the shelter which tested positive for the deadly virus.

KGW photo

Now as word spreads, some, including students from South Salem High School are sending sympathy posters.

Others are sending hate mail criticizing the killing of the dogs.

The shelter’s acting supervisor says the decision to put down so many dogs was difficult, but done to protect the remaining animals at the shelter.

Bill Worchester says he had no choice. He says it was devastating for workers at the shelter.

“Yeah, really tough for the staff,” Worchester said. “Emotionally draining for them. We all love those dogs. That’s why we’re here. And we get attached to the dogs, you can’t avoid it,” he said. That makes it “extremely difficult” according to Worchester.

The ordeal began Friday, January 26, when a police officer brought a 3 month old dachshund puppy to the shelter. He joined roughly 60 other dogs already at the shelter.

Three days later, when no one had claimed him, the county took legal ownership of the dog. Workers at the shelter named him “Chance”.

Lori Lee Dickerson developed a soft spot for the shy little puppy and decided to take him home in a “foster” arrangement.

Saturday, February 3rd she noticed Chance had stopped eating. The next day he got sick. She took him in to work at the shelter and tested the puppy for the parvo virus. The test came back positive.

“It was very hard, very hard,” to see the result, Dickerson said.

She tested him again on Monday, February 5th. When the test came back positive again, Worcester knew he had to act.

Parvo virus is a highly contagious disease which infects the lining of the animal’s stomach. It causes vomiting and diarrhea and death.

Worchester put together a conference call which, he says, included the Willamette Valley Humane Society, a consulting vet and others. They decided to euthanize any dog which had come in contact with Chance in the kennels or other common areas.

The list grew to 27, including Chance.

Dickerson is heart broken. Her eyes well with tears when she talks of losing the little puppy.

She can't imagine why someone would not get a puppy vaccinated against the virus. It would have avoided so much pain.

“Oh yes, it's been a hard week,” she said.