Parvo Hits Humane Shelter

A Parvo outbreak is again keeping the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter from accepting dogs into the shelter for at least the next two weeks.

Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said that several puppies taken into the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter on April 29 have tested positive for the highly contagious Canine Parvo virus that can be fatal to young animals.

Roberts said that the Georgia Department of Agriculture has quarantined the two rooms where animals tested positive for Parvo.

“Unfortunately, we have had two different groups of puppies that came in from the public that tested positive for Parvo, so it puts us in a quarantine situation where we cannot take in any dogs until the quarantine is lifted,” said Roberts.

According to Roberts, the quarantine will be in effect until at least May 23 and until it is lifted, the shelter will not be able to take any dogs into the shelter.

The shelter dealt with this same situation back in February.

Roberts said that protocols are in place to limit the damage done by Parvo, including putting new dog and puppy arrivals in isolation rooms until they are sure the dog does not have the virus.

“We have taken some steps to try to isolate things as much as we can so it does not impact the operation of the shelter, but we had a couple puppies break and then we had a couple other puppies break with it in the second room,” said Roberts. “This is out in the ground and puppies are susceptible for it and it has a 10-14 day incubation period, so they could be in the shelter for two weeks and just break with it.”

Even though no dogs can be taken into the shelter during the quarantine, the shelter does remain open.

Roberts said that there are plenty of dogs and cats that can be adopted today.

“We encourage people to come by because, as always, we need to get animals out, so we can get more animals in,” said Roberts.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter is located on Scenic Drive, next to the Stephens County Jail.

It is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.