01-05-2025
Adoptions and intake closed at Sevier Animal Care Center after puppy found with parvovirus
SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Sevier Animal Care Center has temporarily stopped taking new animals and is closed to adoption appointments after a puppy in its care tested positive for parvovirus.
Around 10 a.m. Thursday, the animal shelter said the puppy began showing signs of parvovirus Wednesday evening. The puppy was tested and placed in a foster home where it is being cared for in quarantine.
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Because of the positive test, all intakes and adoption appointments have been stopped. Sevier Animal Care Center has been collecting blood samples from every dog at the shelter, which will be used by the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine to determine which dogs are at risk of catching the virus and need to be quarantined. The shelter said those test results should be available within 48 hours, and in the meantime, staff are working to deep clean the shelter.
With intakes closed, Sevier Animal Care Center said it is only taking pets in emergency situations. Anyone who had an appointment scheduled will be contacted individually, and the shelter said the adoption event that was scheduled at PetSmart on May 3 will be cancelled.
'Thank you so much for your patience and understanding while we work through this challenge. We always take these things extremely seriously and probably go overboard, but better safe than sorry! We will update all as soon as we have news. Please keep us and the furbabies in your thoughts,' the shelter wrote.
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According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that attacks the white blood cells and gastrointestinal tract of dogs. In puppies, the virus can also cause damage to the heart.
While all dogs are susceptible to parvovirus, there are a series of vaccines that can help protect against the virus. The AVMA says some dogs are at a greater risk of contracting parvovirus, such as:
Puppies between 6 and 20 weeks of age;
Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs;
And certain breeds, including Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, German shepherds and English springer spaniels.
The symptoms of canine parvovirus include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating, and fever or low body temperature.
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