The MSPCA is warning dog owners of a “highly contagious and potentially deadly” virus in the wake of three sick puppies being found in Boston.
Boston Animal Control found three 6-month-old Golden Retriever puppies in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood that were sick with parvovirus on Aug. 23, the local animal welfare organization said in a press release Tuesday. Two of the puppies were so sick they needed to be hospitalized immediately.
“Parvo is highly contagious and potentially deadly, so when the puppies tested positive, Boston Animal Control immediately reached out to us for help,” MSPCA Animal Protection Vice President Mike Keiley said in the release.
Boston Animal Control received a tip that there were two additional sick Golden Retriever puppies, but officers weren’t able to find them, Keiley said. MSPCA Law Enforcement and Boston Animal Control are now looking into the puppies’ history, as no one has come forward to claim them.
“Golden Retrievers are a highly sought-after breed, so it’s abnormal that a bunch were found sick and alone outside like this,” he said.
The two Golden Retriever puppies were hospitalized at MSPCA-Angell West hospital in Waltham for six days, the nonprofit said. They were then placed into foster care to complete their recovery.
Parvovirus can kill a puppy within 48 hours of symptom onset, Keiley said. The virus can be transmitted from dog to dog or through indirect exposure to things that have been contaminated with infected feces.
“It’s a really contagious virus that can live for a long time outside in the environment, so it’s incredibly dangerous, and dogs can be infected without knowing it,” he said.
As such, the MSPCA is reminding dog owners to vaccinate their pups against parvovirus. The nonprofit offers parvovirus vaccines to those who qualify financially at all its Angell Animal Medical Center hospitals and community clinics. Boston Animal Control will also be hosting dog vaccine clinics throughout the city both this month and next.
Two of the three puppies will be adopted out by Boston Animal Control, the MSPCA said. The third, named Big Red, is expected to be put up for adoption by the MSPCA in the next 10 days after he tests negative for parvovirus and finishes treatment for gastrointestinal parasites.
People interested in adopting Big Red are asked to submit an inquiry at mspca.org/bigred.
“We know that there will be a lot of interest in adopting Big Red,” Keiley said. “Although we can only pick one adopter, we’re so excited that he’ll soon have the very best home and a bright future after a challenging start.”