Canadian animal shelter forced to euthanize all but 2 dogs after spread of viral illness

A Canadian animal shelter had to share some heartbreaking news after a viral illness spread amongst the dogs in their care.

The Gander and area SPCA in Newfoundland had to make the difficult decision to euthanize all the dogs and puppies in their care with the exception of two adult dogs after a puppy was brought to the facility that became gravely ill.

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Handsome Ryder is the newest addition to the Gander & Area SPCA family! #shepherdmix #lovestreats #loveseveryone #adoptdontshop

A post shared by Gander and Area SPCA (@ganderspca) on Aug 31, 2018 at 2:13pm PDT

The SPCA said that an autopsy report for the puppy came back positive for Canine Distemper Virus, a contagious, viral illness with no known cure.

The illness causes respiratory, digestive, and nervous system issues in affected dogs, says the SPCA.

In these affected dogs only about half will survive, and those who survive this terrible virus are nearly all left with permanent damage to their nervous system. While some dogs will acquire the virus and only show mild signs, they can easily infect other dogs, and continue to shed the virus for up to three months.

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River had fun this morning showing off her new bandana courtesy of @skyeboutiquee ! #adoptable #bandanababe #seniordogs #husky

A post shared by Gander and Area SPCA (@ganderspca) on Aug 28, 2018 at 5:38am PDT

The shelter said that after consulting with the Provincial vet and their own veterinary team, with careful consideration of the huge ramifications of distemper spreading not only among unvaccinated dogs but also to wildlife, they came the “heartbreaking conclusion” that euthanizing the puppies and dogs that have shown signs of distemper is the only way to contain the virus.

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Pool season isn’t over yet for Kali. #poolparty #partyofone #summerfun #labourday #adoptables #pitbullsofinstagram

A post shared by Gander and Area SPCA (@ganderspca) on Sep 3, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT

Two of the shelter’s adult dogs, named Kali and Brock, will not be euthanized as they have not yet shown signs. They are under a strict quarantine for the foreseeable future.

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Handsome, fun loving Brock says he will be here waiting for someone to love and commitment to him when our quarantine is over. And of course they must be cool with tossing a ball around. #adoptable #secondchance #adoptdontshop #muttsarethebest

A post shared by Gander and Area SPCA (@ganderspca) on Sep 10, 2018 at 6:07am PDT

The shelter had to close their dog area on Sept 16 to implement a strict quarantine. During the past few weeks, they say they have been doing their best to keep the virus from spreading from the puppies to their adult dogs. Unfortunately, they were not successful.

“The need for our new shelter, with its isolation rooms, was never more clear to us than during this emotional time. While we feel defeated with this great loss, we will continue to push forward and advocate on behalf of those who can't defend themselves,” said the shelter.

“Vaccinating your companion animals is of the utmost importance when it comes to stopping the spread of distemper and other virus that can be harmful or fatal. If you have any questions about the safety of your companion animal, we urge you to please speak with your local veterinary clinic.”