Category: News

New Vaccine for Epidemic H3N2 Dog Flu Now Available

Earlier this year, the H3N2 dog flu virus became an epidemic, sickening dogs in 24 states across the country. It was first confirmed in Illinois, where more than 1,500 Chicago-area dogs were infected.

Before dogs became sick in the Chicago area, H3N2 had never been reported in the United States, but there have been outbreaks in China and South Korea since 2006. H3N2 is believed to have been brought to the U.S. by a dog from Asia, or a dog who visited Asia and became infected.

The symptoms of H3N2 include coughing, sneezing, fever and lethargy. Most at risk are puppies, older dogs and dogs with weakened immune systems. While most dogs recover within 10 to 30 days, some have developed pneumonia and other serious health issues. At least six dogs have died from H3N2.

Until this week, the only vaccine available was for preventing another strain of dog flu, the H3N8 virus. It was not known if that vaccine is effective against this new strain.

On Nov. 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a conditional product license for Merck Animal Health to release its new Canine Influenza Vaccine H3N2. The vaccine became available to veterinarians Monday.

“Based on the highly contagious nature of the strain, the severity of clinical disease and the rate at which we were seeing newly diagnosed cases, we knew we needed to act fast – both to help veterinarians and pet owners contain the outbreaks and develop a vaccine to protect dogs against it,” said Kathleen Heaney, DVM, director of Companion Animal Technical Services at Merck Animal Health, in a news release.

According to studies, H3N2 produces 10 times more virus than H3N8, making it “far more contagious,” said Edward Dubovi, Ph.D., of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University in the news release. “Preventing the transmission of the disease through vaccination is highly recommended for those dogs that have lifestyles that put them at greater risk.”

That riskier lifestyle includes frequent social activity with other dogs at dog parks, doggie day care facilities and boarding kennels.

Dogs who are healthy and at least 6 months old can receive the new vaccine, which is delivered in two doses several weeks apart.

The new vaccine will be a lifesaver, said Dr. Kristie Johansen, a veterinarian at Sugar Hill Animal Hospital in Atlanta.

“It will be very significant for us,” she told WSB-TV.

Dr. Melissa Bourgeois, another vet at the hospital, recommends that dogs get both the H3N2 and H3N8 vaccines, since both strains are currently spreading in Atlanta.

Here are some important tips for preventing your dog from getting the H3N2 virus.

Photo credit: bazusa

Thanksgiving TV Goes to the Dogs

If you’re a dog lover who would prefer to watch something on Thanksgiving that isn’t football, you’re in luck. Canines will be featured in three TV specials airing on Turkey Day.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s these two giant dog balloons in the 89th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

  • Snoopy & Woodstock — Snoopy will be making his 39th appearance in the parade this year (or his 273rd appearance, in dog years). In fact, Snoopy holds the parade record for the most appearances by a character.
  • Finn & Jake — Look for Finn riding his magical dog, Jake, from the Cartoon Network series,”Adventure Time.” It’s their third appearance in the parade.

Since 2015 happens to be the 50th anniversary of the beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” TV special (and the 65th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip), there will be a new “Snoopy’s Doghouse” float, featuring Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and, of course, Snoopy and his decked-out abode.

NBC, 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones

The National Dog Show

Don’t touch that dial! Immediately after Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC will air “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.”

The following seven breeds that were added to the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry this year will participate for the first time ever:

  • Bergamasco: Sheepdog whose most unique characteristic is its coat, which contains “dog hair,” “goat hair” and “wool” combining to form felt-like mats. The mats grow over the course of the dog’s life, reaching the ground at approximately 6 years of age.
  • Berger Picard: A medium-sized, active and athletic herding dog, it is bred to be a working companion. It has a shaggy, wiry topcoat with a short, dense undercoat.
  • Boerboel: A large dog that is strong, confident and muscular with a distinctive, blocky head. It is the most agile of the Mastiff-type breeds. It serves as a capable working dog as well as a loyal companion.
  • Cirneco dell’Etna: Present in Sicily for over 2,500 years, it shares a common origin with the Pharaoh Hound. As a hunter of small mammals and fowl, it is a hardy, compact dog that was successful in hunting under adverse conditions.
  • Lagotto Romagnolo: An ancient breed of retrieving water dogs from Italy. It is excellent at for searching for truffles, a job it performs with passion and efficiency. Powerfully built, it has a dense, curly coat of woolly texture.
  • Miniature American Shepherd: Small herding dog developed in the U.S. It is a highly versatile, energetic dog with superior intelligence and a willingness to please.
  • Spanish Water Dog: A rustic, multi-purpose breed, it was developed in Spain many centuries ago for a variety of purposes including herding, hunting, water work and companionship.

The two-hour telecast won’t include every breed, so don’t be disappointed if your favorites are edited out. Sponsored by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the competition was actually taped earlier this month. It’s being co-hosted for the 14th time by actor John O’Hurley and canine expert David Frei.

And remember, whether you’re thinking about getting a purebred or a good ol’ mutt — adopt, don’t shop!

For you cat lovers, here’s a behind-the-scenes video of felines Jerry and Snowball previewing the “National Dog Show.” Meeeow.

NBC, noon to 2 p.m. in all time zones

The All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration

Thanksgiving night, Kaley Cuoco of “The Big Bang Theory” will host the pet adoption special, “The All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration” on FOX.

A similar special, “FOX’s Cause for Paws: An All-Star Dog Spectacular,” aired for the first time on Thanksgiving night last year. More than 4,500 adoption applications were submitted for the featured dogs.

I hoped at the time that this special would become as traditional as a slice of pumpkin pie after dinner, and apparently this is coming true. (Now, that’s something to be thankful for.)

During the two-hour show, viewers will be provided with information about adoptable pets in their local areas. If you can’t adopt a pet, a toll-free number will be provided so you can donate to the Petfinder Foundation, which supports shelters and rescue groups across the country.

Among the stars scheduled to appear are Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johannson, Sia, Kathy Griffin and more. They will introduce adoptable dogs and honor people who have dedicated their lives to caring for animals in need.

Pedigree Food for Dogs, the show’s official sponsor again this year, will present a Cutest Puppy Award. You can vote online for your favorite or tweet the puppy’s hashtag. The winner will be announced online after the broadcast.

FOX, 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT

Photos: FOX.com; Macy’s, Inc.

5 Pets Rescued as Fire Destroys Massachusetts Animal Shelter

A fire that swept through the no-kill Sweetpea Friends of Rutland (FOR) Animals Inc. shelter in Paxton, Mass., late last night tragically took the lives of as many as 50 dogs and cats, but firefighters and volunteers were fortunately able to save five of the pets.

The structure was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. “We didn’t think we’d be able to save any of the animals,” Paxton Fire Chief Jay Conte told WCVB. “That was our first goal – to do that. We were just trying to get to the dogs if we could.”

Four dogs (in the photo above) and one cat who were rescued survived.

Firefighters from Holden, Leicester, Spencer, Rutland and Oakham assisted the Paxton Fire Department in putting out the blaze. The fire appears to be accidental, but is being investigated by the state’s fire marshal’s office, WCVB reports.

Paramedics and a veterinarian who’s the wife of a firefighter treated the rescued pets for smoke inhalation.

Devastated volunteers “sobbed as they tried to warm the dogs rescued from the burning building, holding them wrapped in blankets, and shared the names of the dogs that were lost,” the Telegram & Gazette reports.

“Tonight, Sweetpea has lost almost everything,” the organization wrote on its Facebook page late last night. “We would like to send a HUGE thank you to our community, without whom, we would have lost everything.”

Sweetpea takes in pets who are on “death row” at other shelters, or whose owners can’t keep them but don’t want to surrender them to a kill shelter.

A vigil will be held at the shelter tonight at 7 p.m. to honor the memory of the pets who died in the fire.

How to Help Sweetpea FOR Animals Recover from the Fire

“This fire will clean out our whole year’s operating budget,” Sweetpea FOR Animals writes on its website. “We will struggle to rebuild and to pay off the mortgage. This is really serious for us – we had just taken a mortgage on the rescue shelter and one of the two shelter buildings burned to the ground.”

To help Sweetpea recover and rebuild, here’s what you can do:

  • Make a donation via the Help Us Keep Saving Our Animals GoFundMe.com page. As of this morning, over $35,700 of its $100,000 goal has been reached. (When a fire started by an 15-year-old arsonist destroyed the Manchester Dog’s Home in the U.K. last year, over $1 million was raised in just a day. Let’s do this.)
  • Make a tax-deductible donation by PayPal or send a check payable to Sweepea FOR Animals to Sweetpea FOR Animals, 1090 Pleasant St. (Route 122), Paxton MA, 01612.
  • Check the Sweetpea Friends of Rutland Animals Facebook page for up-to-date lists of supplies needed.

Photos via Twitter; Facebook

Nearly 100 Dogs Rescued from ‘Deplorable’ Florida Puppy Mill

DEC. 22, 2015 UPDATE: Many of these rescued dogs are now ready for forever homes, the ASPCA reports.

“We’ve seen these dogs come a long way over the last month,” said Jessica Rushin of the ASPCA. “Now we’re bringing them to communities across Florida and hoping local citizens will come out and adopt them. These dogs have never known what it means to be a pet, so we’re thrilled that many of them may be spending this holiday season in a warm, safe home for the first time.”

For a list of the Florida shelters where the dogs are available, visit the ASPCA website.

Dozens of dogs living in filthy conditions, without clean food or water and exposed to the elements, were rescued yesterday from a suspected unlicensed puppy mill in Clewiston, Fla.

The rescued dogs ranged in size from Chihuahuas to Siberian Huskies. Some were only two days old.

“It’s obvious that some are ill, and there are some newborn puppies, too,” Capt. Susan Harrelle of the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, which worked with the ASPCA to save the dogs, told NBC-2.

ASPCA spokeswoman Kelly Krause told Naple News the conditions were “deplorable.”

The owners of the operation, Beatriz Perez and Alexei Fernandez, had been selling the dogs to pet stores in the Miami-Dade area. They were arrested yesterday and charged with several counts of animal cruelty.

Each of the rescued dogs was examined by a veterinarian.

“We’re seeing a number of medical issues, eye issues, teeth issues, skin problems,” Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigation and Response, told NBC-2. “These animals are living in this environment every day and not receiving adequate care.”

The dogs were transferred to an ASPCA shelter, where they will receive veterinary care until custody of the dogs is determined by the court.

After the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office received numerous complaints from the community, the ASPCA launched an investigation of the operation six months ago.

Clewiston Animal Control, Texas Humane Heroes and the Humane Society of Broward County also helped with the rescue and will assist with the care of the dogs.

Puppy mills — commercial breeding operations in which dogs are typically neglected and kept in small cages — are actually legal in Florida and 21 other states. Campaigns like the ASPCA’s No Pet Store Puppies are trying to raise people’s awareness about the horrible environments these dogs come from.

“This is a tragic situation we see all too often,” Rickey said in a press release. “Puppy mills are a widespread issue across Florida and around the country. Many people are unaware that most puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills, and that buying pet store puppies indirectly supports these facilities.”

This rescue provides nearly 100 reasons why it’s so important to adopt, not shop, for a dog.

Photo via Twitter

Chihuahua Helps Save Newfoundland from Dog Thief

Silas, a 140-pound Newfoundland, is safe and sound at his home in Canada thanks to his best buddy — a 5-pound Chihuahua named Carly.

It was Carly’s frantic barking Saturday night that got the attention of their dog mom, Sharon Dooling. About a minute before, she had let the dogs out in the backyard of their St. John’s home in, appropriately enough, Newfoundland and Labrador.

When Dooling opened the back door to check on the commotion, she saw that a strange man had put a leash on Silas and was dragging him down the driveway.

“I said, ‘Excuse me, what are you doing?'” Dooling told CBC News. “He told me he’s taking his dog and I said, ‘No, you’re absolutely not.'”

Furious, Dooling ran after the dog thief…and punched him in the face.

“That’s the only thing I could think of,” she told CBC News. “I’m little, I’m a little tiny person and this guy was around 5’8, 5’9, and there was no way that I was going to be able to wrestle the dog out of his hands.”

She grabbed Silas and the man took off, running down the street.

The next day, Carly barked at anyone who passed by the house.

“Never underestimate the power of a yappy Chihuahua,” Dooling told CBC News. “It’s an inconvenience or a nuisance, you could say, when she does bark, but she’s my guard dog.

“Some people have big Dobermans — I have a Chihuahua.”

There have been several recent attempts to steal dogs from their yards in that area, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary reports on its Facebook page. Anyone with information is asked to call the constabulary.

Incidentally, friendships between huge and teeny dogs like Silas and Carly aren’t all that uncommon. For example, meet two Chihuahuas and their BGDFs (best giant dog friends).

Photo via Twitter

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