Epidemic Dog Flu Spreads to Texas and Georgia

Updated dog flu news

The epidemic canine flu virus that has sickened more than 1,000 dogs in the Chicago area, as well as dogs in Wisconsin and Indiana, has now reportedly spread to Texas and Georgia.

The flu has also claimed its sixth victim. Johnny Suede, a 3-year-old Chihuahua, died earlier this month at the P.A.W.S. animal shelter in Tinley Park, Ill., about 30 miles from Chicago.

“We gave him IV fluids, antibiotics, nebulizer treatments, you name it,” Cindy Staros, a shelter volunteer, told WLS. “He just couldn’t pull through.”

Most of the dogs at P.A.W.S. have been infected with the virus. Since they can be contagious for up to 21 days, the shelter is temporarily closed.

This dog flu was originally thought to be H3N8, a strain that first appeared in the U.S. in 2004 at a Greyhound racing track in Florida, sickening dozens of the dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Since then, H3N8 has been reported in 30 states.

But in April, scientists confirmed the current epidemic is actually the strain H3N2. There have been outbreaks of H3N2 in China and South Korea since 2006, but it had never before been identified in the U.S. It is believed to have been brought here by a dog from Asia.

Most at risk for becoming infected are puppies, older dogs and dogs with weakened immune systems. After sickening an estimated 1,300 dogs in the Midwest, the flu outbreak is now moving south.

The first case of H3N2 in Texas was reported May 13. The affected dog and his family had recently moved to the Houston area from Chicago, according to NBC DFW.

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine alerted veterinarians Friday that a dog in Athens, Ga., has been confirmed to have the flu, although it has not yet been determined whether it’s H3N2 or H3N8. The dog had recently been in contact with others at a boarding facility in Atlanta, FOX 5 reports.

Click here for tips on preventing your dog from getting the H3N2 virus.

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Dog Cradled in Texas Tornado Victim’s Arm Discovered Alive

MAY 19, 2015 UPDATE: The Tapleys’ surviving dog, an 8-year-old Great Pyrenees, has been adopted by Michelle Shockley.

“My mom and I agreed that we would set her birthday at her survival date. That is the day her life changed. It helps us honor the lives of her owners that perished in the tornado,” Shockley told the Huffington Post.

Cindy Nash of Nicholas’ Pet Haven said the dog, who has been named Emma, was the most traumatized of all the pets her non-profit group has been taking care of since the tornado.

“She has the saddest face and is absolutely traumatized,” Nash told the Huffington Post. “You can’t help but cry when you look at her, and just want to sit and hold and love her.”

Veterinarian Gary Spence said that despite her horrific ordeal, Emma will recover.

“Emma’s going to be okay,” he told the Huffington Post.

Married for decades, David and Brenda Tapley of Van, Texas, were both animal lovers who volunteered their time to local rescue groups.

The morning after a devastating, 700-yard-wide EF-4 tornado roared through the small town Sunday night, David’s body was found near the rubble of his house. The retired police officer had one arm around one of his dogs. His other arm was reaching toward his wife, who also died.

The dog was still alive.

The Tapleys were discovered by their 14-year-old neighbor, Emmanuel Vasquez, who went looking for them with his father and brother when the couple did not appear after the disaster struck.

“Shocking… I couldn’t move at all,” Vasquez told CBS DFW. “All I did was yell.”

Chuck Allen, the fire marshal and emergency management coordinator for Van Zandt County, told the Tyler Morning Telegraph the storm developed quickly Sunday night.

“I do not know exactly how much time residents had after the sirens sounded. I do know that it saved lives,” he said.

The Tapleys were the tornado’s only fatalities. Forty-seven residents of Van were injured, and nearly 100 houses were damaged. Two of the Tapley’s three dogs did not survive.

“I still can’t believe my uncle and aunt are gone,” wrote Cristie Tapley Brawner on the Van Texas Tornado Recovery Facebook page. “Such strong-willed, big-hearted folks…just gone. As the day wears on, the shock of it lightens and the pain of the reality sets in. I just continue to remind myself that they are together, husband and wife, in the presence of our God Almighty.”

Vasquez’s dad, Aaron, told CBS DFW he will never forget what he saw Monday morning. It’s a reminder that life can slip away so quickly, he said.

How to Help

The American Red Cross has been helping Van residents as well as people in seven other states after as many as 135 possible tornadoes occurred over the past several days.

“The last week has brought unrelenting rounds of severe weather and our volunteers are working around the clock to comfort and support people,” said Richard Reed, senior vice president for Disaster Cycle Services, in a news release. “Our work is made possible by generous donors, and we need your help now.”

A $10 donation to help Van residents can be made by texting “redcross” to 90999. Donations can also be made online or by calling 1-800-733-2767.

An online fundraising account to help injured Van animals has been created by the local non-profit rescue organization Nicholas’ Pet Haven. As of Tuesday morning, more than $2,100 has been raised. The rescue also needs dog food and supplies; call 903-312-7585 for more information.

Residents of Van who are missing pets should call Nicholas’ Pet Haven at 903-312-7585. After 7 p.m., call City of Van Animal Control at 903-539-0429. Photos of lost and found pets are being posted on the Van Texas Tornado Pets and Animals Lost Facebook page.

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News Photographer Rescues Dog Hanging from Chain Link Fence

When a news crew in Corpus Christi, Texas, saw a dog hanging by his rear right leg from a chain link fence this morning, at first they feared the dog was dead.

But as they got closer, they saw the dog was still alive and wagging his tail. Using a pliers, an unidentified 3News photographer cut the dog loose.

The news crew notified Animal Care Services. When an officer arrived, he took the dog to a neighbor across the street who said she knew the owners.

It’s not known how the dog ended up on the fence or how long he was hanging from it (or why no one helped him until the news crew came along). Once he was freed, he was able to walk around, but didn’t put weight on his rear right leg.

An Animal Care Services spokesman told 3News the department had been in contact with the dog’s owners.

“The dog appeared to be medically okay. There was a little bit of damage to the paw,” the spokesman said. “So when we spoke to the owner, we educated them, told them they needed to go to their primary veterinarian for medical treatment. We’re going to be following up on that in the next couple of days to make sure they did provide that treatment for the animal.”

The owner will receive a citation if the dog is not examined by a vet.

According to 3News, there were several dogs running loose in the area where the dog was found. Animal Care Services said they would be sending additional officers to round up the dogs and locate their owners.

Hopefully the owners of the dog freed from the fence will keep a better eye on him, and the photographer who rescued him will be identified and rewarded.

If this story gives you a sense of déjà vu, a Missouri dog in a similar predicament was rescued in 2010 by Plattsburg police officer Nick Sheppard. This video of the rescue — and the dog’s reaction to being saved — went viral.

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No Charges yet for Shooter of Dog Playing ‘Too Rough’ at Houston Dog Park

MARCH 10, 2015 UPDATE: Diesel’s shooter, Joseph Potts, has been arrested and charged with one count of felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal.

A man at the Bay Area Dog Park in Houston yesterday morning thought a 2-year-old, black-and-white Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Diesel was playing too roughly with his own dog.

So the man kicked Diesel, knocking him down, then pulled out a handgun and shot him three times at close range in the back and leg. Diesel was rushed to a local emergency animal hospital, where he had to be euthanized a few hours later due to the extent of his injuries.

“I just can’t believe somebody would do that when the dog wasn’t even being aggressive,” Melanie Merritt, who saw the shooting, told KHOU.

Another eyewitness told KPRC-TV the dogs appeared to have been playfully tussling at the Bay Area Dog Park. “His dog was not in danger,” he said. “I witnessed everything. No one was in danger.”

No charges have yet been filed against the man, who has not been identified.

While it’s legal to carry rifles and shotguns in Texas, handguns require a permit. Using one to kill a pet dog, in an area filled with families on a weekend morning, seems not only cruel but downright dangerous.

After being questioned by Harris County sheriff’s deputies, the shooter — who, according to KHOU, told them he did it in self defense when the “Pit Bull” tried to attack his dog — was released. The Sheriff’s Office issued a statement this morning that it will bring its completed investigation of the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for further review.

“He doesn’t have any remorse,” the eyewitness told KPRC-TV. “He’s angry. All of that aggression. We’re all telling him, ‘I hope you go to jail.’ I don’t understand how they are not pressing charges.”

Last night KPRC-TV reporter Bill Spencer said he spoke via phone to Diesel’s pet parents, who plan to press criminal charges against the shooter today.

“They’re absolutely heartsick and they are sick to their stomachs,” Spencer said. “And they are confused as well — shocked that the man who shot their dog is not behind bars tonight.”

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Rescued Beagle Takes 20-Mile Ride on Sideboard of Dog Dad’s Ambulance

Feel free to call a rescued Beagle mix named Buddy an ambulance chaser.

Buddy’s dog dad, 85-year-old JR Nicholson of Mason County, Texas, began feeling dizzy while working on his ranch last month. He asked ranch hand Brian Wright to call 911.

Emergency medical technicians loaded Nicholson into an ambulance and headed for a hospital in Fredericksburg, more than an hour’s drive away.

After they had traveled about 20 miles, a driver caught their attention. There’s a dog on the sideboard, the driver told them.

“It was kind of weird,” Tanner Brown, one of the EMTs, told the San Angelo Standard-Times. “I guess the dog wanted to be with his owner.”

Apparently. And it was kind of a miracle that Buddy had somehow managed not to fall off the ambulance’s narrow sideboard.

“We didn’t have anything else to do but to load the dog up and put him in the ambulance, and take him to the ER with us,” Brown said. Once inside the ambulance, he said Buddy “jumped onto the control switch, and turned on the sirens and the lights.”

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Wright was becoming concerned when Buddy — who enjoys roaming the property and riding on the tractor — seemed to have disappeared. Wright closed up the ranch and drove to the hospital, where he found out Buddy was safe and sound.

“Two things go through your mind in a split second,” he told the Standard-Times. “First, what could have happened to (Buddy), and second, you realize he is quite an animal.”

Most relieved of all is Nicholson, who adopted Buddy from a shelter just four months ago. During Nicholson’s overnight stay at the hospital, nurses brought him out to see his devoted dog.

“I was impressed,” Nicholson told the Standard-Times. “He didn’t have to go to the hospital with me, but he did.”

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