After Rescuing 7 Adorable Puppies, the Supposedly Happy Moment Turned into a Battle to Save Their Lives When They All Tested Positive for a Deadly Virus
Sometimes, the ugliness of life bruises the beauty of this world into submission. Such was the case for a good Samaritan who recently rescued puppies from the side of a busy highway.
The pups were brought to an animal clinic with the hope that they would all get adopted and live happily ever after. However, things quickly turned sour when it was discovered that the puppies were sick and just days away from dying.
This caring individual was having a regular day in South Tacoma before stumbling upon seven adorable puppies huddled together on the side of a busy road. It was clear that these dogs had been abandoned and left to their fate.
To be abandoned in such a way is heartbreaking and inhumane, especially out in the middle of a busy road where thousands of cars pass each day. For animal lovers, stories like this can make your heart shrivel as your face scrunches up in agony.
The little pups were immediately taken to the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County to be cared for by the staff members. The situation was dire, as they arrived in critical condition—and indeed, time was of the essence if these dogs were going to survive.
The pups being cared for by veterinarians at the shelter.
All seven puppies were found to have parvovirus following extensive veterinary examinations and testing. This is a dangerous and contagious virus that damages the gastrointestinal tract.
According to PetMD;
It primarily affects the rapidly dividing cells of the body, meaning that the intestinal tract and bone marrow are the worst affected. Although parvovirus is most common in puppies and adolescent dogs, it can affect adult or senior dogs, especially if they are unvaccinated.
Parvo affects unvaccinated dogs, causing lethargy, bloody diarrhea, fever or low temperature, dehydration, persistent vomiting, among other symptoms. It is a potentially fatal disease but is best managed under veterinary care.
The staff at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County immediately went to work on the pups, cleaning their fur, taking blood samples, and providing the necessary nourishment. Treatments are usually supportive, helping them to hydrate with intravenous fluids or antibiotics if they have secondary infections.
Their chances of survival were further threatened by the fact that they were malnourished. More than a dozen cases of this viral disease have been reported to the shelter in the past year.
It was heartbreaking to learn that four of the puppies succumbed to the illness within three days of their initial diagnosis. There are still three puppies in need of treatment, and to this day, the shelter's veterinarians are doing everything they can to keep them alive.
The staff members are doing all they can to provide medication, food, and critical care for the surviving pups.
Puppies that make it through this ordeal will require medical attention as they fight the infection. The shelter is reaching out to the public for help, as these puppies would die without people willing to foster and donate.
Watch the video below to discover more about their journey.
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder that we need to vaccinate our dogs against this and other deadly viruses and diseases. It only takes a few minutes to get your dog vaccinated, but it could save his or her life in the future.
Donations can be made through the shelter's website.
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