Cape Town – Pet owners are urged to get the animals vaccinated and reduce the number of parvovirus-related incidents this year.
This follows recent reports of the virus outbreak in Lansdowne this month. According to community activist Pamela Tosh, the community had a scourge of puppy deaths, mostly due to not being taken care of, with some owned by minors.
The puppies died of parvo and there are lots of mange cases too. There's is a need for sterilisation, surgery and removal of stray in the area. I helped to get SPCA and Law Enforcement Animal Control to Flamingo Heights for inspection but more still needs to be done.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Marisol Gutierrez said based on statistics of the previous year, it was expected to treat as many as 275 cases a month, starting in October.
"We urge pet owners to have their pets fully vaccinated as this is the only way to prevent parvovirus. Puppies can be vaccinated from six weeks. It’s also critical to take a puppy or dog to the vet or SPCA as soon as he is ill. Early treatment could save the puppy’s life and help prevent a tragic chain reaction of infection, suffering and death.
"Symptoms may often start more subtly and may include mild lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, mild diarrhoea and fever.
"It is highly contagious, being spread by dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated faeces, environments or people, the virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs," explained Gutierrez.
Mayco member for community service and health, Patricia van der Ross, said the City works closely with the animal welfare sector in the interest of animal and public health and has by-laws pertaining to the keeping and welfare of animals.
"Our appeal is to pet owners to seek out the services of these organisations to ensure the best outcomes for their pets. It should also be noted that many animal welfare organisations offer services such as vaccinations and sterilisations for free or at a vastly reduced cost to communities that are unable to afford it.
The City recently launched an amended animal keeping by-law and continues to invest in an animal sterilisation project in partnership with the Cape Animal Welfare Forum.
"The City is putting a framework in place for the practical application of the by-law, between the Law Enforcement Department and Environmental Health Service," added JP Smith, the City's mayco member for safety and security.