10 February 2005

Heat on at City’s kennels

The continuing spell of hot weather has caused an increase in the incidence of parvovirus at Waitakere’s Animal Welfare Centre.

The City’s wandering dog population is at the heart of the problem.

“When these dogs are collected, many of them have not been inoculated against parvovirus. Kennel staff are dealing with several strains at the moment and are observing extra strict hygiene rules,” says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee.

“Because of this, we are restricting public access to the kennels for a week or two to minimise the spread of the disease between the community and the Animal Welfare Centre.

“When the public visit to look for an impounded or lost dog, customer services staff will check to see if they have a match and the dog will be shown to them away from the kennels,” she says.

Dogs from the centre will not able to be adopted while parvovirus is still a risk.

“We are suggesting that people try the SPCA, if they want to adopt a dog,” says Councillor Neeson.

ENDS

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