A third dog under the care of Hillside SPCA has died from a parvovirus infection.
The shelter outside Pottsville announced Wednesday that Meatball, who had recently been taken in there and had been recovering well from a serious injury, has died from the highly contagious virus.
To prevent further spread of the virus, Hillside has taken an extra step by indefinitely suspending its intake of dogs and quarantining the shelter.
“Our hearts are broken, and this reinforces how serious and contagious this virus can be. While our current animals are vaccinated, it’s important to understand that even vaccinated dogs can still contract parvo. This is why we are taking every possible precaution to prevent further spread. The shelter will stay under quarantine and be monitored closely to ensure no additional cases arise,” the shelter states.
Meatball’s death is the third in less than a week at the shelter. Last week, recently accepted stray dogs Tom and Jerry passed away from suspected parvovirus infections.
Hillside continues to limit volunteer activity at the shelter and is following strict protocols for preventing the spread of the virus any further among the animals under its care.
Staff reminds the public that they believe vaccination against parvo remains the best defense.
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