San Angelo's Only Dog Park Closed Due to Parvo Outbreak

The City of San Angelo announced this morning that as a precaution, the dog park, located at 3215 Millbrook Dr. is closed indefinitely because of the breakout of canine parvo within the city limits.

Yesterday, the City of San Angelo said its Animal Shelter had detected a parvo outbreak there. The shelter will not intake or adopt out dogs until the outbreak is curbed, which can take at least until Oct. 14, the City stated.

San Angelo’s dog park, 3215 Millbrook Drive, has been closed indefinitely because of the local outbreak of canine parvo. The move is precautionary in an effort to stem any spread of the disease.

The outbreak will keep the Animal Shelter from accepting and adopting dogs until at least Oct. 14.

“Canine parvovirus is highly contagious and life-threatening. It rapidly attacks a dog’s intestinal tract. Symptoms include lethargy, severe vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloody, foul-smelling diarrhea. Parvo is transmitted through contact with an infected dog’s feces. The virus can live in the environment for months, although it is easily preventable if dogs are vaccinated. Veterinarians have theorized nearly 7 inches of rain this month has brought the dormant virus in soil to the surface,” the City stated.

During a usual week, about five parvo cases are detected at the shelter. However, between Wednesday and Friday when dog intake was suspended, the shelter found 30 dogs infected during intake.

Parvo can be prevented in family dogs with a vaccine. The shelter believes the outbreak was within the stray dog community.

“The shelter will remain open and continue its other public health operations, including accepting dogs that have bitten people or other animals, accepting wildlife, and accepting and adopting cats, which are not susceptible to parvo,” stated the City.

Pet owners can learn more about how to protect their dogs at cosatx.us/animals. http://www.cosatx.us/departments-se…