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KALAMAZOO, MI – An on-site volunteer and others are concerned about people and animals coming into contact with the Kalamazoo River and its banks, after a dog that died from the highly contagious canine parvovirus was culled near the river.
Organizations began sounding the alarm on Facebook on Monday, August 24, over a parvo epidemic among dogs at the Kalamazoo homeless camp, located along the bank of the Kalamazoo River in the neighborhood. Eastside of the city.
Sarah Gerstner, a volunteer who works with Animals Best Friend Fund and has worked in the encampment along the Kalamazoo River, said several cases of parvo have been confirmed in settlements in Kalamazoo. She confirmed that several cases have been documented, including fatal cases, of the highly contagious virus affecting dogs.
Gerstner said she transported two dogs to the emergency clinic, where they died. Another dog was in pain at the camp, she said, and she confirmed with a test that the dog had parvo before being euthanized and transported for proper disposal.
Other dogs have been buried in the area, which is concerning, she said.
“We know they are being eliminated along the river,” Gerstner said on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
“We don’t know if they are put in the river, but the first dog that passed a week ago on Monday failed to make it to the vet,” she said. “That one got wiped out somewhere along that area.”
The possibility that the parvo is in or along the river is certainly a concern, Gerstner said.
“Parvo is also contagious among wildlife,” she said. “So we’re concerned about the fox and coyote population, and obviously the people who walk along the river with their dogs.
“We are working with the city, the local humanitarian society and the animal services to try to come up with a plan on how to handle this,” she said.
Animals Best Friend Fund posted online Tuesday morning that owners of the dogs were refusing help.
Ryan Baker, chairman of the Kalamazoo River Alliance, said the organization advises people to avoid the Kalamazoo River for now as a precaution, until further guidance is received from an organization such as city, county health department, or other expert.
“What we need is some advice from the city at this point,” Baker said. “Everything comes from the homeless camp. The city is responsible for this camp.
People asked the Kalamazoo River Alliance about the dangers of coming into contact with the river. People are concerned that pathogens in the river will end up on their boats, he said.
“People are calling us and asking if they can use the river,” Baker said. “We say no to them”, for the section of the river from downtown Kalamazoo to near D Avenue, a stretch of about 10 miles.
He said the group was giving advice out of caution until the city or someone else could make a science-backed announcement.
Baker paddled the river on Tuesday August 24 to see if he could spot anything.
Kalamazoo County Animal Control, Kalamazoo County Government, Kalamazoo County Health and Human Services Department, and Kalamazoo Town did not immediately respond to requests for information on parvo cases. in the community.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of West Michigan posted on Facebook that the Bark in the Park event in Kalamazoo, scheduled for August 26, has been canceled due to the parvo outbreak.
“After speaking with Animal Control and obtaining information about the outbreak, we cannot guarantee the safety of our dogs and pets in the community. We cannot in good conscience organize an event that puts our loved ones at risk, ”the organization said.
Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services spokesperson Lyndi Warner and Kalamazoo Town spokesperson Ryan Bridges both said they were looking into the matter on Wednesday.
Parvo – short for canine parvovirus – is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies under four months of age are most at risk, the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) has said.
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Canine parvovirus affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and is spread through direct dog-to-dog contact and through contact with feces (stools), environments, or people with contamination. The virus can also infect kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people handling infected dogs. It is resistant to heat, cold, humidity and drying, and can survive in the environment for long periods of time, AVMA said.
Trace amounts of feces from an infected dog can harbor the virus and infect other dogs that enter the infected environment. The virus is easily transmitted from place to place on dogs’ hair or feet or through contaminated cages, shoes or other objects, AVMA said.
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to identify Sarah Gerstner as a volunteer and not a veterinarian.
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