A recent Animal Files column touted the upcoming “ expansion” of NHS and SPCA policies regarding transporting animals into northern Nevada. They have been doing that for some time, my conversations with the previous State Veterinarian ( pre- Goicoechea ) left them unable to confirm that any shelter or rescues were following state regulations for inspection, certificates and, if necessary, quarantine. Goicoechea has been out of office and has not yet returned my call.
For the news media to consider personal travel by owned pets to be a source of this canine flu epidemic, is ludicrous. If I take my dog to SF, it may get infected… but when I bring it home it will not be put into a shelter with 300 other dogs. Felines are also vulnerable and there is no treatment for them. Those animals are then released into homes ( or “feral” cats to the streets ) at once, and that is how the disease is spreading so quickly.
From the USDA site : “Dogs/Cats/Ferrets 1. Health Certificate 2. Rabies must be current (as per the most recent edition of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control) 3. Permit not required” I have asked previous State Vets for these certificate filings as there is a place to mail them, and at that time there were none.
I have 3 Newfies, two of which just had extensive orthopedic surgeries, they are vulnerable, my young male just broke with the virus. We don’t go to dog parks, or any parks really. Leash walking on our street is all we do, with no “ dog to dog “interactions. This is an airborne disease, the chance of my two girls not getting it from him is very slim. The only place he has gone is the veterinarian.
We must act before any more animals are brought into Washoe County without proper health certificates, if the agencies claim they are doing them, I will request the State to provide them. This is not about liking or not liking any rescue or shelter, it’s about health protocol being met… some neighbors just brought home a “ rescue” I don’t know where that dog came from, but now I am worried for the safety of my own dogs.
Pet stores have to meet strict procedures for transport and provide a hold time, all pups come with a health certificate, yet people go crazy over pet stores. We must regulate shelters to the same degree we do pet stores. A contagious animal, is a contagious animal, there are no exceptions for non-profit animals.
Since writing this, the other 2 dogs have broken with the illness, we must take charge of importing animals.
