It's not the kind of news that dog owners want to hear.
"It's scary," says Megan Lezarcheck.
"It worries me a little bit," Janice Robbins said.
SPCA officials in Cumberland County are reporting that Parvo, an intestinal virus that infects dogs, is spreading rapidly.
"It does have a high mortality rate according to one test done. On untreated dogs it has an over 90% mortality rate, so it's very fatal," explains Bev Greco from the Cumberland SPCA.
Officials say in less than a month, 15 dogs taken to the Millville Animal Clinic on West Main Street have died from the virus. Another 10 dogs brought to the SPCA in Vineland have also died. Other cases have been reported in Bridgeton, N.J.
"It's highly contagious, especially among young pups," says Greco.
Bev Greco is concerned that this is a very strong strain of the virus, and may have been imported by animal rescue groups who brought in dogs who were left homeless from the floods and storms in the Midwest.
And Greco says the disease is preventable.
"I think that one of the problems is that because of the economy, people are not seeking as much preventive vet care, and in this particular case can be fatal for the dogs," Greco said.
Many dog owners, like Bill McDowell who has a pit bull boxer named Tank, were unaware of the Parvo outbreak, but are planning to take preventive measures.
"If you're going to own a dog, you have to try to take care of him," said Ken Mucciarelli. "You get the initial shot, and then you get what are called boosters."
The inoculation schedule for puppies can be rigorous and expensive, but some shelters like the Cumberland County SPCA offer low cost vaccination clinics each month. Some shelters in other counties do as well.
Whether you take your dog to a vet or a shelter, officials urge dog owners to be proactive with their dog's care. It is better to do something rather than nothing.
