21 dogs euthanized at Kenton Co. shelter

An animal shelter in Independence is open again and is recovering after it was forced to close and euthanize 21 dogs in late July and early August.

After an outbreak of the canine parvovirus, the Kenton County Animal Shelter has now been forced to "completely restructure" its sanitation policies and handling of animals at the shelter, according to interim director Elizabeth Cochran.

The incident was traced back to July 22, when the shelter received three dogs from the City Heights area, Cochran said. A short while after the dogs arrived, one began to show signs of the parvovirus.

"The problem with the parvovirus is that dogs usually don't begin to display symptoms until several days into the illness," Cochran said. "So a week later, several other dogs in the shelter started breaking out."

The virus forced the shelter to close and required the relocation of dozens of animals from the property.

"I personally called 25 local veterinarians to see what could be done," Cochran said. "In the end, I believe we were able to save the lives of over 40 dogs."

Cochran said that the highly contagious parvovirus transmits through fecal matter, which presented a problem in the shelter full of animals. Workers could have transmitted the virus from animal to animal after coming into contact with the virus in a dog's feces.

After the shelter was sterilized and protocol was re-evaluated, animals returned and the facility was opened for business again Aug. 10. There have been no cases since its reopening.

Cochran said that the parvovirus is something "easily" cleared up by keeping dogs up-to-date on yearly vaccinations and yearly veterinarian care.

"The biggest message here is to vaccinate your puppies," Cochran said. "Do it immediately and they'll have a built up immunity to the virus.