Page 4545 - Week 10 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
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Domestic Animal Services—dogs—Thursday, 26 August 2010
MR STANHOPE (in reply to a question by Ms Le Couteur):
You asked if I was aware that since the last sitting a parvo-infected dog was released from the shelter to a foster carer and had to be put down within two days.
DAS staff are trained & authorised under the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001. Staff follow best practice standards and protocols that have been developed to ensure safety for both staff, visitors and animals under DAS care. It is current practice that dogs being rehomed are vaccinated against Parvovirus. Prior to 13 September 2010 dogs being rehomed to Rescue Services were not vaccinated.
Parvovirus was confirmed at the animal shelter on 10 July, 2010, following the impoundment of an unregistered stray dog that was found wandering in Macquarie by a Ranger. This dog was diagnosed by a vet and euthanized and the animal shelter was immediately put into a 14 day quarantine period. It was feared that this dog had contaminated other dogs at the shelter, so these dogs were all isolated and monitored.
Quarantine at the DAS Shelter involves restricting access to the dog yards. F10 disinfectant is used to disinfect all pens including drop off pens daily. This includes all floors, walls and mats via spray gun and includes all dogs prior to their entry to the pound.
On Monday 19 July 2010, another dog suspected of being exposed to parvovirus, tested positive. This diagnosis was confirmed by a vet and the dog was euthanized. This was a stray dog that had been picked up from the RSPCA on 9 July 2010 and isolated in a pen.
On 3 September 2010 DAS lifted the quarantine period and resumed normal activities. The pound was continually monitored for any additional sign for parvovirus since quarantine was lifted.
On 10 September 2010 ARF (ACT Rescue & Foster Inc) collected a dog for re-homing. On 12 September 2010 this dog was euthanized as it was affected by parvovirus. DAS was not aware of or observed any symptoms of Parvovirus prior to the dog’s release.
On 13 September 2010 quarantine procedures were immediately implemented at the DAS animal shelter.
You also asked me to explain DAS’s ability to contain the outbreak when the RSPCA successfully contained an outbreak within seven days.
Every effort is made by DAS to control Parvovirus at the shelter. DAS regularly reviews its procedures and is currently vaccinating all dogs with C3 to prevent the
spread of parvovirus. Vaccinated dogs that have passed the incubation period are being released to rescue services, following normal temperament testing to assess their suitability for
re-homing.
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