The Battlefords Humane Society is encouraging dog owners to register and vaccinate their pets after an outbreak of canine parvovirus, which spreads from dog to dog.
Any pets who have been vaccinated are safe, and the virus does not infect humans, but the shelter will not be taking in impounded animals for 10 days to allow the health unit of the Humane Society to clean up the contamination.
"If your pet is not licensed, special constables have no way of determining ownership. Licensed animals will be returned to the owner, however, if an unlicensed pet is picked up while the shelter is closed, the humane society many have no choice but to euthanize," said Senior Special Constable Ross McAngus. The human society, has responded that not pets will be euthanized, but will have to impounded at a location other than the animal shelter facility.
