Feb 8, 2008 8:02 pm US/Eastern
Expert To Figure Out What Killed Dozens Of Dogs
"Strep" Leads To 12 Dog Deaths At Animal Shelter
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
A renowned expert on sicknesses that strike dogs visited the Miami-Dade County Animal Shelter on Friday. She is trying to figure out what is making so many dogs so sick, even killing some.
Animal Services Department Director Dr. Sara Pizano hopes that by taking swabs from a dog's nose and mouth, she may be able to find out what is behind the mysterious deaths of at least 15 dogs this week. The canine infectious disease specialist traveled from the University of Florida in Gainesville after vets at the shelter found that a streptococcus bacteria had sickened the dogs, but couldn't figure out what else could have killed them.
After taking several swabs and blood samples Crawford will take them back to her lab and to California. She is hopeful to find an answer for the highly contagious disease that begins with kennel cough, turns to blood in the lungs, then death.
"What we don't know is how it got in here, who brought it in, and then why some of the dogs reacted so violently to that infection leading to death," said Crawford.
Pizano said the shelter is on virtual lockdown. Adoptions are suspended – dogs that have shown signs of the illness are quarantined behind a red sign in a restricted are.
Until officials can get a handle on the disease, all adoptions from the shelter have halted and people who want to drop off dogs there are being advised to go to area rescue groups. Rabies vaccines are being done in the parking lot. So far, no cats have gotten sick.
Pizano hopes to have the test results from the University of Florida by early next week, and is hopeful they will be able to identify what is behind this deadly disease.
While the Miami-Dade County Animal Shelter is not accepting any more animals until the disease is identified. There are other pet rescue organizations that you can go to.
The following is a list of rescue organizations for animals from Miami-Dade rescue animal shelter officials.
Allen Babcock Dog & Cat RescueWebsite: www.petfinder.com/shelters/babcockrescue.html
954-474-8198
American Belgian Malinois Rescue
www.malinoisrescue.org/
Basset Rescue of FL, Inc
savethebassets@yahoo.com
Phone: (954) 337-0273
Brooke's Legacy
www.brookeslegacyanimalrescue.com/
Boston Terrier Rescue of FL
www.flbostonrescue.com/
Phone: 561-789-9478
Buddies for Bullies
www.buddiesthrubullies.org
Phone: 305-666-8870
Compassionate Pug Rescue
www.compassionatepugrescue.com/
Dogs and Cats Forever
www.dogsandcatsforever.com/
Phone: 772-489-5454
FL Poodle Rescue
www.floridapoodlerescue.org/
Phone: 727-898-5114
Friends Forever Rescue
Phone: 786-229-9002
friendsforeverrescue@yahoo.com
Golden Rescue
Phone: 954-741-0989
Golden Rescue Naples
Phone: 239-514-2715
www.goldenrescueinnaples.petfinder.com
Heidy's Legacy
www.heidislegacydogrescue.com/
Phone: 813 737-1795
Humane Society of Broward County
www.humanebroward.com/
Humane Society of Greater Miami
Phones: 305-749-1821, 305-696-0800
Email: sandy@humanesocietymiami.org
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
www.hspb.org
Phone: 561.686.3663
South FL Bull Terrier Rescue League
Phone: 561-735-3391
www.jbullterr.com
Pet Harbor:
www.PetHarbor.com
Pets 911:
www.Pets911.org
Humane Society of Vero Beach
772-388-3331
www.verobeach.com/HumaneSociety/
Miami Pets Alive
www.miamipetsalive.org/
305-476-LIVE
Octavio Foundation
Phone: 305-267-0511
Palm Beach Pet Rescue
www.palmbeachpetrescue.org/
Papillon 911 Rescue
pap911adoptions@yahoogroups.com
Paws For You Rescue
info@paws4you.org
Phone: 786-242-7377
Pekes & Pals
Orchid53@aol.com
Rescued Pets are Wonderful
Phones: 954-566-5069, 305-864-0923
www.pekingeserescue.com/
Stray Aid & Rescue
Phone: 954-816-0799
Email: mail@strayaid.org
South FL Boxer Rescue
Phone: 754-367-8590
Email: Krystalm1978@Boxerfriends.net
MDRR
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/MiamiDadeRescueRailroad/
Underdog Rescue of Florida
941-776-7370
Email: ssamuel3@tampabay.rr.com
Coastal Boxer Rescue
info@coastalboxers.org
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Stumble It!
