Pup Surrendered At Bergen Shelter Tests Positive For Highly-Contagious Virus

TETERBORO, NJ — A puppy at the Bergen County Animal Shelter has tested positive for a highly-contagious virus. As a result, the facility has stopped accepting surrendered animals for two weeks, the shelter announced.

The puppy tested positive for the Parvovirus, which is transmitted through fecal matter. An animal can be infected if it is on someone's shoes who stepped in infected feces or where they were or by coming into contact with fecal matter from an infected animal. There is evidence the virus can live in soil for a year and it is resistant to most cleaning projects.

The shelter's executive director said that the infected puppy is being aggressively treated and will be fine.

"We have disease control measures set up," said the director, who did not give her name. She did not say what breed of dog the puppy is, nor did she know exactly where the puppy came from.

The shelter will not be accepting surrendered dogs for two weeks until the building is clear. Dogs may still be adopted as all of them on the adoption floor have been vaccinated and tested negative for the disease.

Anyone who adopted a dog or puppy from the south where hurricanes Irma and Harvey struck is urged to get their pet to a veterinarian immediately for testing.

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