Dear friends,
For the second time since the founding of Animal Rescue Sofia in 2009, we have to close the shelter for visitors, adopters and volunteers.
We have two proven cases of Distemper in our clinic. We are taking every necessary precaution to stop the infection, but have to put the shelter under quarantine. As of today:
- There will be no visitors to the Farm, including adopters or volunteers.
- The clinic is stopping admittance to any patients, including First Aid, treatments or neutering.
- No dogs will be leaving the shelter, including adoptions.
- New dogs will not be admitted under any circumstances.
We understand very well that most shelters and organizations wouldn’t admit an epidemic, as this sounds very scary to people. For us, it is of great importance to set an example how situations like this should be treated, so that the animals are really protected and the infection – contained.
We are fighting for the life of the ill puppies and the containment of the disease.
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Distemper
Distemper is one of the worst infectious diseases dogs have, it is caused by a virus. The mortality rate is very high, especially with young animals between 2 months and 1 year of age, as well as dogs with immune-deficiency (old, ill, with traumas or after birth and nursing).
The incubation period of Distemper is 10 days. The illness has two forms – an intestinal and a neurologic one. The latter often is lethal or bears permanent damage to the dogs’ neural system.
Distemper is a virus, so it cannot be attacked directly. To fight it off, the animal needs to survive the illness, and treatment is concentrated on relieving the symptoms and strengthening the organism.
