PICKENS COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A parvo outbreak at the Pickens County animal shelter forced the workers to euthanize 62 dogs.
In a written statement, Pickens County Sheriff Donnie Craig said nine dogs were showing signs of the deadly dog virus which left officials no other choice but to euthanize the dogs.
That's why Rhonda Dean of the Pickens Animal Rescue takes every precaution possible to prevent parvo in her shelter.
"We are very strict with our sanitation. We monitor all the animals closely for their health," Dean said.
In the past, Dean said she has dealt with the virus at her shelter.
"They have diarrhea, dehydration and they lose their appetite. You could see some vomiting and things like that," Dean said.
"We see it a lot in puppies, the older they get it seems like they have more a resistance to it," Dean said.
That's why Dean wonders what happened at the Pickens County Animal shelter that lead to the euthanasia of 62 dogs.
The decision wasn't easy. The shelter's director consulted the Department of Agriculture, state inspectors and local veterinarian before the decision was made.
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