The Uitenhage SPCA has put out an urgent call to dog owners in the metro to keep their furry friends under lockdown after receiving a number of dogs infected with distemper.
Uitenhage SPCA chair Diedre Swift said they had noticed the disease, particularly in KwaNobuhle in Uitenhage, during the festive season.
She said their Animal Welfare assistants, who did an exam through two different vets to check, had made the call.
Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease in dogs and other animals such as ferrets, skunks, and raccoons.
It is an incurable, often fatal, multi-systemic disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.
“There were a lot of injured animals that were collected during the festive season that had distemper,” Swift said.
“It’s a highly contagious disease for dogs, it’s not curable and is not transferrable to people.”
SPCA Uitenhage inspector Mariaan Wentzel said their most recent cases were in KwaNobuhle, with a few cases in Rosedale and Motherwell.
She said they serviced the Uitenhage and Despatch area.
“We advise people to keep their animals in their properties. The dogs that are roaming around are spreading it around widely.
“Inoculated dogs stand a better chance of surviving. Among other symptoms, they display shivering, not eating, and an eye discharge.
“It is not just going to go away. People must make a plan to go to their vets as soon as possible to get their pets inoculated.”
Swift said they needed financial support to buy medication. Fuel and food supplies were still fine.
While Animal Welfare Society manager Hannes Stander confirmed that during the festive season they had not seen an outbreak of distemper except for the odd cases, they were in need of donations for food and medical costs.
He said a lot of cats and dogs had been abandoned or surrendered and strays had been collected during the festive season due to the financial impact of Covid-19.
“We got many pets, which caused the food to end quickly,” he said.
“We are well supported by businesses and the community, but there comes a time when we need more food.".
One person who heeded the call for assistance was High Risk Protection security company director Silvano Recchia, who donated R5,000 to Animal Welfare on Tuesday.
“I have always loved animals and I have been blessed to do charity work. I believe when you do good it comes back to you,” Recchia said.
People can contact the Animal Welfare Society on 041-366-1660 or go to its social media page to inquire about how to make a donation.
HeraldLIVE
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