A seasonal respiratory virus named parvovirus B19 — sometimes also called fifth disease — is increasing in activity, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday.Related video above: Drowning rates in the US rise after decades of decline, new CDC report revealsParvovirus B19 is a common virus spread by respiratory droplets. Antibodies from infection are believed to help protect against reinfection, the CDC says; about half of US adults have detectable levels of these antibodies by age 20, and more than 70% have antibodies by 40. People in occupations with close contact with children, such as schools and day cares, tend to be at higher risk of infection.As with many other respiratory illnesses, efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic dramatically lowered parvovirus B19 infections, with a corresponding loss of immunity.The CDC warned in a Health Alert Network advisory Tuesday that it has received reports of higher test positivity rates recently, as well as clusters of complications among people at high risk of severe illness. The proportion of people with antibodies indicating recent infection, which fell below 3% during 2022-24, reached 10% in June, with the highest increase among children ages 5 to 9.The CDC says it has also received anecdotal reports of higher-than-expected case counts among pregnant people, including complications such as severe fetal anemia or miscarriage and increases in aplastic anemia in people with sickle cell disease.Many people who catch parvovirus B19 don’t have symptoms, but those who do will typically notice two phases of illness. In the first phase, which begins about a week after infection, they develop symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and malaise that last about five days. This is when people are most contagious.During the second phase of illness, which begins a week or so later, children usually develop a hallmark facial rash, often called a slapped cheek rash, followed by a body rash or joint pain. Adults often have a rash on the trunk and joint pain.Parvovirus can cause severe complications in certain groups. People with chronic hemolytic conditions like sickle cell disease or those with severely weakened immune systems may develop aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. Among pregnant people, about 5% to 10% of cases can result in adverse fetal outcomes such as anemia, hydrops or miscarriage.There’s no vaccine for parvovirus and no specific treatment other than easing symptoms. Most infections will clear up on their own.As cases rise, the CDC recommends that everyone follow general precautions for preventing the spread of respiratory illness, such as washing hands frequently, keeping common surfaces clean and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you develop symptoms, stay away from other people until they improve, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.If you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or have a chronic hemolytic disorder, the agency says you may want to wear a mask around other people and get medical care right away if you develop symptoms.
A seasonal respiratory virus named parvovirus B19 — sometimes also called fifth disease — is increasing in activity, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday.
Related video above: Drowning rates in the US rise after decades of decline, new CDC report reveals
Parvovirus B19 is a common virus spread by respiratory droplets. Antibodies from infection are believed to help protect against reinfection, the CDC says; about half of US adults have detectable levels of these antibodies by age 20, and more than 70% have antibodies by 40. People in occupations with close contact with children, such as schools and day cares, tend to be at higher risk of infection.
As with many other respiratory illnesses, efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic dramatically lowered parvovirus B19 infections, with a corresponding loss of immunity.
The CDC warned in a Health Alert Network advisory Tuesday that it has received reports of higher test positivity rates recently, as well as clusters of complications among people at high risk of severe illness. The proportion of people with antibodies indicating recent infection, which fell below 3% during 2022-24, reached 10% in June, with the highest increase among children ages 5 to 9.
The CDC says it has also received anecdotal reports of higher-than-expected case counts among pregnant people, including complications such as severe fetal anemia or miscarriage and increases in aplastic anemia in people with sickle cell disease.
Many people who catch parvovirus B19 don’t have symptoms, but those who do will typically notice two phases of illness. In the first phase, which begins about a week after infection, they develop symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and malaise that last about five days. This is when people are most contagious.
During the second phase of illness, which begins a week or so later, children usually develop a hallmark facial rash, often called a slapped cheek rash, followed by a body rash or joint pain. Adults often have a rash on the trunk and joint pain.
Parvovirus can cause severe complications in certain groups. People with chronic hemolytic conditions like sickle cell disease or those with severely weakened immune systems may develop aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. Among pregnant people, about 5% to 10% of cases can result in adverse fetal outcomes such as anemia, hydrops or miscarriage.
There’s no vaccine for parvovirus and no specific treatment other than easing symptoms. Most infections will clear up on their own.
As cases rise, the CDC recommends that everyone follow general precautions for preventing the spread of respiratory illness, such as washing hands frequently, keeping common surfaces clean and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you develop symptoms, stay away from other people until they improve, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.
If you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or have a chronic hemolytic disorder, the agency says you may want to wear a mask around other people and get medical care right away if you develop symptoms.
Paddle for Puppies is back for the 12th year in a row! Celebrated as one of Austin’s favorite events, this iconic gathering is more than just a paddle down Lady Bird Lake — it’s a lifesaving endeavor!
Sponsored by Austin Subaru and hosted at Rowing Dock, Paddle for Puppies 2023, will take place on Sunday May 7th at 8:00am. Both people and water-confident dogs* paddle 2.5 miles down Lady Bird Lake, just past Congress bridge on the boat of your choice — kayak, SUP, canoe, all in support of our Parvo Puppy ICU! Visit the registration site to learn more and to scoop up your ticket!
Paddle for Puppies on May 7th, 2023 Paddle for Puppies on May 7th, 2023y ICU? Prior to the birth of this program, due to the highly contagious nature and almost-always fatal outcome if not treated, puppies that tested positive for parvovirus were typically euthanized because resources didn’t exist to support this vulnerable group. In 2008, the dedicated and determined humans that began APA! as we know it today, made the decision that they would begin pulling and treating all parvo positive puppies. In November of 2008, the city of Austin achieved no kill for puppies because of our program!
Since 2008, this ICU has taken in thousands of puppies and has steadily achieved a 90% save rate. The work that takes place in this program is hard, both physically and emotionally and is worth it daily to see the tiny tail wags of puppies who know we are working to save their lives. And later, to see the smiling faces of the people who adopt these little survivors.
Fundraisers like Paddle for Puppies are an integral piece to the lifesaving work that takes place in this program. On average, it can cost upwards of $400 to treat a puppy with parvovirus. Last year, our Parvo team treated just over 1300 puppies and so far this year, this dedicated team has treated just over 300 puppies.
We’re excited for another year of gathering with both those who have attended this event every year and those who are joining for the first time. There’s nothing better than a group of humans coming together to save some puppy dog lives! See you there!
*Due to the potential for toxins in the water, waivers will be required if you are planning to bring a dog on the water. These waivers will be available at registration when you check-in on-site. Dogs attending must stay in/on their vessel and should not drink the lake water.
No Kill is all about innovation, and working together to save lives. That’s why we were so excited to have two Mars Ambassadors join us at Austin Pets Alive! for two weeks, to help us save puppies with canine parvovirus and distemper—diseases that are often fatal, and for which puppies are routinely euthanized at many animal shelters and clinics because of the false belief they cannot be treated and adopted.
APA! operates one of the country’s only Parvo Puppy ICUs, where around 1,000 puppies per year are treated, and we run a specialized distemper treatment program. Many more puppies could be saved, still, with more animal shelters adopting and using the lifesaving protocols we’ve developed, and greater public awareness of how to prevent and treat parvo and distemper.
Mars Ambassadors Devon Arcuri, BluePearl’s Creative Specialist, and Violet Matarico, Banfield Pet Hospital’s Practice Manager for the Woodbridge and Edison hospitals in New Jersey, came to do just that.
The Mars Ambassador program dispatches Mars employees to other organizations and communities, where they lend their expertise and build partnerships. Devon and Violet embedded with the APA! marketing and communications team, to develop critical materials and messaging.
Working alongside APA!’s staff, Devon and Violet produced web pages and resources, including FAQs, website banners and pages, social media recommendations, printed handouts and posters, and more.
It’s two weeks’ of work that will have a meaningful impact on animals’ lives. More puppies will get and stay well, and get to live as loved members of families, thanks to Devon and Violet’s time with APA! as Mars Ambassadors.
We asked Devon and Violet what their time at APA! meant to them.
“Mars focuses on sustainability; the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today,” Devon said. “With this project, Violet and I wanted to ensure that our work could keep growing after we left.”
“With development being one of my passions, the opportunity to provide insight and support for APA!’s Puppy Parvo ICU on a grand scale has been an experience of a lifetime,” said Violet. “These puppies and young dogs deserve a fighting chance, and APA! has paved the way.”
Thank you to Devon and Violet for sharing your knowledge and your passion to save the lives of vulnerable puppies!
As I write this letter, we are preparing for the dangerous Arctic cold
front that is about to blast freezing temperatures into our community
and throughout Central Texas, just in time for the holidays.
Our shelter becomes severely strained with temperatures this low. To
keep our animals warm and safe during this cold emergency, we asked our
community to take in a foster pet during the storm, give funds to
support the increased cost of shelter operations, and help
under-resourced shelters across the region. And you’ve come
through, opening your hearts and homes to the pets who are most in need,
at the time they need that help the most.
Even though our own shelter struggles tremendously during a
disaster like this, we cannot turn our backs on animals in our community
or in shelters that are severely under-resourced. We are compelled to
help out and our community is too. Your support allows us to distribute warm blankets and heaters to pets in need all across Texas.
Our community stepping up to protect pets during a bitterly frigid storm is just one inspiring example of many, of how working together in 2022 we have been able to do so much for homeless pets in Austin, and beyond.
We saved our 100,000th life in February. Copper, a
2-month-old puppy, survived a disease that is a death sentence in nearly
every other animal shelter, thanks to our innovative Parvo Puppy ICU.
Copper is one of the whopping 1,035 puppies who are alive today, solely
because they came through our Parvo Puppy ICU this year.
We celebrated our 11th anniversary of Austin becoming a No Kill city.
Fourteen years ago, animal lovers in Austin banded together to end the
needless killing of shelter pets in our community. We achieved this goal
in three years, and have never stopped fighting for it since. We’ve now
set our eyes on expanding our lifesaving further beyond our
geographical borders, to the areas with the greatest need.
We grew our transport program.
This year we saved more than 2,400 at-risk pets by connecting
underfunded and overwhelmed Texas shelters to organizations in areas of
the country where they would be adopted. In one remarkable transport
mission, in July we flew 89 cats and kittens and 12 dogs from Texas,
where the animals faced likely euthanasia, to our partner in Maine,
where they were received with open arms and hope.
We continued our partnership with Austin FC, our hometown professional soccer club,with 22 of our animals serving as Honorary Mascots during home games.
These include pups who are true survivors, and really deserve to be
celebrated—like Gavin, who came to APA! with severe injuries after being
hit by a car, and needed his jaw reattached; RayRay, who’d been
abandoned in a home when his owner moved out and left him behind; and
Wolff Pack and Alright, Alright, Alright, two more of our parvo
survivors and Parvo Puppy ICU graduates. These furry mascots spread
critical awareness about our lifesaving programs and mission—and the
game-day attention helps them get adopted!
APA! brought nearly 12,000 animals through our shelter this year. We
saved countless more with our hands-on support of under-resourced
shelters, through our No Kill education in which we teach other shelters
and communities how to save the most at-risk animals, and our Human
Animal Support Services project’s focus on pet support and keeping
people and pets together.
These are just a few of our 2022 milestones. We can’t wait to share more with you in our annual impact report. Stay tuned!
Now, as we turn toward the end of the year, let me say thank you for being such an important part of our lifesaving community. It is your support that lets us save these lives.
And now your gift can do even more. A group of generous anonymous donors is matching all donations until December 31st.
Fourteen years ago, we set out to save the pets who were losing their lives in Austin, for no reason other than because they didn’t have a home. Today, as our pets are welcomed into loving foster homes, while a wicked storm approaches, we are so proud of our community. We are proud to be based here, in this city of animal lovers, where every day of every year, we work to save even more of the animals who would not survive without what we do together. We are excited to expand our lifesaving work to wherever at-risk pets need us the most, and we can’t wait for you to be part of it.
On behalf of all of us at APA!, thank you for all you do. Happy holidays, and have a very happy new year.
In early October, Austin Pets Alive! received a call from another Texas shelter–– a man had just come in with a puppy he’d found floating in a box along the river, and he needed help the shelter was unequipped to provide.
A photo taken by the person who found Kayak.
Why was the shelter unable to help this adorable little puppy? Because the 2-month-old had tested positive for Parvovirus—a highly contagious, life-threatening virus that’s considered a death sentence at many animal shelters. Fortunately for the puppy, APA! was ready to help save his life. As a rescue that operates one of the country’s only Parvo ICUs, APA! has treated nearly 1,000 parvo positive dogs a year. The Parvo ICU tackles high-risk cases, once considered impossible to treat in the shelter environment, that other shelters are unable to handle due to the highly contagious nature of the virus. Slowly but surely, APA! has set a precedent nationwide for treating parvovirus in the shelter setting, proving that it is possible to save more lives than once thought possible.
After a two-hour drive to Austin, Kayak arrived at APA! lethargic and pale. Medical clinic manager Lauren Heymann immediately recognized that the tiny pup was crashing and that he needed immediate
Kayak was so sick during his first week of treatment that he didn’t show any signs of his personality. Slowly but surely, under the careful treatment of APA! staff and volunteers, Kayak’s true wiggly and happy self began to blossom. As he started gaining weight and recovering from his bout with parvovirus, Kayak began seeking attention from his human caretakers, wagging his tail emphatically to visitors and offering sweet kisses to his friends.
Within no time, adoption applications for the happy boy began to stream in. Kayak soon found a loving home where he is now free to become his full outgoing, sweet self. And while Kayak is living his best life, dozens of other APA! parvovirus survivors are still looking for success stories of their own. Even though adopting a parvo survivor may sound scary, it’s essential to know that puppies like Kayak are no different from any other puppy and live long, happy, healthy lives with few to no additional considerations or care requirements.
Kayak with a member of the APA! staff
Kayak is a survivor, thanks to the tremendous efforts of the kind human who saved him from his floating box and the dedicated staff at APA! who nursed him back to health. Even more importantly, he’s a healthy, wiggly boy who’s ready to experience all that life has to offer in his new home–– and we’re so incredibly thrilled for him!
Kayak with his new family.
But the work of APA! never stops–– so long as animals like Kayak and other puppies with parvo need help, APA! will continue to challenge the status quo through constant innovation, compassion, and revolutionary lifesaving programs.
If you’re interested in helping our lifesaving efforts:
Austin was a very different city for vulnerable companion animals just 14 years ago. Some of the animals most at risk were puppies with parvovirus. Each day these tiny lives were needlessly lost because shelters didn’t have programs set up to treat parvo.
Veterinarians learn how to treat parvo in school, so we wondered why animal shelters couldn’t or wouldn’t. If these puppies could often be saved, why wasn’t treatment the norm? To
save these pets and increase lifesaving in Austin, we had to start
somewhere — and keeping parvo puppies from being euthanized seemed like a
good place to start.
The Parvo Puppy ICU, as we know it today, was born in a bathroom in my house around Thanksgiving 2008. At its peak I could spend up to eight hours a day cleaning and treating anywhere from a couple to 25 sick puppies at a time. Thankfully,
my husband was very understanding and willing to put up with the smell
of sick puppies in our bathroom. Even though it wasn’t ideal having the
strong and unforgettable odor of parvo in our home, it was the only way
to protect these pets in need and give them the critical care they
deserved.
We often share the story of the ICU’s humble beginnings because it
reminds us how far we’ve come. Although I was often the only one
cleaning up after that first batch of puppies, APA!’s capacity to care for animals in need continues to grow thanks to the help of friends like you.
Because of our community’s determination to make Austin No Kill, we were able, eleven years ago, to trade the bathroom tile and pop-up crates for linoleum and metal kennels in a location with easy access to our clinic and round-the-clock staff. The need for support didn’t end when we moved to the Parvo Puppy ICU at TLAC.
Today, parvo puppies are still at risk of needless euthanasia in shelters across Texas that haven’t yet adopted No Kill. As we celebrate the 11th anniversary of No Kill in Austin and its continued impact on pets at high risk of euthanasia we know there is still so much work to do to save even more lives and help other shelters do the same. Will you join us today?
Take a look inside our Parvo Puppy ICU! In June we partnered with Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. and they donated all their proceeds from their Rescue Roast to our Parvo Puppy ICU to help us save even more little lives. We appreciate your support!
One of Austin’s pet lifesaving treasures is at risk after ANOTHER flooding situation with sewage spilling into all three parvovirus treatment wards.
This is the same situation that the clinic staff faced this past Saturday when Austin Pets Alive! asked for adopters and fosters to pick up puppies who had already been treated – and tested negative – for parvovirus.
Because the Austin community responded and helped pick up 17 puppies on Saturday and 23 puppies on Sunday, there are currently 51 puppies being treated in the Parvo ICU.
No puppies are in danger of not being treated today but we are asked to take more sick puppies – multiple times throughout the day.
That said, the plumbing needs to be fixed quickly – and as you know, Austin Pets Alive! is a nonprofit, almost entirely funded through donations. Austin Pets Alive! does not receive any government funding AND the Parvo ICU has – so far this year – treated a whopping 563 puppies, which is 51% more parvo puppies than the same period of time in 2021.
APA! has one of the only parvo treatment units for shelter pets and is, by far, the largest in Texas. That means that any downtime translates into not being able to continue to accept the high volume of puppies who would certainly die without our Parvo Puppy ICU.
Click here if you’re able to give to help us raise the $15K we need to stop the flooding in our Parvo Puppy ICU. Thank you!
Paddle for Puppies is back on May 15th and better than ever! Paddle for Puppies, an annual event presented by Austin Subaru, provides incredible support for our Parvo Puppy ICU Program at Austin Pets Alive!.
Our Parvo Puppy ICU cares for puppies that contract canine parvovirus, a highly contagious and life-threatening virus that increases their risk for euthanasia in certain shelters. In 2021 alone, a record-breaking 963 lives were saved from the Parvo Puppy ICU. That’s 400 more puppies than we saved in 2020 – this program is expanding by the minute!
One of the puppies saved so far in 2022 was named Rover. Rover is a very special puppy. Apart from being a parvo survivor and having precious droopy ears that stole everyone’s hearts, Rover was the 100,000th life saved at APA!.
Needless to say, Rover’s adoption was quick. He really did steal everyone’s hearts, including Timothy and Katherine Shook’s. The Shooks were Rover’s perfect match for a couple of reasons. First, they’re great pet parents. Second, Timothy just so happens to be APA!’s main point of contact with Austin Subaru who puts on Paddle for Puppies. They are one of the largest supporters of the very same program that saved Rover’s life.
Today, months later, Rover Shook is happy at home and, from what we hear, has been a great addition to their family. Just take a look at some of what they had to say:
What is your favorite quality about Rover?
“Our favorite quality of Rover’s is his playfulness; he loves chewing on hands, blankets, pillows – anything he can get his teeth on. He chases us as we walk and bites at our shoes, and he has enjoyed a few games of ‘Attack the Swiffer.’”
How does it feel knowing you had a part in saving Rover’s life?
“Having a puppy whose life would’ve been cut short without the APA! parvo facility keeps us very grounded. We are so grateful that Rover was able to receive treatment, and we were able to help support the parvo ICU and the staff that keep the unit running.”
What do you want people to know about APA!?
“We would love for people to know that APA! has saved over 100,000 lives and is working on a national initiative to increase the number of lives they’re able to save.
Thank you Austin Subaru, for supporting our Parvo Puppy ICU that helps save pets like Rover. Thank you Shook family, for giving Rover a home. Thank you to our APA! community for all of your support that helps make stories like Rover’s possible. And lastly, thank you Rover for being so darn cute, and for being the face of this year’s Paddle for Puppies!
This year’s Paddle for Puppies is taking place on May 15 from 6:45-10:00 AM at the Rowing Dock. We hope to see you there! You’ll also receive a special t-shirt featuring Rover when you sign up. Register today to paddle and save a puppy’s life: https://www.paddleforpuppies.com/
Elton was born in Bastrop, Texas, and was brought to their shelter when he was just a baby. When he was rescued, it was soon found out that Elton had a very severe case of Parvovirus and almost did not survive. Our Parvo ICU took him in and saved Elton from these terrible circumstances.
Parvo is a canine life-threatening virus that rapidly infects the dividing cells in a dog’s body, most severely in the intestinal tract. The virus is highly contagious and resistant and can survive in the ground for up to a year. Many symptoms of the virus are lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These symptoms can lead to very harmful dehydration.
The best way to prevent Parvo as it is most susceptible to young puppies is vaccination. Vaccines are very important to prevent your pup from this virus.
Since APA! opened its Parvo Puppy ICU back in 2008, we’ve saved nearly 8,000 lives! We are proud to say we have an 88% save rate in the ICU. Before when these dogs were immediately euthanized in the shelter, they now get to go on and live long and healthy lives like Elton is doing!
As Elton was cleared and looking for an adoptive family or foster home, the Reynolds family was new to Austin and decided they wanted a new friend while also wanting to save a pup’s life. They came to APA!, fell in love with Elton, and adopted him in September of 2021. He is now a happy boy living in a warm, loving home with his adopter and the transformation this boy has received is amazing! The Reynolds family gushed, “Elton is a sweet gentle boy. He is our best friend. We never knew could love anything the way we love him.”
When you #AmplifyLifesaving for APA!, you allow us to help and save more pups like Elton and continue with our Parvo ICU so we can care for pups infected with this terrible virus. Every donation will be doubled to help save more lives! Will you #AmplifyLifesaving today?
Eugene was just one month old when he was surrendered to the APA! Parvo Puppy ICU fighting for his life.
#AmplifyLifesaving today and ensure pets just like Eugene get a fighting chance.
Lucy Fernandez spends her Fridays volunteering in the parvo ward when she is not working with the Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (P.A.S.S.) program. One Friday, Eugene came “in bad shape.” Unlike a normal, bright, energetic puppy, Eugene was lethargic. “When they’re lethargic like that,” Lucy said, “it’s bad news.”
Lucy was holding Eugene while the Parvo staff administered fluids and right before her eyes, Eugene stopped breathing. His head went limp and “he died in my hands.” Parvo and clinic staff jumped into action to put a line in Eugene’s neck and do everything possible to bring him back to life. “It seemed like an hour,” Lucy said. “But it was only a few minutes.”
Miraculously, Eugene started breathing again. “I just bawled,” Lucy said. “He wasn’t even named when all of that happened.”
After several days of treatment and worrying about the squishy pup, Eugene started eating again. Parvovirus can be prevented altogether with proper vaccination in young puppies. But without proactive care, parvovirus is extremely contagious and many shelters do not have the space or resources to quarantine and treat patients. At APA!, we take pride in our 88.5% parvo puppy survival rate!
“What we do is not perfect,” she said. “But it’s a miracle.”
Eugene has been discharged from the Parvo ICU and is in a loving foster home where he’ll stay until he’s available for adoption. Without your support of our lifesaving programs like the Parvo Puppy ICU, we never would’ve been able to treat the 1,087 parvo puppies in 2021.
A: Bernese is 9 years old and she’s from the San Antonio shelter. Back in 2012, she was part of a litter that was there and her littermates all got adopted and she didn’t for a year. She grew up in a kennel. Not a good situation at all. She was so fearful of people, that’s why she didn’t get adopted. She kept cowering in the back. And so when they were going through a space crisis, I asked if I could foster somebody that would help save them space and would help them save lives.
Bernese and Buster
Back then we were trying to do San Antonio Pets Alive! and trying to help that city and they gave me her. She was untouchable for several months so we just adopted her thinking she’d never warm up to people. But she’s done a lot better. Now she’s 9 and she’s mostly chill. Her biggest problem is that she’s terrified of people.
Q: Is that because she was alone in her kennel during that time?
A: Yeah, she’s tricky. She definitely has some dog/dog issues and some dog/people issues, but she’s my most normal.
A: Buster was in Hurricane Harvey. He was in rabies quarantine in a Houston shelter. At that time they weren’t vaccinating for distemper because they thought they weren’t allowed to since the law says they have to wait for the rabies vaccine at the end of quarantine, but it’s not true that it’s illegal and we’ve since worked with them and they now vaccinate every dog that’s going through rabies quarantine. He was really, really sick.
He was paralyzed for a month. He lost all of the muscles in his head so he can’t open his mouth. His esophagus didn’t work. He’s a total disaster. He has a stomach tube on the side of his stomach where he still gets fed because he can’t open his mouth. It’s been 4 years and it’s taken him this long to start licking food out of a frying pan after he gets his medications to get his esophagus to work. He’s come a long way. He’s not paralyzed anymore, but he can’t open his mouth. He can get his tongue out a tiny bit and he’s so sweet. He’s a miracle dog. We don’t know exactly how old he is. We thought he was maybe 2 when he came into the shelter so he’s probably around 6.
A: Echo is the little brown one and she was right before Hurricane Harvey.
Echo
She was a distemper puppy pulled from San Antonio that came over to APA! that was in a foster home with her brother. Her brother died immediately and she got really sick and became paralyzed. She was 8 weeks old when that happened. She was paralyzed for 2-3 months. Me and Pam Martin shared custody of her when I was going back and forth to Houston.
This happened right when Harvey hit. She has a ton of developmental issues because she couldn’t move during her growth phases. She has one arm that goes to the side. It was the only one she could move for a few months so that one’s become her most muscular arm, kind of in a weird position which then made it hard to fit her for a cart or to get anybody to help with her because her limbs go in all different directions and her back legs don’t really work. So she’s permanently paralyzed and she’s mostly continent. When she scoots around, she goes to the bathroom. She’s kind of the highest need dog we have even though Buster has a lot of problems. She’s really sweet too. She’s very loving but because she was going to die when she was a baby, she never got exposed to people except for me and Pam. So she hasn’t developed any socialization skills which is why she barks like crazy. But she warms up pretty quick.
A: Bullfrog is also from San Antonio. He was born in 2012. They were going through a massive distemper outbreak.
Bullfrog
When shelters go through the evolution of massive killing to saving more [lives], that exposes all of the problems. So shelters like San Antonio and Houston that had really high death rates, never knew they were spreading distemper everywhere because all of the animals died so they didn’t exhibit symptoms. So as you start seeing that trajectory upward of live release rate, distemper comes out in an outbreak because they’re not vaccinating at intake. They’re not keeping anyone separate. They’re not doing any of the things to help the disease spread. So he was exposed as a baby. His whole litter died. He also had Parvo and I had all of the Parvo puppies from San Antonio for a year. He got over Parvo and got really sick with distemper. He couldn’t lift his head off of the ground for 2 years and couldn’t open his mouth for 2 years, so we also thought he was going to die because he was in such bad shape so we didn’t socialize him either. Now he can run around and bite people which is not great. At least he’s controllable because he only has 3 legs.
Q: How do they all get along?
A: Ehhhh. Echo is the biggest problem because she’s a bossy bee. She’s always growling…so we have to keep her separate when we’re not home.
Q: Can you share the story of how the Parvo ward started in your bathroom?
Dr. J looking back at the bathroom where it all started.
A: It started in that bathroom [points]. It’s all tile so it’s a great place to have Parvo. I took home the first litter and it just kept being the Parvo ward after that. The upstairs bathroom wasn’t finished when we moved in so I painted the floors with sealer so we could put puppies up there. We didn’t have enough money at the time to finish it. The upstairs and downstairs are where I tried to segregate the dogs.
Q: When did that start?
A: The first litter of puppies was Thanksgiving 2008. That was the first litter we got that was really sick. I went to pick up healthy puppies to transport for somebody and the shelter said, “I don’t think you want those puppies, they’re pretty sick.” I went back and looked at them and I was like I can handle this.
Q: Did you know how to treat Parvo at that time?
A: Oh yeah, you learn that in vet school. All vet clinics can do it. We treated it in every vet clinic I worked at – it’s common. That was the real epiphany, why can’t shelters treat it? There was an unspoken rule that shelters aren’t allowed to treat it because of potential spread throughout the shelter. Even when we started treating it, shelter professionals came out of the woodwork to shame us. It really helped that I was a vet and I could be like, “That’s ridiculous.” It takes one person to really damage your reputation.
Dr. J holding one of the parvo puppies in her home
A: They were just killed hand over fist. All of these purebred pugs and basset hounds, all sorts of things that come through the shelters because they have Parvo and they’re surrendered. Somehow people know to do that, and that still happens all across Texas. It is kind of sad to think that people have purchased these dogs and I assume they love them. Some of the bills they’re quoted are like $10K. That’s part of what I’m really excited about with the future and HASS. If we can start helping people when their dogs get sick, then it helps prevent them from just getting another one, because who’s telling them not to bring another puppy into that environment where it’s all over the place? Nobody.
Q: What was it like having all of those puppies in your home?
A: When all of the San Antonio puppies were here, it was the most. It was 25 at a time. Our whole guest room was filled with crates and the bathrooms were filled with Parvo puppies. I probably spent 8 hours away cleaning and treating dogs.
Obviously, it needed to be more sustainable and San Antonio has their own Parvo ward now. After that first year, they didn’t need help in someone’s home anymore. It’s a horrible odor.
Q: Was it just you? (photos below are some of the parvo puppies she saved in her bathroom)
A: Yeah. I didn’t really have anybody to help. It’s really hard to come into somebody’s house and help with that. So yeah it was just me. It’s all of the goal to never do that again. It’s sad to think that those 25 puppies were just fine.
Q: What does the 10 year anniversary of No Kill Austin mean to you?
A: I think that it’s awesome. We’re the longest-standing No Kill community. It’s really exciting. It’s amazing that when we started everybody said it’s not sustainable, it’s not going to work, you guys are going to be overloaded. You can’t possibly keep up with all of the animals that need to be saved. I think it’s good that that has proven to be untrue. It is sustainable in a way. I think what we’re trying to head towards now is more sustainability that doesn’t rely on APA! having to do acrobatics to make sure every animal is safe. It should be more institutionalized in the government system. But as long as we’re here, it’s sustainable. It’s inspiring.
Dr. J at examining a dog in APA!’s trailer at Austin Pizza
Q: Why do you think people are still so hard-headed around the idea that No Kill is impossible?
A: It’s not people outside the system. It’s typically people inside the system. And when you’ve been doing it for so long…I can see the change of people who join the movement in an organization that has a high rate of killing. I can see the psychological change that happens. They cross the line and they recognize that they can’t do it [become No Kill] and they’re okay with it. I don’t mean okay, it’s still damaging. There’s a shift that happens. I don’t know if you can ever get back from that.
Q: Do you think it’s going to take a younger generation to have new ideas to make a change?
A: Yes. I think there has to be a changing of the guard. There has to be an expectation that it’s not acceptable to kill animals. And then things start to change. The system is rooted in this powerless feeling of “Well we just have to clean up the mess from the irresponsible pet owners.” Anytime the language is used that way, it’s outside the power of the org, people’s irresponsibility is outside the power, as soon as the conversation shifts to that, you lose the ability to change things you can’t control. When you talk about it in terms of things you can’t control, you can’t do it. When you talk about things in terms of things you can control, then you can do it. But I think it will take more people to be aware that it’s possible and that it should be done in order to remove the expectation that it’s okay not to. All governments have accepted that that’s okay.
Q: What are you most proud of over the past 10 years?
A: I’m so proud of the organization. We’ve done so much as a group. It’s incredibly difficult work. It’s not easy. It’s not always fun. It causes burnout. I’m proud that we’re at the point where we are. We’re having discussions on how to make things sustainable.
Dr. J in the early days of APA! at Town Lake Animal Center
We don’t rely on people who are burning out and then passing the baton to someone else to burn out. I’m proud that we’re here. I’m proud that we made it happen and I’m proud that we’re still doing it and I’m proud that we’re looking to make it better.
Q: Where do you see the movement in the next 10 years?
A: By starting to crack the nut of animals not dying in shelters, it starts to show that there can be some systemization to anything in the shelter. The only systemization that existed forever was to take them in for 3 days and kill them. That happens over and over everywhere across America. So clearly it has some roots in institutionalization. By being able to automate lifesaving to a degree, we’ve got the Bottle Baby ward where kittens go, there’s a place for every type of animal to go so they don’t die. What we need to do next is create that same kind of pipeline for animals that aren’t going to die, even in our own shelter. The pipeline needs to be clear of how they’re getting out. A big dog that’s rowdy at the city shelter comes to our shelter and there needs to be a very clear path on how it gets out. Instead of focusing on the care in the shelter, maybe in addition. So that’s step one, making sure the whole system is automated.
A: The next piece is trying to untangle why animals are coming in, to begin with. It’s always this assumption that pet owners don’t care and animals are just stray and have no owner. And probably none of those things are true. We have to start looking at the things we can control and can be changed and that’s never been done before. It’s just astounding for this time and age. I think it goes back to if you think you can’t control it, you don’t try to. It’s a mindset.
A: Hopefully we will spend the next 10 years making Austin the epicenter of lifesaving for not only Austin but for everywhere else. Austin is on the brink of going one way or the other. Either we’re just a mediocre shelter, in a mediocre system, in a city with a good live release rate, which many cities have caught up to. Or we’re going to continue leading the charge and revolutionize the ways shelters operate. I hope we will spend the next 10 years making Austin the place people can come and learn, people can come and see it in action. The whole city understands how the intervention part works, how the care works, how the live outcomes work and it’s not just magic.
Q: How do you feel about Austin being the epicenter of lifesaving and then Texas and California killing the most animals?
A: I think we can change that dramatically. We already work heavily outside of Austin in Texas shelters. By focusing more on government laws and budgeting, giving governments the tools to make the changes even if they don’t have the right personality at the shelter or they don’t have the right city council. It shouldn’t have to be a perfect set of circumstances that causes No Kill. It should be a turnkey process. I think we can help a lot. One of the things we’re working on with HASS is a benchmarking system. Anyone in the public can compare their community with other communities which are then compared to what people want, not how shelters operate. People can use the public’s expectations to drive change. They’ve never had the tools in the past, and they still don’t have them, but if we can build those out for the average animal lover to make a change and drive that apathy then that’s a game-changer. I don’t think anyone wants pets to be killed in shelters.
With Dr. Jefferson at the helm, the trajectory of APA! has exceeded anyone’s expectations. With her leadership and your support, we can ensure Austin will remain No Kill for more than 10 more years and counting.
Want to share your experience with Dr. Jefferson or APA!’s early days? Whatever your APA! story is, we want to hear it. Interact with all of our social posts this week to tell us your story using #NoKillDecade.
Presented by Austin Subaru, this unique annual fundraiser benefits the Parvo Puppy ICU Program at Austin Pets Alive! which has pioneered the path to give puppies with parvo a fighting chance.
Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo Puppy ICU is the first of its kind in the nation and has saved over 5,500 puppies since its creation in 2008. On average, they continue to save around 600 puppies each year. Even with the pandemic happening, in 2020 this amazing team saved 609 puppies! Parvo, short for the canine parvovirus, is a highly contagious viral illness, and often means immediate and absolute euthanasia for puppies.
This is where APA! comes in. Our Parvo Puppy ICU provides an alternative to euthanasia and gives the puppies who were on death’s doorstep a real chance at life. With proper treatment, parvo takes about a week to cure. Post-parvo, these pups are finally given a chance at adoption to lead a healthy, normal life. We love seeing updates from our adopters who watch as their small parvo puppies grow into big and strong dogs. Check out sweet Bodie’s transformation after he was released from the ICU!
Now you have the chance to help pioneer change for our pups, too! Grab your friends and family and hop in a kayak, canoe, or SUP the weekend of May 7-9 for the 10th Annual Paddle for Puppies.
Unfortunately, due to the recent surge of algae in the water, we’re suggesting pets stay at home this year. No need to fear — you’re still sure to have a paw-some time!
In compliance with CDC guidelines, we will not be paddling as a large group, but instead have extended the paddling experience over three days. The paddle will begin at 4:00 pm at Rowing Dock on May 7 and end at 8:00 pm. May 8-9, the paddle will begin at 8:00 am and end at 12:00 pm at the same location.
Last year was anything but traditional, with Paddle for Puppies being virtual. This year we want to see you! Come out to Lady Bird Lake and have a nice, relaxing time, all while making a splash in our Parvo Puppy Program!
Be sure to buy your tickets now! We’re absolutely paw-sitive you won’t want to miss out on this fun-filled paddling experience!
Special thanks to Austin Subaru for sponsoring Paddle for Puppies for 10 years, and to Rowing Dock for hosting us once again!
All photos used are from the 2019 Paddle for Puppies with accreditation to Austin Subaru.
Austin Pets Alive! is thrilled to announce the return of Paddle for Puppies, presented by Austin Subaru and hosted at Rowing Dock. Though the format may look a little different from years past, the concept — and the cause — are the same.
Instead of hosting this fundraiser on one day, it has been spread out over the course of a weekend to accommodate social distancing needs. Participants can register for their preferred time slot on one of three days (May 7, 4-8 pm; May 8, 8 am-12 pm; May 9, 8 am-12 pm) and enjoy a leisurely paddle, kayak, or canoe ride on their own down Lady Bird Lake. All participants will receive an exclusive Paddle for Puppies t-shirt, and all proceeds directly benefit the APA! Parvo Puppy ICU.
This is the 10th anniversary of Paddle for Puppies. Since its inception in 2011, Austin Subaru has raised over $20,000 each year through this community favorite activity. APA!’s Parvo Puppy ICU is a specialized facility designed to care for puppies that contract canine parvovirus, a highly contagious and life-threatening virus. Dogs with parvo are often at extremely high risk of euthanasia in certain shelters and regions that lack the resources to safely quarantine and treat these pups. Through this program, APA! provides shelters across Texas with an alternative to euthanasia and saves around 500 lives each year.
Due to recent detection of toxins in an algae sample taken from Lake Austin, APA! is not encouraging participants to bring their dogs along for the paddle at this time. Humans of all ages, however, are welcome to attend. Registration starts at $40 per adult, with an optional boat rental fee. Children under 16 can be added on as a second rider for $25. All attendees can register on the Paddle for Puppies website ahead of time.
