State closes Ridgefield "puppy store" after finding deadly virus
Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
The state has shut down True Breeders, the controversial puppy store on Route 7 in Branchville, imposing a 14-day quarantine on Friday, March 5, after a local veterinarian diagnosed a puppy purchased there with the canine parvo virus, which is often fatal to puppies.
“On Friday, one of our officers received a complaint from a consumer that their dog was diagnosed with canine parvovirus,” said Raymond Connors, animal control supervisor with the state Department of Agriculture.
“It was confirmed from the veterinarian that that indeed was what the dog had. The officer responded to the store and notified the owner, Christine DiCarlo, that the dog died of parvovirus.”
According to reports, a puppy purchased for $1,600 at the store died of the disease. Some sources say the puppy was among dogs received from a breeder in Missouri, but this has not yet been confirmed.
Canine parvovirus most frequently characterized by diarrhea that is in many cases bloody, and may be accompanied by vomiting. It is highly contagious and often fatal for puppies.
It is generally viewed as less of a threat to older dogs, particularly those that have had their shots, although their are a number of variants of the virus in circulation and some can affect older dogs.
DVM360.com, a web newsmagazine aimed at veterinarians, reported on Feb. 25 that parvovirus had turned up in dogs at shelters in Stratford and Fairfield, raising concern among area veterinarians that there might be an outbreak in the area.
It quoted a Southport veterinarian as saying treatment for a dog with the disease costs around $4,000, and calling for vigilance in hospital and shelter protocols, in vaccination, and in public education.
The website peteducation.com reports “Current vaccinations have helped to control the spread of this disease but despite being vaccinated, some dogs still contract and die from parvo...
“Not all cases of bloody diarrhea with or without vomiting are caused by parvovirus and many sick puppies are misdiagnosed as having ‘parvo.’ The only way to know if a dog has parvovirus is through a positive diagnostic test.”
Peteducation.com also says: “There is a broad range in the severity of symptoms shown by dogs that are infected with parvovirus. Many adult dogs exposed to the virus show very few, if any, symptoms. The majority of cases of disease are seen in dogs less than six months of age with the most severe cases seen in puppies younger than 12 weeks of age.
“There are also significant differences in response to parvovirus infections and vaccines among different breeds of dogs, with Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and Labrador Retrievers being more susceptible than other breeds.”
Mr. Connors of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture said that state would allow the True Breeders store in Branchville to reopen at the end of the 14 days — that would be March 19 or 20 — if no dogs there showed symptoms of the disease.
“The purpose of the quarantine is, if any of the other dogs are incubating the virus, the virus will manifest itself within that 14 day period,” he said.
“The store would be able to re-open if it’s cleared, if none of the other dogs are exhibiting any symptoms.”
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