Pet shop puppy had potential fatal virus
Crazy being cuddled by Bernard Zarb’s daughter
A man who bought a chihuahua puppy for his daughter from a pet shop was shocked when he found out that the little creature had a potentially fatal virus that could be passed on to his two other dogs.
The puppy, which he called Crazy, had canine parvovirus that leads to death in 50 per cent of cases and is very contagious among dogs, although it is harmless to humans.
Bernard Zarb reported the case to the Animal Welfare Department and, this week, welfare officers inspected the Swieqi pet shop from where he bought the dog.
Officers are working on tracking down the breeder from whom the nine-week-old puppy had origin-ally been bought.
Mr Zarb said he had bought the chihuahua for his five-year-old daughter last week and paid €170 for it.
A few days after he took the dog home it stopped eating and he noticed worms in its faeces. The dog’s health started deter-iorating and he took it to the St Francis animal hospital, where it was diagnosed as suffering from parvovirus.
Mr Zarb panicked because he was worried about the health of his daughter and his two other dogs. He was informed that the virus did not affect people but it was very contagious among dogs and potentially deadly.
He immediately cleaned his house thoroughly and later informed the animal welfare authorities about the incident. So far, his two other dogs do not show any signs of having contracted the virus.
In the meantime, poor Crazy remains in hospital and its future is uncertain. Mr Zarb, who thanked the animal hospital staff for their work, is undecided whether he will keep it as a pet because of his two other dogs. But if he decides to let go of it, he plans to find a good home for Crazy.
Animal Welfare Department director Joseph John Vella said the virus was almost fatal with a 50 per cent survival rate.
Pet shops were not legally obliged to give vaccinations but it was good practice and they usually did. Yet, if a pet shop did not treat a sick animal that amounted to neglect, which was a criminal offence.
Mr Vella said it was important for pet shop regulations, which are in the pipeline, to come into force because they would regulate the sector by, for example, obliging pet shop owners to keep vaccination records.
He said this was the second case in which the department was asked to intervene to inspect a pet shop because an animal was suffering from a potentially fatal virus.
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40 Comments
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Gerald De Giovanni
Oct 28th 2012, 08:32
Mr Zarb, if you really loved dogs and wanted to give your daughter a truly genuine present, you should have adopted a dog not bought one!!! And the chances are that the adopted dog would have been vaccinated and actually cared for!!! And you would have saved the astronomical Eur170!!!
dawn wood
Oct 28th 2012, 11:36
sorry but i dont think your statement is fair, if Mr Zarb chose to buy a dog instead of adopting one so what its got nothing to do with anyone were he bought the dog from the main point is he didnt leave the poor thing suffering he took it to the vet. Maybe the pet shop owner assured him the dog had all the vacinations.
joseph gaffarena
Oct 28th 2012, 08:25
We never had so many dogs and cats strayed or in an animal santuary, and the simple reason , that no one want to know is because to day to keep a dog cost you too much money. vets charge 20 euros to see a dog/cat,and the pet food is expensive in malta.St, francis charged me 50 euros to make one stich on my cat, and this is too much.
A. MICALLEF
Oct 28th 2012, 08:18
Dog owners in Swieqi, Ibragg and High Ridge walk their dogs early mornings and late
evening leaving a mess behind with dogs litter. Dog owners are arrogant and enter
food shops, cafes and no go areas for dogs, and many dogs run loose in the streets
unleashed. Dogs bark all night and day. The big majority of people do not like dogs
and the law should be enforced.
Mr T Borg
Oct 28th 2012, 09:30
A.Micallef..excuse me..You are being arrogant with your sweeping statements
1)''Dog owners are arrogant'' - Do not generalize
2)''The big majority of people do not like dogs''..- It is just your opinion (probably it's the other way round)
lee murphy
Oct 28th 2012, 10:27
be realistic in your comment........... "majority of people dont like dogs" your figures come from where ??? some people with kids let them do what they like stop these people having kids... dont tar all with the same brush thank you very much. . .
Lawrence Attard
Oct 28th 2012, 05:22
No disrespect to pet shops but there are so many lovely animals who want a home at the SPCA, why do people opt to spend lots of money instead of giving a home to one of those lovely animals they usually have there? Besides being a cheaper route, you'll be giving a needy animals a home and it will love you all the more for it.
Joe Xuereb
Oct 28th 2012, 01:29
Apologies! My last comment should have read: ..........deserves to be more than a toy, surely). People generally are nothing to write home about but give me a person any time. For a dog is a waste of time. A kitten might be more apt for a little girl.
lee murphy
Oct 27th 2012, 22:05
adopting is nice IF and i mean IF you want to..... certain breeds have certain characters do you know what breed 99percent of them are in the shelter? no so was the mother or father vicious are they lazy are they needing a lot of exercise?????
,,people have a right to "buy" A dog if they like .. adopt kids stop having kids if thats what your saying theres kids in homes after all !!
Mr C Camilleri
Oct 27th 2012, 20:30
170 euro for a dog that looks like a rat and barks non stop like it has issues with the world. Why not adopt one from the dogs home. They are ready treated, chipped and need a home so much.
I will never understand this thing.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 27th 2012, 23:38
I would however appreciate if you would not describe the dog in question in such a fashion. Thank you.
Paul Zammit
Oct 28th 2012, 01:40
even a dog that 'looks like a rat and barks non stop' needs a home ...
Alex Bugeja
Oct 28th 2012, 05:07
Can't agree with you more.
M Grima
Oct 28th 2012, 09:02
I fully agree with you my friend. I don't know what's the point of it
lee murphy
Oct 28th 2012, 10:28
people like you amaze me ! ! ! !
Joe Xuereb
Oct 27th 2012, 20:22
I'll be up front. Dogs are yapping, biting creatures tthat mess up pavements, etc. Why bother?! Two dogs in this household and yet, need for another?! A five-year old needs a cuddly toy not a dog (a dog, as much as they mean nothing to me, deserves to be more than a toy, surely). PeI'll be up front. Dogs are yapping, biting creatures tthat mess up pavements, etc. Why bother?!
Mr Alex Phillips
Oct 28th 2012, 03:07
Pretty much like babies really. Babies just crap, cry and scream all day, why have a baby huh?
Shaun Anthony Camilleri
Oct 28th 2012, 06:51
I agree dogs are yapping, biting creatures that mess up pavements, however the dogs being mentioned here are the four legged ones not two.
The animal shelters have many dogs that need a home and the more people buy from these breeders the more shelters we'll need as they breed them for money. It's a none caring business. Adopt from the shelters.
Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Oct 28th 2012, 08:25
Are you serious?! A dog is one of the best pets to ever have. If they bite the problem is generally the OWNER and regarding the mess on the pavement - Legally, you're meant to pick that up!
Scientifically it has been shown that children who grew up with animals, dogs in particular perform better in all aspects of life (yes even physically).
Joanna Farrugia
Oct 28th 2012, 08:28
Your love for dogs is evident Joe Xuereb. People yap and bit too you know, and when they do, they are more vicious than dogs! Incidentally, I pick up my dog's crap, and believe me, I would much rather do that than put up with some people!
A. MICALLEF
Oct 28th 2012, 09:15
Alex Phillips are you serious ?? Something is wrong with you when comparing dogs with
babies, clothe their dogs, talk to dogs and refer thenselves as mummy and daddy to their
dogs. Dog loversdo not have a right to litter the streets and to leave their dogs barking.
If you love dogs, keep them to yourselfs.
Mr Alex Phillips
Oct 29th 2012, 01:38
A. Micallef..Oh yes, I am deadly serious! Give me a puppy over a horrible little baby anytime!
Sarah Grech (Zebbug)
Oct 27th 2012, 19:05
170 euro for a puppy when their are so many waiting to be homed.
Alan Grixti
Oct 27th 2012, 18:47
True responsible breeders have their pups vet checked on a regular basis. One should not get a new puppy before it s 8 weeks old. It is the responabilty of the new owner to protect his new pup from contact with other dogs or puppies that may carry a virus which would lead to sickness in such a young pup with a weak immune system.When buying a puppy please do not just consider the purchase costs.
Denis A. Darmanin
Oct 27th 2012, 18:46
If only everyone would listen and adopt from dog sanctuaries.
However, will you find a chihuahua puppy available for adoption at the homes?
Just like Mr Zarb, he had two other dogs and wanted a cute little dog for his young daughter. If you're after a particular breed, you're bound to go elsewhere. But we definitely need stricter laws, and enforcent!
Alan Grixti
Oct 27th 2012, 18:42
Whilst hoping that Crazy gets well soon, I don t see why should the owner give away this puppy once fully recovered. Few petshops are highly equipped to keep puppies or kittens. If a person decides to get a pure breed puppy rather than adopting one from a shelter or sanctuary, one should find a trustworthy breeder. Or better, consult with one of the local clubs before.
Ann Camilleri
Oct 27th 2012, 18:41
What a waste of money when there are plenty of healthy dogs to adopt!! And for what, for a sick unvaccinated dog.
Ms Sylvia Zammit
Oct 27th 2012, 17:57
Happens often unfortunately. But why should Crazy lose his home? If the other dogs have their immunizations up to date, there is nothing to worry about. 12 years ago I got a puppy who had been given up by his owners, who thought he was being naughty when he messed up their house. In fact, he had Parvovirus - but he fought for his life, and survived. thanks to the vet who treated him. He's 12 now.
K Duncan
Oct 27th 2012, 17:22
Instead of buying 170 euros dog, why didn't you adopt one? And give some money to help other dogs ?
Cristian Darmanin
Oct 27th 2012, 17:21
Nahseb tal-petshops ghandhom ikunu dicenti bizzejjed li, jekk qed taqla l-ghixien minn kreaturi li qed izzommhom f gaggeg ghal tul ta zmien sakemm jinbieghu, ghall inqas jaraw li qeghdin 'f'kundizzjoni tajba'.
Cristian Darmanin
Oct 27th 2012, 17:19
Mela kieku dal-proxxmu gietu f'mohhu jaddotta kelb - u b garanzija li kellu hafna iktar minn fejn jaghzel kieku, kien jiffranka EUR179,forsi jaghti donation minflok u jkun taffa ftit mill problemi tas-santuaries. Issa minflok dal kelb diga spicca kwazi homeless, sakemm isib dar ohra.
Nifhem li qed jaghmel dan ghas-sahha tal-klieb l-ohra.
patricia muscat
Oct 27th 2012, 17:12
Mr Zarb should get the pet shop owner, where the puppy was bought, to give him a full refund if he decide not to keep the puppy,simple!!! Also the pet shop owner should be prosecuted for selling an unhealthy puppy!!!
N Zahra
Oct 27th 2012, 14:43
Parvovirus is a common puppy disease. It strikes and kills in usually under 48 hours. The only tell tale sign is diahrrea. If you have a dog less than one year old with daihrrea, just run as fast as possible to the vet and all will be fine. I learnt about parvovirus the hard way as I had a dog that died from it. I had a second dog who caught it but by then I was very much aware.
Freddy Konings
Oct 27th 2012, 12:11
An advise......Never buy dogs from petshops.....These dogs come from puppy mills, where they are continuously bred to sell to petshops. Its a barbaric act for the dogs. If there's no demand to buy pets at petshops, then the petshops wont buy them to sell. Alternatively, adopt a dog. There are so many dogs at shelters, ready for adoption. You will save a life if you adopt a dog from a shelter.
maria borg
Oct 27th 2012, 21:06
very well said
and hope that at least this poor puppy won`t loose his family, if the owners other 2 dogs are not puppies and vaccinated it won`t affect them especially if the puppy will recover
good luck Crazy
T Cassar
Oct 27th 2012, 10:13
Worms in faeces is a separate parasitic infection which the puppy should have been treated for before being sold! So this poor puppy had 2 separate contagious infections!
Is the pet shop not obliged to keep records of breeders since Animal Welfare are 'tracking down the breeder from whom the nine-week-old puppy had origin-ally been bought'.
People are infected by worms aren't they?
M. Cardona
Oct 27th 2012, 09:46
-parvo usually manifests itself within 3-4 days from infection so puppy could have been infected after purchase; he has two other dogs and let puppy out as in picture
- innoculations could not have been completed if puppy was nine weeks old
- non-innoculated puppies should not be taken out in the street as in the picture
S.M. Cuschieri
Oct 27th 2012, 14:27
Very well said.
A Sultana
Oct 27th 2012, 09:40
don't breed or buy while homeless cats and dogs die
Heidi Buttigieg
Oct 27th 2012, 18:01
well said!!
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