Five puppies seek adoption after surviving deadly virus

BOSTON (WLNE) – The MSPCA-Angell has issued a call for adopters after saving a litter of puppies who were infected with a deadly disease.

Five German Shepherd-mix puppies are up for adoption at the Boston Adoption Center after surviving a battle with parvovirus.

The MSPCA says the puppies “have faced more peril in their 13-weeks of life” than many dogs face in a lifetime.

One of the five German Shephard-mix puppies up for adoption (MSPCA)

Canine parvovirus is a rapidly progressing, contagious and often deadly disease, according to the MSPCA.

“Saving these puppies took incredible collaboration throughout our organization,” said Mike Keiley,  Vice President of MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division.

The litter of puppies was surrendered to Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center (TJO) in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Jan. 12.

The puppies were transferred from TJO to the Angell Center (MSPCA)

After evaluating the litter, officials transferred them to intensive care at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.

“It took several days of intense treatment, but five of the puppies eventually started showing a marked improvement,” Keiley said.

One of the six puppies did not survive.

“We did absolutely everything possible to save him,” Keiley explained. “Parvo is so dangerous, we knew that saving all the puppies would be challenging, but we had to try.”

The puppies are available for adoption at both the MSPCA’s Boston and Cape Cod centers (MSPCA)

“It’s a stark reminder to dog owners that vaccinating against this virus is extremely important,” he added.

The five surviving puppies are recovering and need to be isolated for a month before they can be adopted, per the MSPCA.

“They’re quite the fighters,” Keiley said. “We know that they’ll be really great pets for the right adopters.”

The MSPCA says the shepherd-mix puppies are available for adoption at the Boston and Cape Cod Centers in Jamaica Plain and Centerville, Mass.