MOORESVILLE — Four Legged Ranch in Mooresville is feeling the impact of the parvo virus as two of their puppies are currently fighting for their lives at a local animal hospital. Because of that, they want to spread the message about how important it is to get your dogs vaccinated.
Within the last year, Robert Younghouse and his wife started helping out Mooresville Animal Rescue by fostering dogs in need.
It's an important job which includes making sure the pups get the care they need to be healthy, and that includes vaccines.
"If you want your puppy to stay healthy and — to be blunt —you want them to live, you need those shots," Younghouse said. "There's just so much out there they can catch. It's not just parvo, but parvo is one of the worst."
"I think the biggest thing we would like to stress, is there are low-cost vaccines out there, and low cost does not mean a low-quality," Stephanie Elliot, a volunteer with Four Legged Ranch, said.
Elliot sees the impact the parvo outbreak is having across the state.
"We are seeing a lot of people needing help in the rescues and shelters are doing everything they can," Elliot said. "It seems to be overwhelming for everyone."
On Friday, they took in two puppies who both have the parvo virus and are being treated at Noah's Animal Hospital.
"To give you an idea, they have been in six days, and that has cost us $8,300, at this point, for the two of them," Elliot said.
The most important message she wants people to know is getting your dog vaccinated will not only save you from a large vet bill, but it will also help save their life.
In order to continue helping puppies sick with parvo, and to pay for current medical bills, rescue organizations, like Four Legged Ranch, needs donations.
