By james art 
HOLTON (KSNT) – An animal shelter based in Jackson County went into quarantine last week after a puppy was found to have a dangerous virus.
The Heart of Jackson Humane Society posted on social media on Oct. 28 notifying the community that it would be closing for two weeks. No reason was initially given as to why this action was being taken.
The Humane Society issued a second announcement on October 31 regarding the quarantine situation, saying it was caused by the discovery of canine parvovirus. A dog and her eight puppies were brought in from the shelter recently, and one of the puppies tested positive for parvovirus and was quarantined while the other animals received boosters.
“Unfortunately parvo is very, very contagious and spreads easily and now we have more of the same litter that have tested positive and have already lost one puppy. It is very important to control the environment in the shelter, so we decided to quarantine it and close to the public. We don’t want anyone to unknowingly import or spread this horrible virus anywhere else. Our staff works hard cleaning and caring for these sweet puppies.”
Excerpt from Heart of Jackson Humane Society social media post
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Parvovirus is spread either through direct contact with an infected dog or through indirect contact with a contaminated object such as feces, according to the American Kennel Club. Puppies between six weeks and six months are most susceptible to parvovirus and can develop symptoms such as:
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Bloody diarrhea
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vomiting
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A fever
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Lethargy
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Weight loss
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Weakness
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Dehydration
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depression
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Loss of appetite
The heart of the Jackson Humane Society can be found at 414 East Eighth Street in Holton. You can contact the organization by calling 785-364-5156 or visit its website by clicking here.
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