Owners urged to vaccinate dogs after puppy left for dead outside Humane Society

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.— It's peak canine parvo virus season in Michiana.

As outbreak spreads, Mishawaka Police are searching for the people who dropped off a dying dog at the St. Joseph County Humane Society Friday morning.

It turns out the puppy was likely infected with the highly contagious parvo virus.

Right now, there are dozens of reported cases in Indiana according to the Elanco Parvo Track Map, which caused the South Bend Animal Resource Center to recently quarantine.

When staff arrived at work on Friday, they found a five-month-old puppy dead at the front door.

“So, once she got closer, she realized there was actually a puppy in those blankets and so she was able to get the animal inside. She tried to do CPR on the animal, but it had already passed,” said Genny Brown, Executive Director of the St. Joseph County Humane Society.

Surveillance video shows three people pulling up around 7:30 a.m. Friday, leaving the sick dog stranded near the front entrance, wrapped in blankets, suffering, and alone.

Then pulling away without even calling the emergency number posted right on the front door.

“If they sought veterinary care for the animal, there’s a very good chance the puppy could’ve been saved,” said Brown.

The Humane Society believes if the men had called the number, the pup might still be alive.

Its body was still warm when staff found it outside.

The shelter didn’t open until noon, but it always has someone on the clock for emergencies like this.

“Both us and the South Bend Animal Resource Center have on-call officers 24/7 so you can call our main number and it’ll direct you to the extension,” Brown encouraged.

The Mishawaka Police Department is investigating, asking for help finding these men.

The Humane Society is reminding residents, resources are available to vaccinate your dogs, which completely protects them from the highly contagious parvo virus that leaves them unable to retain nutrients or water.

“So, all puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at risk of getting parvo,” warned Brown.

Puppies who are too young to vaccinate are always at risk.

However, Elanco Animal Health, based in Indy says it has the first ever treatment available.

They shared what to look out for and when it’s time to see a vet.

“So be aware of the dog poop, know those signs and symptoms about parvo... So again, those are things like vomiting, diarrhea, and appetence lethargy. If you have a puppy, that’s showing any of those signs contact your veterinarian,” said Doctor Jennifer Miller, the
Technical Consulting Veterinarian with Elanco Health.

Elanco hopes to save one million puppies with their treatment, awareness, and Parvo Track Map, where you can sign up for alerts and track local cases.

“Minutes matter with this disease, the sooner that we can get a dog in and start treatment for parvo the better the outcome is gonna be for that puppy,” said Dr. Miller.

You can sign up here.

The South Bend Animal Resource Center just lifted its parvo quarantine to start the month.

They and the Humane Society are both full and looking for folks to adopt, foster, and volunteer.