Contagious virus hits Hastings dog pound

Four dogs have been put to sleep at Hastings Pound after what Mayor Lawrence Yule described as the worst outbreak of parvovirus in four years.

It is suspected the highly contagious viral disease was carried by an old dog, of unknown ownership, brought to the pound earlier this week.

Of 15 dogs in the facility, four tested positive for parvo yesterday and were put to sleep.

"The vet's view is that the chances of surviving parvo are very small and the risk of passing it on is very high, " Mr Yule said. He said he wanted to be transparent about the outbreak as the pound was under review by independent consultant and ex-Tauranga council environmental-compliance manager John Payne.

"It's the worst we have had in four years but John has told us it happens at every pound."

The remaining 11 dogs tested negative, including 10-month-old pitbull-cross Stitch, which had been in isolation pending a court case for a charge of rushing. Staff deemed the best option was to send him home, where he was reunited with his family.

"It's like Ebola in humans. You do what you can to minimise the risk of spreading it to healthy people," Mr Yule said.

The pound and its vans had been disinfected to try to prevent further spread. The incubation period for parvo - from exposure to the first signs of disease - is seven to 14 days.

Further testing on the dogs would be done next week and a draft of the report into standards and practice at the pound was expected to be available by the end of the month.

Mr Yule hoped a final document would be handed to him by early November and recommendations implemented by Christmas.

Jessica Maxwell, animal rights activist and founder of newly-formed group Watchdog, said the situation was "shocking" but not surprising.

She referred to a report released by the Ministry of Primary Industries to council on January 9, revealing conditions at the pound failed to meet minimum standards in five areas - disease mitigation, isolation facilities, aggressive dogs in adjoining cages, temperature control and staff failing to exercise dogs.

"It comes as no surprise because the report said there were 'no defined measures in place' [to prevent disease] - it's shocking."

Ms Maxwell believed Mr Payne's findings would be no better.