Audrey continued...

Our little puppy died on Monday morning. She was a sweet little thing with a fiery spirit and the cutest little face you could imagine on a dog. She was loved and will be missed.

Now, the word of warning to anyone considering adopting a pet from a shelter - be warned that puppies, especially black and tan breeds, are very susceptible to Parvo. The Parvo virus is what killed our little dog and is not uncommon in shelter puppies. It is not transmittable to humans, however it is a terrible thing for a puppy. It doesn't really affect adult dogs. What the virus does is prevent the stomach and intestines (the rapidly dividing and growing cells) from absorbing nutrients and liquid. It normally takes 7-10 days from the exposure to show symptoms. As our puppy died 5 days after got her from the shelter, this means that she contracted it there. The virus is highly contagious to puppies and is not killed by sprays like Lysol. Only a bleach solution will kill it. If you decide to adopt from a shelter, make sure you take it to the vet and get it tested for everything. It will save your family from a bunch of heart ache. For more information about this virus, go to this link http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm