Some local pups need your help!
Riverside County Animal Services is trying to get the word out, they desperately need foster homes for about 100 dogs from one of the county's largest shelters after an outbreak of disease called 'strep zoo' killed 13 dogs there.
Strep zoo causes fever, depression, a cough and in the worst cases, pneumonia in dogs and can spread through direct contact with livestock, or through surfaces or through the air, so a shelter environment can help it spread quickly. There is no vaccine for the disease.
The best bet to prevent disease is to get the dogs OUT of the shelter and into foster homes and specifically homes with NO other dogs.
Riverside County Animal services Director Erin Gettis told the Press Enterprise:
"Fostering dogs from the shelter will not only protect these dogs from getting sick, but will allow the shelter to medically isolate dogs that may have been exposed to a sick dog."
Jen talked to Erin this morning about the outbreak and how you can help. They really need:
- DONATIONS! CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
- volunteers to foster
- volunteers in general
- donations of blankets, towels, bedding....click here to see more of the items they need at the shelter.
For more information on how you can become a foster or volunteer call 951-358-7376 or email Foster@rivco.org