Quarantine - Seems Not To Be Important Anymore

[Bartok]

This isn't at anyone in particular it is just something I have noticed across the board over the past months.

I was introduced to rescue many years ago and Quarantine was always something we did. I didnt even put dogs up

for adoption until after their quarantine period (i worked on a 2week time frame)

I see alot of dogs being moved direct from pounds/shelters and straight onto transport trucks or flights

Have i missed something that all of a sudden the pounds/shelters are clear of disease and it is ok to do this?

[Guest muttrus]

Although my situation is different I still need to consider my own pets as well as my own family.I KNOW where my fosters came from and what medical treatment they recieved before coming to me.BUT we do fly them in so we use our own crates I have 5L of F10 here and clean my own crates However dealing with puppies means all sorts of things much like children and babies if its around chances are they will pick it up .

I must say I do worry alot there are many things we can"t see or control.I would love to take on more poundies but besides my pets I have a duty of care to my fosters so usually only take a poundie when no fosters here or I think more carefully.Remember some things don"t always present themselves straight away such as parvo

I guess for me the bigger issue is personality those two weeks of Quarantine would also allow more time to get to know the animal in question

[Little Gifts]

One of my dreams if I ever win lotto is to run a homestyle overflow shelter for dogs who needed to do their quarantine or who were awaiting a foster carer placement or who were in transit, etc. Free of charge to rescue of course!

I can see there being a need to provide a dog with somewhere home like as soon as possible after becoming a rescue and while quarantine and transitory arrangements impact on this I'm sure with time and money something value adding could be achieved. If time in quarantine can also provide contact and stimulation for the dog then his personality can be assessed and plans for his future can be made. I think it must be very hard for a foster carer to provide this while also keeping their own or other foster dogs safe during that waiting period. I suspect a lot of sad dogs and sad carers are simply counting the days till it is all over.

It can be done in hospitals for humans so I'm sure it can be done for dogs too.

[_PL_]

I don't know what the deal is either Bartok but have seen it said a bit like this:

if you're giving your dog the traditional two weeks settling in/assessing and quarantine (mostly that's as near to keeping them from spreading germs around as manageable without an iso setup), then you're risking the lives of Urgent List dogs and contributing to high kill stats: and besides, people adopt from pounds all the time and take the dog straight to the park so why are you complaining. etc etc

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

A few months ago at a pet supply store, a new owner of a poundie arrived. The dog had been out maybe a week (?), they desexed but didn't opt to vaccinate (or quarantine obviously). I'm not sure why vets aren't explaining things like this either.

[tdierikx]

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

Never a wiser word spoken Powerlegs...

I like to actually KNOW the dog I'm putting up for adoption... we usually have ours for longer than 2 weeks to be sure on ALL counts before trying to place a dog into a new home.

T.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

Never a wiser word spoken Powerlegs...

I like to actually KNOW the dog I'm putting up for adoption... we usually have ours for longer than 2 weeks to be sure on ALL counts before trying to place a dog into a new home.

T.

Amen to that statement. If only everyone was interested in getting to know the dogs they were rescuing before rehoming, we'd all be better off.

[k9angel]

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

Never a wiser word spoken Powerlegs...

I like to actually KNOW the dog I'm putting up for adoption... we usually have ours for longer than 2 weeks to be sure on ALL counts before trying to place a dog into a new home.

T.

Amen to that statement. If only everyone was interested in getting to know the dogs they were rescuing before rehoming, we'd all be better off.

I couldn't agree more.

The majority of our dogs are in care for several months prior to rehoming, some longer.

They are loved and treated as one of our own the whole time they are here. I like to get to know them inside and out before rehoming. I wouldn't sleep otherwise. I don't know how some rescues can operate with the 'in one door - out the other' mentality.

I am also concerned at the lack of quarantine with some rescues.

Sadly, my foster carer isn't able to care for anymore dogs, but when she did, I never just pulled a dog from the pound and sent them off to her. I would bring them home here first, quarantine them, have them vetted and do several temp tests before they went anywhere...

[Carlo11]

k9angel - What do you consider to be appropriate quarantine measures? Its very hard to do in a home environment and I too see rescue dogs going straight from the Pounds onto transport or direct into carers homes.Surely this is not best practice but with limited resources,what else can rescue groups do?

[Katdogs]

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

Never a wiser word spoken Powerlegs...

I like to actually KNOW the dog I'm putting up for adoption... we usually have ours for longer than 2 weeks to be sure on ALL counts before trying to place a dog into a new home.

T.

Amen to that statement. If only everyone was interested in getting to know the dogs they were rescuing before rehoming, we'd all be better off.

Bleeding heart dreamers, the lot of you. Don't you know it's all about numbers and how you look on FB? :rolly eyes guy and a couple of winks:

Seriously, it's scary, there is risk mitigation then there's just ignorance. I delivered a dog from Blacktown pound to a foster carer who was a bit late back home because she was out buying a lead to take the dog on the Bay run and go leash free in Rozelle straight after delivery to 'tire him out and meet new friends'. Last job for that group - that's hundreds of dogs potentially exposed!

[Bartok]

k9angel - What do you consider to be appropriate quarantine measures? Its very hard to do in a home environment and I too see rescue dogs going straight from the Pounds onto transport or direct into carers homes.Surely this is not best practice but with limited resources,what else can rescue groups do?

When I started with rescue I new the risks of having pound dogs/pup in my yard, even with my dogs fully vaccinated and healthy.

I have had parvo, I have had coccidia and kennel cough etc.

For most people their yard is the quarantine station and if you have been informed correctly then you will know what diseases may

be getting carried into your property.

Some people are lucky enough to have separate area's but others aren't, but that is a decision and risk you make for ur home and ur dogs etc.

But for me. to take a dog straight from a pound and put it on a plane or a transport truck is inappropriate. They could fur carry parvo virus or have

Kennel cough incubating etc.

I understand people adopt from the pound and probably go straight to parks etc and spread bugs

It's no different to them adopting from a rescue. they may say they wont take a pup to a park that hasnt had all needles,

but the majority probably do.

Our job is to educate and if we do that through following some strict procedures and the public become aware of that.

I think it could only earn rescue and groups respect for being thorough in their approach.

I guess I just get frustrated with so many groups popping up all over the place and request for transport ASAP from this pound to that state to this place.

I just cringe at times. I just remember having it drummed into me the importance of Quarantine etc

[indigirl]

I agree ppl seem to be quite blasé about quarantine these days, maybe there hasn't been many scary stories of parvo of late. Not sure what it is but ppl seem happy to move dogs from multiple pounds around in their vehicles. Scary stuff! You also see pics of the dogs that came from the pound that day sleeping on ppls couches, mixing with their family and their own dogs. A dog from a pound does not set foot in my house or mix with my dogs until I know it is free from disease.

[tdierikx]

There's no way to dispute that except by sticking to what you know is right.

Never a wiser word spoken Powerlegs...

I like to actually KNOW the dog I'm putting up for adoption... we usually have ours for longer than 2 weeks to be sure on ALL counts before trying to place a dog into a new home.

T.

Amen to that statement. If only everyone was interested in getting to know the dogs they were rescuing before rehoming, we'd all be better off.

Thank you dogmad...

It can be hard to not want to place pups reasonably quickly - but as long as we give them lots of love and socialisation, and make sure they are going to be happy and healthy canine citizens, it doesn't matter that we don't list them for a few weeks and miss out on that really cute stage at about 6-7 weeks of age. We aren't looking for people that fall in love with a photo - we want to rehome to people who really want to have a canine family member who lives up to expectations.

Oh - and it also feeds my addiction for puppy breath... *grin*

T.

[garnali]

The topic in the saved lists at the top describes quarantine measures that SHOULD be in place..

Parvo is the worst thing.. Stays in soil for a long time & can be very hard to eradicate.. Sealed concrete with a seperate drain system is the only true way to Quarantine..I know people who use their laundry or bathroom area for quarantine...

I'm lucky that I have two yards, Concrete yard for new arrivals and grassed yard for my own dogs and long termers. Two weeks is the bare minimum to notice things like kennel cough.. Most pounds wil parvac the pups before collection which is helping control parvo.

Guess once again it is a personal thing.. I've even had KC come from a dog who was with a different carer.. It's sometimes like playing with a loaded gun and each carer needs to know their limits. :D

[Guest muttrus]

my kids still believe its chocolate in the little box from the chemist :D jokes aside because I do mainly puppies I tell people to stay away from high dog traffic parks etc for awhile I always say ""just because you pup is vaccinated doesn"t mean everyones elses is"" my puppy pack comes with info on vaccinations and the nasties out there. But yes people can"t wait to show off their new puppy .

KC has been here too many times to count .I do have two yards front and back both fully fenced etc and try my best should anyone appear sick.However my rescuer NEVER sends anyone even romotely looking Ill so Im lucky there but I have had injuries too where the pup couldn"t be rehomed straight away and needed to be keep away from the others.One pup sliced its leg open on some tin while she was ok the wound still needed daily cleaning and I kept her away from the others at night etc for fear if during play the wound was opened or got trodden on causing pain etc.

So there are many reasons for neeeding somewhere to be maybe longer than expected AS for poundies I couldn"t live with myself had I just sent a dog away without knowing him/her and it did real harm.

Afew weeks ago I did get a poundie from blacktown I did go there and see him first.As it turned out I knew the person who adopted him he was with me for a week after I picked him up and had his vet work etc done the person knew exactly as much as I did and still was happy to take him.But had that situation been different I would have kept him longer I can honestly say but whhen he threw up in the car on the way home I freaked but as it turned out he is NOT a car traveller and gets very car sick My volunteer drivers car is cleaned with F10 which I offer to do.

[Ons]

I've taken dogs straight from country pounds and fostered them, probably not the most ideal situation but no alternative really

I have always spoken to the pound and made sure that there has been no recent cases of parvo - this probably isn't any use but it reassures me a little

the dogs are always vacinated by the vet on the way home from the pound

the dogs never left my yard for at least two weeks after they come into my care and are not put up for adoption during this time because I think it takes about two weeks for their real personality to come out.

The worse that happened was that one of the dogs had kennel cough and my girl got a mild dose for 1 or 2 days, the boys were fine.

and I never intended to have young puppies who would be most at risk.

But where I live now there are litters of puppies born so I would not be able to foster unless the dog was fully quarantined for at least two weeks

[Alyosha]

No one seems keen to discuss the practice of putting poundies straight nto transport. I personally find the practice abhorrent. I'm aware that the company is agreeing to do so. But are their other customers aware of the risks that may be posed to their dogs?? I would be horrified if I had a dog transported by a company and it was exposed to disease. Any exposed dogs may then go on to expose others at their destination.

[Bartok]

I've taken dogs straight from country pounds and fostered them, probably not the most ideal situation but no alternative really

I have always spoken to the pound and made sure that there has been no recent cases of parvo - this probably isn't any use but it reassures me a little

the dogs are always vacinated by the vet on the way home from the pound

the dogs never left my yard for at least two weeks after they come into my care and are not put up for adoption during this time because I think it takes about two weeks for their real personality to come out.

The worse that happened was that one of the dogs had kennel cough and my girl got a mild dose for 1 or 2 days, the boys were fine.

and I never intended to have young puppies who would be most at risk.

But where I live now there are litters of puppies born so I would not be able to foster unless the dog was fully quarantined for at least two weeks

I would think you generally do the same thing as most in rescues with their foster carers. That is how my yard works also, but that is your yard and you understand the pro's and con's etc of being a foster carer.

Rescue groups need to be able to contain any outbreaks of any virus. No matter how minor to their group and their carers.

[Bartok]

No one seems keen to discuss the practice of putting poundies straight nto transport. I personally find the practice abhorrent. I'm aware that the company is agreeing to do so. But are their other customers aware of the risks that may be posed to their dogs?? I would be horrified if I had a dog transported by a company and it was exposed to disease. Any exposed dogs may then go on to expose others at their destination.

I think it is called treading on toes or open up a can of worms

I would hate to have purchased a puppy from an ethical registered breeder or a dog for that matter

and have it on the same transport or in a crate on a plane next to a dog that could potentially infect

it.

[Clyde]

No one seems keen to discuss the practice of putting poundies straight nto transport. I personally find the practice abhorrent. I'm aware that the company is agreeing to do so. But are their other customers aware of the risks that may be posed to their dogs?? I would be horrified if I had a dog transported by a company and it was exposed to disease. Any exposed dogs may then go on to expose others at their destination.

I find this abhorrent as well and incredibly selfish. A while back I was looking for a Maremma pup but had to rule out perfectly good breeders as I refused to transport the pup. Puppy buyers and breeders are affected by the selfishness of some rescues. I phoned one transport company who said they only transport vaccinated rescues - all well and good, but they aren't quarantined prior to transport so what difference does it really make.

Edited April 18, 2012 by Clyde

[shmoo]

No one seems keen to discuss the practice of putting poundies straight nto transport. I personally find the practice abhorrent. I'm aware that the company is agreeing to do so. But are their other customers aware of the risks that may be posed to their dogs?? I would be horrified if I had a dog transported by a company and it was exposed to disease. Any exposed dogs may then go on to expose others at their destination.

I find this abhorrent as well and incredibly selfish. A while back I was looking for a Maremma pup but had to rule out perfectly good breeders as I refused to transport the pup. Puppy buyers and breeders are affected by the selfishness of some rescues. I phoned one transport company who said they only transport vaccinated rescues - all well and good, but they aren't quarantined prior to transport so what difference does it really make.

You're right, none. Animals can still carry some diseases on their fur, feet etc even if they themselves are not infected. You'd think the transport companies would be a little more diligent. They are putting their business on the line!

Edited April 18, 2012 by shmoo