CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The Butler County Humane Society reopened Wednesday after a case of the highly contagious and occasionally lethal canine parvovirus affected the stray and abandoned animals at the shelter.

The humane society closed March 27 after several of the six dogs brought in after being found without food in a freezing Prospect trailer in January became ill with or tested positive for the parvovirus along with other dogs in the quarantined area of the shelter.

Animals whose vaccination background is unknown are kept in the quarantined area until it can be determined that they are safe to enter the general population.

The facility's general population was not affected because the abandoned animals that tested positive for parvo were in isolation and remain there, said Jennifer DiCuccio, humane society executive director.

The disease attacks the dog's intestinal system and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of appetite.

DiCuccio said treatment can include antibiotics, but mainly consists of keeping the affected animals hydrated and fed, which can include tube- or force-feeding.

She said the animals also receive medicine to prevent nausea if needed.

“Mainly, they need fluids to stay hydrated because the virus takes a toll on the gut,” DiCuccio said.

She said the stray and abandoned dogs that were sick with parvo remained at the veterinarian's for seven days, and the last dog came back to the humane society Tuesday.

“This virus can live in their stool for 30 to 60 days, so they will remain in isolation until they have a negative parvo test,” DiCuccio said, “but nobody passed away, which is great.”

She said the herculean task of caring for dogs sick with parvo or that could be carrying the virus includes soaking and washing every item contacted in a decontaminant solution.

The items that would not fit in the facility's washing machines included Kuranda dog bed toppers, which had to be disposed of along with many other items used by the stray and abandoned dogs in isolation.

DiCuccio said the high-end bed toppers had to be thrown away, so a request was placed on the society's Facebook page. The beds were quickly replaced by area residents, who ordered them online and had them shipped to the humane society.

Another area rescue organization sent 24 small dog beds as well, DiCuccio said.

The society also received $7,300 in monetary donations from the public that will go toward paying the $20,000 the humane society was forced to spend for veterinary care, medicine, hazardous waste removal, dumpsters and other expenses during the parvo ordeal.

“You find ways to see if you can cut in other areas,” DiCuccio said. “We're trying to apply for grants to help cover it. It's worth a shot.”

DiCuccio said the general population of 24 available dogs and five that will become available within the next two weeks need homes or foster families.

The first adoption of a dog since the facility shut down occurred Wednesday afternoon, when Copper, a 1-year-old German shorthaired pointer, was adopted by Nikol Facemyer of Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, and her children, Lily and Elliot.

DiCuccio is glad the parvo ordeal is over, but stressed the dogs that were affected are not yet available for adoption.

“Everyone is getting better,” she said of the dogs who fought off parvo. “They're happy and their tails are wagging, so we are happy too.”

The Orphans of the Storm animal shelter in Kittanning is now closed because of a parvovirus, according to the facility's Facebook page.