Shelter staff rush to save tiny 1-pound puppy brought in “unresponsive”

A tiny puppy weighing less than a pound has been rescued thanks to the joint efforts of two Texas shelters.

Brynlee was brought to a local city shelter unresponsive, with a critically low blood sugar and a temperature too low to register.

Severely underweight and struggling, Brynlee was suffering from parvo, or canine parvovirus, a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects dogs, especially puppies under 6 months old and unvaccinated dogs.

The virus attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and immune system, leading to severe and often life-threatening symptoms. It comes from exposure to infected feces or direct contact with infected animals, and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite and dehydration.

The staffers at the city shelter recognized the puppy’s dire condition and knew they couldn’t provide the specialized care Brynlee needed, so they reached out to Austin Pets Alive! (APA), an organization known for its expertise in handling cases like Brynlee’s.

“After a critical blood transfusion and continuous care, she’s starting to eat and even play,” APA said. “A significant improvement from her initial condition. She even weighs over a pound now.”

In a January survey, investigators at animal health company Elanco found that an estimated 900 dogs are diagnosed daily with canine parvovirus, and those that do not receive timely care face a mortality rate as high as 91 percent.

In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent compared with 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system, compared with the same time the year before.

Around 850,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2023, a rise of 15 percent compared with 2022. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs and behavior rehabilitation.

As APA continues to help dogs like Brynlee, it says it is facing rising costs to keep its shelter running.

“Clinic costs have jumped 47% over the past few years, and the need for medical supplies and specialized care has never been greater,” the shelter said, explaining its need for support from the community to continue helping animals.

Fortunately, Brynlee continues to improve thanks to the work of the APA clinic and her foster family, which is helping her gain weight.

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