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Fifteen to 20 dogs at the Stanly County Animal Control that have been diagnosed with the parvovirus have been euthanized in recent months, according to Health and Human Services Director David Jenkins.

“We have been dealing with a Parvo issue off-and-on for the past few months,” Jenkins said, referring to the virus as an “unusual strain” that’s been difficult to get under control.

“We’re doing our best to get this situation in check,” Jenkins added.

Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that is particularly prominent in the canine community, especially puppies and young dogs. The virus causes infectious gastrointestinal illness and, without treatment, can be deadly.

Jenkins said to the best of his knowledge the virus likely originated from a stray dog that arrived at the shelter.

“We don’t know where they come from a lot of times,” Jenkins said of the dogs. “They can have all kinds of issues when they come in,” including diseases and injuries.

Dr. Amy Jordan, veterinarian at Bear Creek Veterinary Hospital, was called to the shelter a few weeks ago to make recommendations for how best to control the outbreak.

Jenkins said animal control is working to quarantine new animals to make sure they are not infected before being released into the general population.

It costs at least $1,000 to treat a single dog that has contracted the parvovirus, Jenkins said. The main reason the dogs who have contracted the virus have been put to sleep is because the county doesn’t have enough money in the budget to pay for treatments.

Animal control workers are now spraying dog kennels with a chemical disinfectant called Parvo Tech which will hopefully alleviate the problem, Jenkins said.