Gourmet Garden

If anyone who has a pet or has watched ‘I Am Legend’, which stars Will Smith, killed his beloved dog with no choice because of infection. You would know or share the same feeling and thoughts that I am going through now. While writing this post it breaks my heart that our beloved husky puppies are no more with us in this world!!

And all for what?! Just for few bucks more and to free themselves of any liability and responsibility!

It was on February the 3rd this year that three of them were born to our female pet husky, BoBo, but now they are no longer with us. If they were adopted and we are assured that they will be living a joyful and healthy life, then we would be very happy ‘parents’, but to loose them to greed and irresponsible reasons and to see them suffer is really heart renching.

Because of a person’s greed, two of the three puppies were sent a pet shop off Jalan Air Itam to be put up for sale for more money than what a genuine dog lover was willing to pay.

The picture below is the pet shop were the puppies were place and left there for people to buy them. They are the famous and biggest pet shop in ayer Itam who sells fish, birds, reptile years before venture into the cat and dog section. The pet shop is located off Jalan Air Itam. When coming from Chung Ling High School turn right at the Jalan Thien Tiek and Jalan Air Itam traffic lights.

Not long after the female puppy was sold but the male puppy was still left waiting at the pet shop. And weeks goes buy; out of the blue the pet shop calls up and requests that the male puppy be taken home.   And that is when the nightmare began. When my father-in-law noticed that something was not right with the white male puppy, he immediately took the puppy to see the vet. And it was diagnose to have contracted the contagious and fatal ‘Distemper’ virus, which took his life after 2 days at my in-laws house.

We thought that the nightmare would end there, but fate has it the only puppy that I & Gill decided that we could keep was also taken away after days of fighting the Distemper virus.

The last picture and memorable Jessie taken from the vet.

For the past week we have tried to persuade Jessie to eat and as a last resort, after seeing her weakening day by day, we tried to force feed her but it was all to no avail. The last trip to the vet on the 1st of June, she was tested and was diagnosed with full blown distemper virus infection. Seeing her starving, walking incoherently and moaning for the past few days, we have no choice, as the distemper can be contages to other dogs, yet the dog is uncureable, we force ourselves to decided to put her to sleep and release her 3 month old body from the pain and suffering that had agonised her for the past week.

Jessie gone in peacefully with just a second!

As I continue to write, tears of sorrow is damming up in my eyes, but I must soldier on to inform others about the hideous virus and how it spreads and the irresponsibility of coward and greedy business that have denied any responsibility.

What is Canine Distemper?

Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids (e.g. foxes, wolves and coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets.

How is Canine Distemper virus spread?

Puppies and dogs usually become infected through airborne exposure to the virus contained in respiratory secretions of an infected dog or wild animal. Outbreaks of distemper tend to be sporadic. Because canine distemper also affects wildlife populations, contact between wild and domestic canids may facilitate spread of the virus.

In this case

1. The pet shop said they will do the vaccinate by veterinary for our doggies. Do they really vaccinate my do? do they really send them to legal vet for vaccination? if yes, why the dogs infected distemper easily?

2. We highly suspect that the pet shop that the white male puppy was placed at and brought back from has been infected by the virus. And it was irresponsible of them to have us take the sick puppy back without informing us or warning us about its condition to avoid any liability.

No matter how much money was earned, it would not compensate for the loss of such loveable lives and the emotional torture is unbearable.

What dogs are at risk?

All dogs are at risk but puppies younger than four months old and dogs that have not been vaccinated against canine distemper are at increased risk of acquiring the disease.As I contineu to write, tears are trinkling down, but I must soldier on to inform others about the hedious virus and how it spreads and the irresponsibility of coward and greedy businesses.

A more comprehensive facts and information on the Distemper Virus can be found  in the following links:

• http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_distemper.html
• http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/56700.htm
• http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/3/7/central/3419755&sec=central
• http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/ailment/canine-distemper-remedies.html#question2

Now the little ones have left us, our hearts are now pounding and our thoughts of fear are with our other adult dogs. In both houses with have a total of seven dogs that we fear that we might loose to the Distemper Virus. We are currently trying our best and finding ways to boost their immune system so that they will be strong enough to ward of the on-slaught of the virus. Help us pray that they will survive and continue to be happy and healthy members of our family.

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