April 28, 2026, is National Parvo Awareness Day, and we want to share information about the virus, plus one parvo pup’s journey during their stay with us.
What is parvo, and how does it spread?
Canine parvovirus (also known as parvo) is a highly contagious and life-threatening virus that affects unvaccinated dogs, especially puppies who have not yet completed their vaccine series. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal tract and weakens the immune system by affecting white blood cells.
Parvo spreads easily through direct contact with infected dogs, feces or contaminated surfaces such as food/water bowls, kennels, clothing and even the hands of people who have handled infected dogs.
How to prevent your dog from parvo?
The best way to prevent your pup from the virus is to keep your dog up to date on vaccinations. For puppies, avoid high-risk public areas (dog parks, doggie day care, pet stores, etc.) until they have completed their full series of vaccines.
Providing lifesaving parvo Care
As a lifesaving animal welfare organization, we provide medical treatment for every pet in our care, no matter how simple or complex the injury or illness is. We are grateful to have a state-of-the-art medical facility, which allowed us to treat 108 cases of parvo in 2025.
Fighting parvo, finding her future
Shayla came to Operation Kindness Humane Society on June 19, 2025, from Dallas Animal Services. When she tested positive for parvo, we stepped in to provide the intensive, specialized medical care she needed — the kind of treatment that can be a significant challenge for any shelter to take on.
Despite being only ten weeks old, Shayla never gave up during her fight with parvo. Throughout the battle, she was never alone. Our dedicated medical team provided her with relief through plenty of fluids, medicine and daily monitoring.
On July 3, 2025, Shayla was medically cleared, and her journey to find a loving family began. While it took Shayla a little extra time and a few attempts to find her family, she was officially adopted on February 15, 2026. Now, she is a healthy young pup thriving and making unforgettable memories with her favorite people.
Helping dogs diagnosed with parvovirus, like Shayla, requires help from every team in our organization, plus our amazing supporters! Learn about different ways to give and transform the lives of pets across Texas.
