Pet rescues sending supplies and support as Nibinamik battles canine parvovirus outbreak

A woman from Nibinamik First Nation helping the northwestern Ontario community cope with a canine parvovirus outbreak says around 20 dogs have died of the virus this past month. 

Valerie Wabasse said she made a 12-hour drive on winter roads to get to Thunder Bay over the Easter weekend to pick up vaccines from a local pet rescue in town.

"I went to pick up [the vaccines] and brought it back up north to try to save the dogs." Wabasse said.

Canine parvovirus is a highly infectious virus with a high fatality rate among dogs and other canines. It attacks dogs' gastrointestinal systems and can damage their heart muscles.

Wabasse was motivated to get involved and help her community after her own dog, a chocolate lab named Bailey, died within four days of contracting the parvovirus, she said. 

"[It feels like] losing a family member. That's how it felt like when we lost Bailey, our dog," she said. 

Wabasse expressed gratitude to Kim Tamminen, the founder of Paws for Love Dog Rescue in Thunder Bay, for helping combat the outbreak.

Support has also come from Matawa First Nations Management and Northern Reach Network, which have been sending supplies. 

"Proper disinfection is super critical, and that's why Northern Reach really tried to focus on providing the disinfectant and spray bottles and gloves and instructions on how, you know, how to prepare the disinfectant from the concentrate form," said Pamela Cowie, a volunteer with Northern Reach.

Parvovirus spreads through direct contact with infected dogs, Cowie explained, or through contact with the feces from the infected dog or contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.