Killer virus closes dogs' home

The home has closed for one week

Birmingham Dogs Home has closed its door to new arrivals for a week due to an outbreak of a disease which has killed five dogs.

The Parvo virus, which is highly contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhoea, is thought to have been brought in by two recent arrivals.

Manager Peter Grigg said the vet had advised the home to close for one week to be sure the virus had gone.

The dogs home houses 150 dogs and can take up to 70 new strays a week.

Mr Grigg said he noticed on Sunday afternoon that two dogs brought in from West Bromwich were looking ill.

"All dogs are vaccinated when they arrive but they deteriorated rapidly and it killed them.

"We had to close for a week to make sure that none of the dogs have it in their system," he said.