The Animal Foundation Receives $5,000 from the ASPCA to Help Fund Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) Prevention
Grant will support vaccinations and other proactive steps to prevent the spread of CIV in the Las Vegas Valley
Las Vegas – The Animal Foundation has received a grant for $5,000 from the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the first animal welfare organization in North America, to support ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) both in its canine shelter population and throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Thanks to this generous grant, The Animal Foundation will be able to cover more of the cost of CIV vaccines for dogs in the shelter. Currently, all dogs at The Animal Foundation are vaccinated immediately upon intake, with booster vaccines administered to those still in the shelter two weeks later.
“While we have not seen any occurrences of CIV in our shelter as of yet, we want to be as prepared as possible to manage CIV in our community,” said Daniel Neel, Chief Finance and Development Officer for The Animal Foundation. “We are very heartened by this generous grant from the ASPCA and are more confident than ever that we can successfully manage this current threat of CIV.”
“This grant is about keeping shelter dogs healthy so that they can thrive and eventually be adopted into new, loving homes,” said Matt Stern, ASPCA Senior Director of Operations for Policy, Response & Engagement. “The ASPCA is pleased to be in a position where we can support this effort to protect animals in the Las Vegas Valley community.”
CIV is very contagious and can be spread through direct contact with an infected dog or contact with environments, objects, or people contaminated with the virus. Dogs infected with CIV display symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Respiratory droplets can travel more than 20 feet when an infected dog is coughing. Dogs may be contagious and spreading CIV even before they show symptoms of Illness, as well as up to four (4) weeks after becoming ill, even if they have recovered themselves.
Operating as the Nevada’s largest open-admission animal shelter, The Animal Foundation provides refuge and healthcare for thousands of helpless animals annually, saving as many as 25,000 pets in 2017. The Animal Foundation is open daily from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. For more information about our low-cost vet clinic and to view adoptable pets, please visit animalfoundation.com.
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ABOUT THE ANIMAL FOUNDATION
The Animal Foundation is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of all healthy and treatable animals in the Las Vegas Valley. The Animal Foundation operates the highest volume single-site animal shelter in America, saving more than 25,000 pets last year. Founded in 1978, The Animal Foundation’s lifesaving programs are designed to address the root causes of pet overpopulation and homelessness and include: adoptions; low-cost spay/neuter, microchipping and vaccination services; lost & found pets; Community Cats; and more. In June 2015, The Animal Foundation announced Mission: Possible 2020, a strategic initiative to save the lives of all healthy and treatable animals who come to them in need by the end of the year 2020. To learn more about The Animal Foundation or view adoptable pets online, visit animalfoundation.com.