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Rebecca McDonald, 16, at left, and Breann Irwin, 14, have volunteered at the Hamilton SPCA for the past two years. Here they give Bently, a Yorkshire terrier/poodle mix, a brush. The teens have accumulated more than 2,000 hours of volunteer time and, in the process, have become the volunteer organizers of the Louisiana Task Force. They organize and train seven other people to care for the dogs that arrive at the SPCA in the shipments from the United States. Those volunteers feed, bathe, clean cages and walk the dogs. On top of that, Rebecca and Breann do all the computer work that keeps track of the vital statistics of each of the dogs in the shipment.
OSPCA blamed for heartworm epidemic Welland humane society manager says he will stop importing Louisiana dogs
ST. CATHARINES — A landowners’ rights group campaigning against the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stepped up its attack on the animal welfare group this week by blaming it for a heartworm epidemic in the province. The Ontario Landowners Association, a hardline group of rural property owners, says the importing of dogs from Louisiana to shelters in Ontario for adoption has caused “an alarming increase in heartworm” in the southwest corner of the province. But humane societies in St. Catharines and Welland, which have taken in Louisiana dogs, and one of the agencies that transports the pooches to Canada, say precautions are taken to ensure the animals’ health. (--Click here to continue--) Click Here to read the entire article online at wellandtribune.ca Click Here to read the entire article online stcatherinesstandard.ca
Spare pet a slow, painful death As dog-owners for years, my wife and I used to chuckle when we took our dogs in for their annual veterinary checkup and were advised to get heartworm prevention, which we suspected was really unnecessary and just an added cost. No longer is this the case. With the startling increase of heartworm disease in southern Ontario, due in part to hundreds of stray or abandoned infected dogs being imported into Hamilton and surrounding areas after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, dog-owners should be concerned. The Hamiton Academy of Veterinarians report that of 63 recent heartworm disease cases, 45 of the dogs had been imported from Louisiana (endemic heartworm country), and 18 of the owners refused treatment for their dogs, largely because they seemed healthy and the cost of treatment was expensive. These owners are not only condemning their dogs to a horrible death -- slow but inevitable -- they are endangering their neighbours' dogs. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes biting an infected dog, then transmitting the disease to a healthy dog. Dr. Ted Reitsma of the Mavis Road Animal Clinic in Mississauga is treating one of the Louisiana dogs from Hamilton, which has mild heartworm disease. Even the most effective treatment -- a drug called Immiticide -- is dangerous, painful, expensive, and at best 75%-89% effective. Vets are warned that, in using an effective drug like Immiticide, "all dogs with heartworm disease are at risk for post-treatment pulmonary thromboembolism (death from worms, which may result in fever, weakness and coughing)." The more advanced the disease, the greater the risk, the greater the pain of treatment. Close to one-third of dogs treated have adverse reactions, ranging from coughing, gagging, depression, lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, panting, etc., that lasts for weeks. Usually a series of three injections is recommended, all accompanied by pain. There's even the risk of heart attack or breathing problems as the worms die and clog the heart and arteries. Still, that's better than the old treatment, which was with a drug containing arsenic and much more lethal. While it is true that prior to Hamilton importing Louisiana dogs -- the ones coming into Ontario now are mostly under eight months old -- heartworm was relatively rare in cities and more prevalent in rural areas. The heartworm dog Reitsma is treating now supposedly had been cleared by vets in Louisiana, but clearly not to the standards that are normal in Ontario. As a rule of thumb, once heartworm enters a city, it never leaves that city. Foxes, coyotes, raccoons are vulnerable, and are never treated. When heartworms are killed by drugs, they stay inside the dog, eventually to be absorbed by tissue. In some cases they clog the heart and cause thrombosis. Preventive medication is 99% effective and a fraction of the cost of treatment after a dog is infected. Essential at the moment is curtailing, or checking, possibly infected dogs from the southern U.S. In Canada, a provincial inquiry should examine what veterinary screening of dogs is done at the border. Funding should also be provided to enable Dr. Owen Slocombe of the Ontario Veterinary College at Guelph to come out of retirement and conduct another survey of heartworm disease in the province. Click Here to read the entire article online thestar.com
Ontario heartworm epidemic linked to thousands of imported dogs Jillian Donaghey, a transport driver for Boudreux’s Animal Rescue Krewe estimates between 2,500 to 3,000 Louisiana dogs so far have made the 24 hour trip across the border. Marketed as “death row pooches” or “Katrina Dogs”, the puppies, hot off the transport, are often sold within hours. Some at impromptu “adoptathons” staged in parking lots. The August 1, 2006 Proposed Amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations Part XII Transportation of Animals authored by the Ontario SPCA, the BC SPCA and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and Dr. Terry Whiting among others states: “The act of transporting animals creates a high risk both for animal suffering and for susceptibility to and transfer of disease.” Dr. Randy Stirling of Hamilton’s Briarwood Animal Hospital comments: A “danger of this parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes is that wildlife is vulnerable, especially foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons: Once heartworm disease infects wildlife, a permanent source of infection becomes established” “some Louisiana dogs have been sent to Calgary and the state of Washington – ...they have had an outbreak of diseases common in the south but until now unknown in the north.” The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association website states: “a private laboratory that conducts heartworm tests for Ontario veterinarians reported 676 heartworm positive pets in 2008, up 280% from 2005.” “Many of the “hurricane rescue dogs” were imported only having had one negative heartworm test.” From the Toronto Sun: “importing Louisiana dogs has become a fixture with humane societies in Southern Ontario.” “Last year, some 600 dogs from Louisiana reached the Hamilton SPCA, most under eight months old.” “The puppies, billed as being “rescued,” were sold for adoption by the Hamilton SPCA for $470. each. “Michael O’Sullivan, chairman and CEO of the Humane Society of Canada, says he’s visited the Hamilton SPCA “and I’ve seen these dogs in cages piled on top of one another, waiting to be sold.” The Ontario SPCA behaves like a puppy mill; overcrowding, stacked crates, hoarding and warehousing animals, inadequate shelter, poor quality of life, inadequate ventilation, socialization, neglect, lack of proper care, brokering large cross border animal shipments, engaging in questionable long distance transport practices, allegedly profiting from the sale of imported, diseased animals. Where was the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Health of Animals Act? Clearly the Ontario SPCA cannot be permitted to operate without independent oversight. Their actions have placed pets and wildlife in Ontario at risk for years to come. Perhaps most importantly, those entrusted with enforcing animal welfare should not engage in the very activities they purport to abhor. The Ontario SPCA is dysfunctional and hypocritical. “Without publicity and high profile charges, the funds the (Ontario) S.P.C.A. needs to operate would no doubt dry up.” Justice Anton Zuraw, R. v. Pauliuk, 2005 ONCJ 119 Click Here to read the entire article online canadafreepress.com
OVMA Warns of Heartworm from Imported Animals The likelihood of a dog being infected with heartworm disease is particularly high if the dog has been imported into Canada from heartworm endemic areas of the United States, specifically, but not limited to, the state of Louisiana. http://www.ovma.org/pet_owners/dogs/heartworm.html
The members of HAVM are extremely concerned. In 2008 there was a 10 fold increase in the number of “seen and treated” cases of Heartworm disease in Hamilton. This dramatic increase was particularly evident in dogs that were imported into Canada from heartworm endemic areas of the United States, specifically but not limited to the state of Louisiana. http://www.hamiltonvetsacademy.ca/index.html
Follow the advice of the Toronto Humane Society microbiologist, Garth Jerome: Prevention is the key to ensure that your pet stays free of heartworm. All dogs should be routinely tested for heartworm. The American Heartworm Society's current protocol for dogs, 8 months of age and older, coming from heartworm endemic areas, requires that the dog have three negative heartworm tests. The likelihood of a dog being infected with heartworm is particularly high if the dog has been imported from heartworm endemic areas of the southern United States and in particular, the state of Louisiana. Heartworm is an easily preventable disease and pet owners are encouraged to approach their veterinarian who is the best resource for understanding and managing this disease. Comments from the Public in response to the article exposing the Heartworm Crisis in Ontario Mary King Bob Anonymous I agree that the government needs to look into this but i hope you dont mean the Ont. gov animal protection agency - the OSPCA. Thier former Chair was the one importing these animals. Two of the groups mentioned still importing (Fort Erie and Lincoln County) are run by people current on the OSPCA Board. (and one is Kevin Strooband, an Agent with the OSPCA that is supposed to protect animals). Kristen Eva, you say all the dogs that you bring over the border are heartworm negative? How is it the dog I adopted was heartworm positive? Looking at all her medical records, it says she finished heartworm treatment in December of 06. Yet in March of 07 she had to receive the very painful Immiticide treatment cause she had 34 microfilaria per ml. of blood. Im not bashing B.A.R.K i'm standing up for the H.B.S.P.C.A im simply saying if I hadn't been a responsible dog owner and kept on this with my vet, who knows had bad things could have gotten with my dog. I spent the 500.00 and had my dog treated, now thankfully shes healthy.It just makes me wonder how many others couldn't afford that treatment.... so shame on me.... I don't think so. Ellie Ross I tried talking to the Ministry of Agriculture about these dogs coming in. Dogs are to have a health certificate deeming them 'healthy' and signed by a vet. No paper work was checked at the border. The only thing the border and Min. of Agr. was interested (if anything at all) was rabies vaccine. That was it. I believe I may even still have their emails pertaining to that. Dr. Pet Vet Why doesn't McShitty alot a small portion of our tax dollars to fund caring for sick animals. Don't be looking for any sympathy from a vet, they only thing you can count on from them is a hefty bill everytime you leave their office. Every time you take your mutt in for a visit they are telling you about some new disease Rover should be vacsinated for protection, or some pill (not cheap). Boy I sure learned my lesson, I like animals but unless you are wealthy or have a high income job, forget about owning a pet. Next time I'll get a stuffed animal, doesn't get sick, eat, poop, shed or smell. Very much affordable. Kristen Having adopted a rescued Katrina dog from the Hamilton SPCA (and yes she was a Katrina dog, I've had her 3 yrs, and she was around 4 when I adopted her) I have to say it amazes me how doing something good turn around and bit you in the ass. My dog was heartworm positive when I adopted and I was told by BARK NOT the SPCA that she had been treated. This problem is BARK's fault. They informed everyone that the dogs had been heartwormed treated, and were now negative which was a lie.The SPCA was just passing on the information they were given. The simple fact is all dogs should be tested every two years and get heartworm preventive from June-November anyways. If all dogs get the preventive how can it possible turn into an epidemic? Marnie Why oh why are we importing dogs out of the states when we have more than enough stray dogs in Canada for people to give homes to??? We have just too many 'do gooders' in this country now that do not understand the complications that are caused by making such stupid mistakes as importing stray dogs out of the south of the states. What is wrong with the intelligence of these SPCA workers in Hamiliton...they are suppose to know what they are doing....I don't think so! Sandra Better watch your tongue Bob. You might give blood thirsty Dalton a new idea on how to impliment a heartworm tax so he can pocket even more money from the unemployed workers. Bob Don't expect any help from Dalton or his clowns. They're too busy finding another money pit after eHealth and looking for the next thing to ban in Ontario. Maybe he'll just ban all dogs, it worked with pit bulls.
Heartworm Heartache Huge spike in deadly parasite linked to dogs from U.S. adopted after Hurricane Katrina
According to the Hamilton Academy of Veterinarian Medicine, a "huge increase" in heartworm disease in dogs -- 10 times the normal in 2008 -- threatens to reach epidemic proportions and will take years to curtail. The prime reason: Abandoned dogs imported from Louisiana by the Hamilton SPCA after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which hadn't been adequately tested, and carried the disease that is spread by mosquitoes. What started as a humanitarian gesture, importing Louisiana dogs has become a fixture with humane societies in Southern Ontario -- St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Fort Erie, Cambridge and Guelph. Last year, some 600 dogs from Louisiana reached the Hamilton SPCA, most under eight months old that have nothing to do with hurricane season. The puppies, billed as being "rescued," were sold for adoption by the Hamilton SPCA for $470 each. Most of the imported dogs are supplied by the Louisiana dog rescue firm of BARK (Bordeaux Animal Rescue Krewe) which now gets dogs from across the southern states, which is prime heartworm country. Heartworm is expensive to treat, and fatal if dogs are untreated. Click Here to read the entire article online torontosun.com Hamilton Academy of Veterinary Medicine May 4, 2009 The members of HAVM are extremely concerned. In 2008 there was a 10 fold increase in the number of “seen and treated” cases of Heartworm disease in Hamilton. This dramatic increase was particularly evident in dogs that were imported into Canada from heartworm endemic areas of the United States, specifically but not limited to the state of Louisiana. If you adopted a dog, from any source, that was from the United States as a hurricane rescue dog it is imperative that you see a veterinarian and discuss the current protocol to insure your pet is heartworm negative and how to protect them in the future. (--Click here to continue--) Click Here to read the entire press release online at hamiltonvetsacademy.ca Huge increase in Heartworm disease across Hamilton Quote from OVMA "Focus" Magazine - July 2009 Issue: The members of The Hamilton Academy of Veterinary Medicine (HAVM) reported a 10 fold increase in the numberof “seen and treated” cases of Heartworm disease in Hamilton in 2008. This dramatic increase was particularly evident in dogs that were imported into Canada from heartworm endemic areas of the United States, specifically but not limited to the state of Louisiana. Many of these dogs were imported after having had only one negative heartworm test. The American Heartworm Society's current protocol for dogs, 8 months of age and older, coming from heartworm endemic areas, requires that the dog have three negative heartworm tests. The initial test should be followed-up with a second test at 4 months and the final test at 9 months, after the initial test. During this period the dog should also be on a monthly heartworm preventative.
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Heartworm is a very dangerous disease. It can kill your dog if you don’t do something about it. Even more disturbing is the fact that this disease is very prevalent in the US. 
