Video Length: 45 minutes
Parvovirus is a major killer of dogs and puppies in shelters. Austin Pets Alive! built the first parvo ward that actively takes parvo-positive dogs from the community and other shelters for treatment and then placement. This presentation discusses the way the team set up safety and treatment protocols, testing, decontamination and volunteer participation. The program operates on a shoestring budget but saves 500 lives per year. This presentation was part of the American Pets Alive! 2015 No-Kill Conference.
Katie found out about Austin Pets Alive! through the University of Texas student organization Longhorn Pets Alive, where a member told her about the brand new parvo ward. Katie started volunteering in the parvo ward her freshman year and loved it. She graduated from UT in 2014 with degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology and Psychology and became the Parvo Team Manager that August. Katie is also a veterinary technician at a local veterinary clinic and hopes to attend vet school soon.
Alexis Bardzinski is from Jupiter, Florida and obtained her doctorate of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University. Initially, she came to Austin to complete an internship in equine veterinary medicine, and then afterwards, began working in shelter medicine and performing high volume spay/neuter surgeries. She has been working as a veterinarian at Austin Pets Alive! for a little over a year and currently resides in Austin with her cattledog Paisley and crazy cat Kase.