Dear B-Town Blog,

I am an owner of a small puppy named “Tweak” that got Parvo 2/26/2011, and just this past week he had to be euthanized. I am so upset because the vet wanted 3 to 8 thousand dollars to treat him, and never mentioned an alternative option rather than putting him down. I recently discovered that in King County there have been over 10 thousand cases already this year.

Our friends pit bull had a visit to the vet due to a blockage. He ended up at a local vet here in Burien, and was treated and survived. However, he brought home the Parvo virus which has now infected 4 other family pets. One was pregnant, and was put down 2/25/2011.

So far in these two homes we have lost a young pit-bull  that was pregnant , our small family puppy and now Tweaks brother Charlie is sick, and just today we found out that our friends 3 year old pit-bull is sick too.  These two homes have lost 2 family members, with 2 struggling to stay alive.

Why I think you should know about this?  The Vet Hospital here in Burien is where this was contracted. We think that when we take our pets to the vet that they are taking every precaution to not expose our animals. This is not a blame game, nobody is perfect and accidents happen, but the fact of the matter is that as pet owners we need to be aware of epidemics such as Parvo.  What can we do to make sure that this doesn’t’  happened? When our animals get sick we should be able to take them to the Vet and feel that our animals are not coming home with a non forgiving virus such as Parvo.

What I am asking is that if you have a puppy that has not been vaccinated yet, please keep your puppy away from other dogs, pet stores, dog parks, and every where until they are fully vaccinated. Also, take some time to educate yourself about this virus. We had no idea that there is alternate treatments for Parvo. We trusted that the vet gave us all treatment options. Our family could not afford the vet treatment, so as suggested we did what we felt was best at the time… Unfortunately, in hind sight my not had been the best option, there are other herbal treatments.

Educate yourself, and question your vet… Keep in mind that not every option is the best option.

Thank You,
Carol Fiorini

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They are also holding numerous fundraisers around the B-Town area, and they’ve got quite a few coming up, from an All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Party to Garage and Yard Sales:

• SUNDAY, 5/18, from 4pm – 9pm: All You Can Eat Pizza, salad, soup, garlic bread and sodas (beer & wine are extra) for only $15 for adults, $12 for kids 12 and under, at one of our favorite places in Burien: Bison Creek Pizza. Call (206) 433-6939 for tickets.
• FRIDAY 5/16 and SATURDAY, 5/17 9am – 5pm: The Possibilitarians Garage Sale at 20010 14th Ave S, SeaTac, WA
• SATURDAY 5/17, 9am – 5pm: Fam-Damily Garage Sale at 17136 2nd Ave. SW, Normandy Park, WA; Donations/Questions: Patty (206-248-0502)
• SATURDAY 5/17, 9am – 5pm: Burien Fred Meyer Team Garage Sale at 115 SW 140th St, Burien, WA
• SATURDAY 5/17, 6:30 pm: El Dorado West Bunco Night at 1010 SW 134th St, Burien, WA; Tickets $20 advance purchase (limited seating), Taco Buffet included and chance to win Whidbey Island Getaway. Call El Dorado West for more details (206) 248-1975

More info and full details available at www.highlinerelay.org

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