German shepherd puppies dumped on I-275 ramp near Monroe

Bisma Parvez | Detroit Free Press

German shepherd puppies were dumped on a ramp at I- 275 and Telegraph Road on Thursday afternoon.

The Monroe County Animal Shelter said several truckers called about puppies on the side of the freeway. Volunteers from a local rescue group were alerted and collected the strays.

However, the animal shelter said all the puppies were infected with parvo, a highly contagious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal system.

They warned followers on social media not to bring the puppies around their dogs.

"These puppies are infected with parvo and Lucas County Pit Crew has stepped up to have them treated and cared for," the shelter said. "There is a strong possibility there are more puppies out there. If you find a puppy please report it immediately, keep it safe, and do not bring it around your family dog."

Two of the puppies were taken by individuals who found them and two were transferred to the Lucas County Pit Crew to be cared for and treated.

"It dehydrates them and attacks the intestinal tract, slowly killing the intestine. It's a horrific way to die," said Jean Keating, the executive director at the Lucas County Pit Crew. "Our vet has a protocol to calm down the stomach and keep them as hydrated as possible while keeping blood levels normal."

One of the puppies taken by a family has died.

Keating said, "We have one boy and one girl isolation at the vet's hospital. The little girl is doing well, eating drinking running around but the boy is struggling."

"There's been intense scrutiny on a seller in the area for selling sick puppies," Keating stated, "which is horrible because it's easily prevented with vaccines and taking precautions with puppies."

Keating said anyone who finds a puppy should take caution about transferring it.

"Parvo is not killed by heat or cold and can live in the dirt for six months. It's that highly contagious," she said.

Keating said their volunteer wrapped the puppies in blankets and put each one in a crate.

"We didn't open the crate until we got to the vet hospital and we threw away the blankets. Some people bleach them, but it's not worth the risk to keep it."

The Monroe County Animal Shelter is asking anyone with information to call 734-240-3125.

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Contact Bisma Parvez: 313-222-6420 or bparvez@gannett.com Follow her on Twitter @bismapar