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Spread of canine influenza to impact AHS ‘Walk for Animals’
Concerns over the presence of canine influenza triggered the request, which will likely impact the animal welfare organization’s biggest fundraiser.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The impact of Minnesota’s highly-contagious canine flu outbreak continues to be felt across the Twin Cities landscape, with the latest ripple involving a highly-popular fundraiser.
Next weekend’s Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals (May 6) will be a shadow of it’s normal self, as organizers are asking owners to keep their dogs away after guidance Thursday by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
AHS closed three busy adoption centers on April 9 due to the outbreak, and embarked on a quarantine involving nearly 200 dogs. Investigators found that animals brought in from another facility were likely responsible for introducing the canine influenza to AHS facilities. Veterinary staff say seven dogs had to be put down after being deemed too sick to recovery from canine influenza.
Now the Board of Animal Health’s Veronica Bartsch says the virus is showing up outside the AHS, telling KARE 11’s Gordon Severson that four cases of canine influenza have been confirmed and more than 100 additional infections possible. “We’ve been inundated with calls and emails from veterinarians reporting suspected cases,” Bartsch said.
Bartsch is urging dog owners to keep their pups away from dog parks and other social situations where the highly-contagious virus could be passed. Those whose dogs are showing symptoms — cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge and reduced appetite — are asked to quarantine their companions for 30 days. The Board of Animal Health is also asking doggie daycares, kennels and shelter operators to take precautions like sanitizing toys, bowls and equipment and washing beds and blankets.
The decision to ask dogs not to attend the Walk for Animals was not one AHS made lightly. It is their biggest yearly fundraiser and the closing of their three facilities has already cost AHD more than a million dollars in lost adoption fees, training classes and veterinary bill-outs.
“It was disappointing to make that call, we definitely didn’t want to,” reflected Dr. Graham Brayshaw, AHS Directory of Veterinary Medicine. “It is our biggest fundraiser, hundreds of thousands of dollars we usually get through this.”
While the 30-day quarantine recommended by the state expires May 9, AHS may stay closed a few additional days just to make sure canine influenza has been tamped down.
The Walk for Animals is set for Saturday, May 6 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Dog owners are encouraged to show up even if their pups can’t.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
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