Fostering

Takis Shelter is in need of foster homes near Ierapetra.

Foster homes need to provide a safe and loving environment where the puppy will learn obedience, house manners, and socialization skills in order to have better chances of getting adopted.

At Takis Shelter the foster homes are desperately needed for puppies because of a dangerous parvovirus outbreak. By opening your home in or near Ierapetra and fostering one of our puppies, you help save a life — mortality rates for parvovirus are over 90%. The puppies need to be fostered for a period of 2-3 months until they complete their cycle of vaccinations and develop immunity to the virus. Then they are ready to go back to the shelter.

The shelter will cover food and vaccination expenses. All you need to do is provide love and shelter to one or more puppies for 2-3 months until their immune system is ready to be exposed to the virus that may be present in the shelter.

For more information:

If you have a question that is not answered here, you may email us here for the fastest answer.

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The Canine Parvovirus (“parvo”) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs - mostly puppies between 6 weeks and 8 months old.

The virus is widely present in rural areas and this includes Takis Shelter. Canine parvo comes in two forms:

1. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite.

2. The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death.

The incidence of parvo infections can be radically reduced by early vaccination in young puppies. Puppies require a course of vaccinations starting from 6-8 weeks old, followed by two monthly boosters to build immunity. Adult dogs need annual parvo vaccinations to maintain immunity.

Any unvaccinated puppy, or adult dog that has not received annual vaccinations, can contract the disease. However, it does affect puppies more frequently than older dogs.

Although Parvovirus is spread via bodily secretions of infected dogs (eg. saliva, urine, feces) the virus can stay in the soil for years after an infected dog has shed the virus in an area. As a

result, people, cars, other animals can all transport the virus to many areas on their feet, shoes and wheels.

Canine Parvovirus does NOT affect humans.