Per the American Heartworm Society: “Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.”
Heartworm disease is both preventable and treatable!
Approximately 10% of the dogs arriving at Orange County Animal Services test positive for heartworm disease. The cost for treatment can vary from a couple hundred dollars up to and beyond $1,000. Due to the financial burden, adopters are often deterred from taking in these dogs.
In an effort to increase adoptions and ease the costs associated with heartworm disease treatment, Orange County Animal Services offers a heartworm disease treatment program. At this point in time, the shelter is sponsoring the heartworm disease treatment for dogs adopted and rescued through the shelter.
Local businesses that want to support this effort, and earn a bit of promotion for their name and cause, are welcome to join the program as a sponsor for individual dogs. If interested in learning more, please email HeartwormProgram@ocfl.net.
Those wanting to help the effort are also encouraged to consider donating to the shelter’s Trust Fund, which currently supports the sponsorship costs. Monetary donations can be made online and in person at the shelter.