AUSTIN, Texas — Twenty-four puppies are receiving lifesaving treatment at Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo ICU after a nearby shelter reached out for urgent help Wednesday afternoon.
The group includes a mother dog and her eight puppies, a litter of 12, and two pairs of young siblings. All were admitted around 4 p.m. and immediately began treatment for parvovirus, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that primarily affects puppies.
Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo ICU specializes in treating and rehabilitating shelter dogs with the virus. Treatment typically lasts about a week. Once recovered, most puppies go on to live normal, healthy lives. The program reported an 89.8% survival rate in 2025.
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Treating a single case of parvo can cost at least $1,000, covering vaccines, fluids, hospitalization, and intensive supportive care. Without treatment, the virus is often deadly.
The intake comes as Amplify Austin Day is underway. A group of anonymous donors has pledged a $100,000 match, doubling donations to support lifesaving efforts like the Parvo ICU.
Officials say community support is critical to ensure all 24 puppies — and many more animals in need — receive the care they deserve.