An outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly Parvovirus over the last month at the McDonough County Animal Shelter serves to reinforce the need for a new shelter, which will include quarantine facilities, noted Humane Society of McDonough County (HSMC) officials. For the past few years, society members have been working to raise funds for a new, modern shelter to better serve wayward animals, including those in need of more specialized medical care.
According to Bonnie Smith-Skripps, HSMC president, 12 dogs in the shelter were impacted by what is often a fatal disease, especially for young dogs. Three groups of pups were abandoned at the shelter around Thanksgiving, and an outbreak of Parvo occurred at the same time. All eight pups required treatment with more expensive antibodies, which have the ability to more effectively counterattack the virus if administered in a timely manner, she explained. All but one of the pups survived and have fully regained their health. Four other adult dogs also had to be treated and have since recovered.
'When dogs come into the shelter unvaccinated, they are very susceptible to the Parvovirus. We cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure that your pets are up-to-date on their vaccines; otherwise, they are at risk of Parvo,' Smith-Skripps shared. 'We are saddened by the loss of little Vixen, but so appreciate the quick response of Dr. Karen Blakeley in saving the other dogs. We also are grateful to the shelter staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to prevent the further spread of the highly contagious disease to other shelter dogs.
'Without quarantine and isolation areas available in the shelter it is difficult to contain the disease,' she added. 'We also are thankful that we had the funds available to allow the HSMC to cover the cost of the more intensive antibiotics. These funds come from donations from our supporters.'
According to the ASPCA website, the virus can persist in the environment for extended periods of time; however, certain disinfectants (e.g., accelerated hydrogen peroxide, dilute bleach) are effective against the hardy disease that's easily spread. The McDonough County Animal Shelter is currently accepting donations of bleach and paper towels which help mitigate the spread.
'While a new shelter building will not necessarily prevent cases of the Parvovirus occurring, the planned isolation areas for intake of animals and the quarantine areas for sick dogs will make an enormous difference in the ability to control an outbreak. Parvo is in the feces of infected animals and is highly contagious. The lifesaving treatment for this disease is costly,' Smith-Skripps said. 'The space for intake, as well as isolation of sick animals is crucial to prevent its spread, as is funding for adequate medical care. The same holds true for contagious airborne feline diseases. The new shelter will have isolation spaces for sick cats as well.'
The new ADA-compliant shelter building will allow for critically-needed intake, quarantine and isolation areas, a 'meet & greet' room and improved office, food preparation, laundry and storage space; as well as an all-purpose room. The City of Macomb has leased land to the HSMC just east of the current decades-old shelter on Tower Road for the new shelter. There is currently over $1,070,000 in the building campaign fund, and according to Smith-Skripps, HSMC members are currently working with contractors to determine how much more funding will be needed to complete the facility.
Throughout the year, HSMC raises funds to support their initiatives to assist homeless and needy animals in the county (which includes special medical care), through memberships, donations, memorials and the Comedy to the Rescue fundraiser. The major fundraising event for the new shelter is Casino Night, which will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Park Place. In addition, a second matching gift campaign is underway for the new shelter, thanks to Gloria (Caldwell), originally from Macomb, and Edwin Vankan, who live in the state of Virginia. The match campaign will run through Feb. 14, 2026. The couple is again donating $10,000 matching funds for construction of the new animal shelter in memory of their adopted dog, Spanky, and in celebration of all animals that has been adopted from the McDonough County Animal Shelter. Earlier this year, the couple matched funds up to $10,000 in memory of Gloria's parents, Helen and Ernest Caldwell of Macomb.
For more information, including updates on the 2026 Casino Night, visit facebook.com/ HSMCIL. To donate to the building fund campaign, visit hsmcil.org/ building-campaign to give online, Venmo @Humane-SocietyofMcDonough-County or mail, checks payable to Humane Society of McDonough County (building fund campaign in memo), to P.O. Box 7, Macomb, IL 61455.
The Humane Society of McDonough County is a State of Illinois not-forprofit and a qualified 501(c) (3) charitable organization.
All donations to the HSMC are tax-deductible. Please consider the HSMC Building Campaign or HSMC for your end-of-the-year tax deductible gift giving.
