Vicki
Administrator
Dog Found With Over 600 Ticks
By Rashi Vats
Posted : Sep 12, 2010 7:04 PM
Updated: Sep 13, 2010 2:18 PM
ARANSAS COUNTY - The Aransas County Animal Shelter continues to battle the tick infestation and one dog owner is fighting to keep the ticks off her animal after getting it back from the shelter after a few days.
Hollis Smyer got her five-year-old dog, Tasha, back from the Aransas County Shelter yesterday. Since then, she's been pulling off hundreds of ticks that are sucking her dog's blood.
"I was sick. I was in tears. I was next to hysterical. I do animal rescue, I've seen some horrible things but nothing like this. I've never seen a dog this infested with ticks," said Smyer.
She picked off over 600 ticks.
The only option Smyer has available to her is to use a residual insect killer on Tasha which will kill the ticks but she has so many that it's going to take a long time.
"I thought I could shave her down and get the ticks off. It's going to take days to get her clear of ticks, and I can't have her in the house with my grandkids," said Smyer.
Carol Crocket with the Aransas Pass Animal Shelter is helping Smyer with Tasha's deteriorating condition. She used to work at the Aransas County Shelter a few years ago.
"If we saw the problem, we took care of the problem when it came to the door. We didn't wait a couple of days until it infected everything else and then everything else was getting worse and out of control," said Crocket. "I believe it is because they don't have compassion for the animals.
For now, Tasha will be staying at the Aransas Pass Shelter in an environment where she won't be eaten alive by these critters.
Sheriff Bill Mills says there are still about a dozen dogs at the shelter currently. Tomorrow, they plan to clear out the shelter and hoist up the dog cages to attack the tick problem. Sheriff Mills also says he will pay for Tasha's vet bills because of the tick infestation.
http://www.kristv.com/news/dog-found-with-over-600-ticks/
By Rashi Vats
Posted : Sep 12, 2010 7:04 PM
Updated: Sep 13, 2010 2:18 PM
ARANSAS COUNTY - The Aransas County Animal Shelter continues to battle the tick infestation and one dog owner is fighting to keep the ticks off her animal after getting it back from the shelter after a few days.
Hollis Smyer got her five-year-old dog, Tasha, back from the Aransas County Shelter yesterday. Since then, she's been pulling off hundreds of ticks that are sucking her dog's blood.
"I was sick. I was in tears. I was next to hysterical. I do animal rescue, I've seen some horrible things but nothing like this. I've never seen a dog this infested with ticks," said Smyer.
She picked off over 600 ticks.
The only option Smyer has available to her is to use a residual insect killer on Tasha which will kill the ticks but she has so many that it's going to take a long time.
"I thought I could shave her down and get the ticks off. It's going to take days to get her clear of ticks, and I can't have her in the house with my grandkids," said Smyer.
Carol Crocket with the Aransas Pass Animal Shelter is helping Smyer with Tasha's deteriorating condition. She used to work at the Aransas County Shelter a few years ago.
"If we saw the problem, we took care of the problem when it came to the door. We didn't wait a couple of days until it infected everything else and then everything else was getting worse and out of control," said Crocket. "I believe it is because they don't have compassion for the animals.
For now, Tasha will be staying at the Aransas Pass Shelter in an environment where she won't be eaten alive by these critters.
Sheriff Bill Mills says there are still about a dozen dogs at the shelter currently. Tomorrow, they plan to clear out the shelter and hoist up the dog cages to attack the tick problem. Sheriff Mills also says he will pay for Tasha's vet bills because of the tick infestation.
http://www.kristv.com/news/dog-found-with-over-600-ticks/