Puppy famed for being rescued from well in Istanbul after 10 days falls sick
ISTANBUL
A puppy, named “Kuyu” (well), that was rescued after being trapped in a well for 10 days has fallen sick, the Istanbul Municipality said March 15, confirming claims on social media over the puppy’s illness, Doğan News Agency has reported.The municipality said Kuyu was diagnosed with canine parvovirus, which its initial symptom is weakness, adding that it was currently receiving treatment.
“Kuyu is being kept under treatment in case of a secondary infection risk and is waiting to complete the vaccination period. Visitors are prohibited from seeing the dog. No disease that could be spread to humans has been identified in Kuyu. We thank you for your sensitivity and understanding,” it said.
Canine parvovirus is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs and is believed to originate from cats. Parvo is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases. Treatment often involves veterinary hospitalization. Canine parvovirus may infect other mammals, however, cannot infect humans.
Claims over the puppy’s health condition was spread on social media after animal rights activist Barış Şengün and Orhan Kural, an academic at Istanbul Technical University’s mine faculty and member of Kuyu’s rescue team, visited the dog.
Şengün said he went to visit Kuyu at an animal hospital in Istanbul’s Fatih district, but was not let in by officials. Şengün said he was concerned about the puppy’s life, adding that he could not contact any officials for information regarding its health condition.
Kuyu was adopted by the Beykoz Fire Crew after it underwent medical examinations following its rescue.
The puppy dropped into a 70-meter-deep well that was drilled by the municipality early in February in the Dereseki neighborhood in Istanbul’s Beykoz.
The dog was provided with necessary food and water during the rescue operations.
