Police are searching for a seller after a puppy allegedly died from parvovirus.
A woman reported purchasing a chihuahua puppy in the Rib Mountain Petco parking lot over the weekend. According to police, the woman picked the puppy out of three that all appeared to be sick.
Police said the the woman took the puppy to the vet where it was later confirmed to have had parvovirus. The puppy later died.
"They were able to confirm that the dog had parvovirus," Wausau and Everest Metro Humane Officer Ashlee Bishop said.
"We had a client here that unfortunately had lost a puppy over the weekend," said Shelly Watford, Certified Vet Tech at VCA Companion Care Animal Hospital.
Officials are warning of the dangers associated with parvovirus.
"It's a very bad virus that they get from other dogs," Watford said. "Some of the symptoms include very severe vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and in a lot of cases unfortunately it's fatal because it hits puppies very quickly."
Police said one factor could have been that the puppies may not have been vaccinated.
"Make sure they have paper work and proof of vaccinations," Watford said. "You can always ask for proof of the parents if they're supposed to be akc or registered, and certainly being able to go to the facility where the puppy was raised and born is extremely important."
It's important to note that Petco was not involved at all with the sale.
If you know the seller's whereabouts or have any information, you're encouraged to contact the Marathon County Sheriff's Department.
