Pooch Plunge Canceled Over Illness Concerns

Press Release —The health and happiness of your pet, and even you/your family, is of utmost importance to Fur Kids Foundation.

As many are aware, on August 8, 2018, Animal Medical Center of Wyoming (AMC) posted on social media about a possible Canine Upper Respiratory Disease Outbreak in Gillette, Wyoming with vaccinated dogs. That night, the Foundation reached out to the experts at AMC to discuss what this could possible mean for the upcoming Pooch Plunge. We also talked with the professionals at Red Hills Veterinary Hospital.

Today, AMC continued its third days of cautions to the public about this illness, saying: “At this time, we recommend avoiding dog parks, boarding facilities and any other areas where large numbers of dogs are in contact with each other as this disease can be spread by close contact with other dogs, even airborne.”

Because of this illness, the Fur Kids Foundation volunteer board has decided to cancel Pooch Plunge on August 18, 2018 at the City Pool.

Please know that this decision was made with you and your pet’s best interests at heart. As many of you know, we help local families with emergency veterinary care. We don’t want to be the cause of an unexpected veterinary visit for anyone in this community.

Pooch Plunge is one of the Foundation’s most recognizable events, and a dog favorite. The Foundation is sad that it cannot hold this event this summer, but do encourage residents to support Fur Kids Foundation with the current Pet Calendar Photo Contest and other events that are posted on at www.furkidsfoundation.org.

If your pet has any of the following symptoms cough; difficulty breathing; discharge from eyes or nose; lethargy; and fever; please call your vet immediately.

Supporters of Pooch Plunge, who deserve a round of applause, include: • Advance America • Animal Medical Center Of Wyoming • Anastasia & David Blackwell • Campbell County, Wyoming Government • Cathy Brand, RE/MAX Professionals • City of Gillette (Government) • Cloud Peak Energy • Community Veterinary Clinic • Cindy Lovelace Agency – Farmers Insurance • ​First Interstate Bank • First National Bank of Gillette • Forever Faithful Pet Crematory • Friedlan Family • Fraternal Order of the Eagles • Lazy KT Designs, LLC • Darren & Kim Lynde • Mary Kelley • Billy & Toby Montgomery • Overhead Door Company of Gillette • Pinnacle Bank Wyoming • Pizza Carrello • Premier Home Mortgage, Inc. • Quality Auto of Gillette • Red Hills Veterinary Hospital • Scott & Linda Rexroat • Peggy & Rod Seppala • Simpsons Printing – Wyoming • Steven K. McManamen, Attorney At Law • Susan McKay CPA LLC • The SPaw • Thunder Basin Homes.

Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of families with animals in Campbell County, Wyoming. Since September 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped 561 families in Campbell County, Wyoming and granted $97,702.21 in emergency veterinary care. The Foundation is completely volunteer ran, and 75% of the funds raised go directly to helping families with pets. Success stories can be viewed at www.furkidsfoundation.org/success-stories.html.

For more information about Fur Kids Foundation, visit www.furkidsfoundation.org. Find FKF on www.facebook.com/furkidsfoundation. Follow us on Twitter, @furkidswyo.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Felicia Messimer
furkidsfoundation@gmail.com