The City of Stirling has postponed its popular Paw-some Day out due to the detection of canine parvovirus in the community.
The event, which was scheduled from 8am to noon this Sunday at Grindleford Reserve in Balcatta, has been described by the city as one of its most anticipated community events of the year.
“It attracts hundreds of pet lovers and their four-legged friends for a day of fun and responsible pet ownership,” the city said.
“This year’s event was set to feature free vet checks from Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital and free one-year dog registrations for eligible owners, along with an expanded focus on accessibility.”
The city described the detection as a “disappointing development”, especially for the stallholders and service providers involved in the event and the wider community.
“However, the highly contagious and potentially deadly nature of parvo means postponement is the only responsible course of action,” the city said.
“The city is yet to confirm a new date for Paw-some Day Out but will likely seek to reschedule it for early 2027.”
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital issued a warning on Facebook on Tuesday about the “highly contagious” virus and introduced precautions to protect animals visiting the clinic.
Vets will assess dogs and conduct testing outside the hospital while wearing full personal protective equipment.
“Please do not enter the clinic or get out of your car until your dog has been tested for parvovirus and returned a negative result,” the post said.
“Our vets will come out to your car wearing full PPE to assess your dog and carry out testing.
“This precaution helps protect other patients and prevent the potential spread of this serious virus.”
The virus, which can be potentially life-threatening, attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and immune system, causing severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.