Deadly virus shuts dogs home

Birmingham Dogs Home has been forced to close its doors after an outbreak of a deadly canine disease passed on from the Sandwell area killed five animals and spread to two dozen other dogs.

The home, based in Bartholomew Street near the city centre, is expected to remain closed until the weekend as staff disinfect the entire building.

Manager Peter Grigg said that the outbreak appeared to have come from two dogs taken in from the West Bromwich area on Sunday.

He said that the animals were dead within hours of being diagnosed with parvovirus.

While 24 dogs are now recovering from the disease, the remainder have been rehoused but are being monitored because the disease can take a couple of days to take hold.