Martensville Messenger March 9, 2017 | Page 14

Page 14 - marCH 9 , 2017 - martensville messenger

Potentially Fatal

Parvovirus Found in Saskatoon

Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger
As of current , there have been reported cases of the parvovirus present amongst select dogs at Saskatoon ’ s SPCA . The Parvovirus is a highly contagious intestinal infection that may prove deadly amongst some canines . Age is the biggest factor as this infection affects those without vaccines and those that are young with a relatively weak immune system . Most cases are seen in puppies between ages six weeks and six months old . If caught early the majority of dogs will survive , however delaying the treatment could cause fatal consequences . “ You can protect your pet from this painful and serious disease if you ensure they get vaccinated ,” executive director Patricia Cameron said in a news release .
Animals suffering from parvovirus can experience : bloody diarrhea ( often severe ), fever , lethargy ( lack of energy ), loss of appetite , malaise ( discomfort associated with illness ), rapid weight loss and vomiting . The scariest thing about the parvovirus would definitely be its resilience . Parvo can live in feces or other organic material for more than a year , and can quite easily be tracked into your home . The virus will not harm any other species besides dogs . A trip to the park could have potentially fatal consequences for your dog if it ' s not vaccinated according to the Saskatoon SPCA . The disease is painful , contagious , uncomfortable , and expensive to treat , however it is certainly preventable .
Vaccines are the most effective and easiest way to avoid such a condition . Anywhere an animal may relieve itself can be a source of infection if your dog has not been vaccinated . “ The vaccination , which is the best defence against the disease , requires three shots . A pet must have had all three shots for the vaccination to be effective ,” informed Cameron . Cameron also mentioned that making sure that your pets are up to date with vaccines is part of being a responsible and caring owner . Keeping up with said vaccine will not only keep your pet safe , but it will keep dogs in surrounding areas safe from infection as well .
For more information contact Patricia Larson , Executive Director of Saskatoon ’ s SPCA at ( 306 ) 374-7387 .

Persephone theatre Brings Back the theo Fleury story - “ Playing With Fire ” Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger

Returning to Persephone Theatre ’ s stage for a second time is the award-winning play based from the book , Playing with Fire and developed with Theo Fleury himself ; Playing with Fire : The Theo Fleury Story . This story highlights the life and times of Theoren Fleury , a small hockey player from Manitoba who defeated all odds in his quest to become an NHL star . Now retired , Fleury played for the Calgary Flames , Colorado Avalanche , New York Rangers , and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ), Tappara of Finland ' s SM-liiga , and the Belfast Giants of the UK ' s Elite Ice Hockey League . Fleury played over 1,000 games in the NHL between 1989 and 2003 .
Besides his otherwise impeccable career on the ice , Fleury dealt with a trauma that was kept a secret for his entire profession . Upon retiring , Fleury released a book expressing the past sexual abuse and harassment received from former junior league coach , Graham James . Until the book had been released in 2009 , former player of the Boston Bruins Sheldon Kennedy had been the only player to come forward about being abused by James . He was greeted as a hero for going public , and mentioned that one other NHL player had been abused at the same time . He did not mention the name of the player , and while speculation quickly enveloped Fleury , it died off when it became clear that the player had no intention of addressing the issue .
Later on and at his own time , Fleury also went public with his trauma . The book was written in the hopes that young people who are being sexually abused could be reached and thusly come to seek help . “ The direct result of my being abused was that I became a f — ing raging , alcoholic lunatic ,” Fleury wrote in Playing with Fire . “[ James ] destroyed my belief system . The most influential adult in my life at the time was telling me that what I thought was wrong was right .” In keeping this trauma a secret , Fleury lived in fear throughout his entire professional career hoping that his secret would not get out . As a result , Fleury drowned his upsets with alcohol at the tender age of 16 and , after being drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1987 , he began using marijuana and cocaine . Through all of this , Fleury was engaged in three long-term relationships , marrying twice and having four children .
An older Fleury has since lived a full and highly successful life . Now an advocate for sexual abuse victims , he developed a career as a public speaker . Fleury was also a recipient of the Indspire Award in the sports category in 2013 .
P e r s e p h o n e Theatre is bringing back this honest story about the life and times of Theo Fleury with performances taking place from March 22nd to March 26th in Rawlco Radio Hall . Written by Kirstie McLellan Day and starring Shaun Smyth as Theo Fleury , this award winning performance is a must see . Come and get your tickets today by contacting the box office at ( 306 ) 384-7727 .
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