Winter has come in full effect with gusts from Antarctica blowing into Buenos Aires and bringing with them frigid temperatures. But the shivers dogs all over Argentina are feeling aren't from the cold. An outbreak of leptosporosis, a bacterial disease found in dog's urine, in Neuquen had put over 1000 dogs infected by the disease at risk of being euthanised (the city's council had approved the action). The mayor and city government have said that all efforts to curb the problem without affecting the dog population will be explored after animal rights groups protested the decisions of the city council. Neuquen is one of Argentina's most overrun city having literally gone to the dogs. The city has nearly three times the number of dogs considered healthy by the World Health Organization, and many of them are feral - living near trash dumps and in constant contact with the rats - both of which are responsible for transmitting leptosporosis to the canines. Two humans have been infected by the disease, which can be fatal, but there have been no deaths at present. I hope for the sake of the dogs and people of Nuequen that this gets under control soon and without anyone (on two or four legs) being hurt!
