'The Dogist' Photographer Will Take Pics Of Your Pup This Saturday

By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Jul 22, 2016 6:06PM

Last spring's dog flu epidemic struck Chicago hard: it sickened countless canines, overwhelmed area veterinarians and emptied dog parks and doggy daycares for months. This weekend, area pet parents can learn more about canine influenza (CIV) and how to prevent it as Merck Animal Health kicks off a multi-city tour of pop-up educational events in Streeterville on Saturday.

In addition to information sessions with local veterinarians, the If This Dog Could Talk event will include an appearance by Elias Weiss Friedman, the New York-based photographer behind popular photo docu-series The Dogist, who will be on-hand to photograph attendees' furry friends. Several dogs that suffered from CIV will also be featured.

"I’ve seen the devastating impact of CIV first hand—from a dog’s health and the emotional toll it takes on owners, to the impact it can have on local businesses and the community,” Natalie Marks of Blum Animal Hospital in Lincoln Park said in a press release. “When CIV broke in our area, we were seeing upwards of 15 cases a day and were working tirelessly to contain the spread of a very infectious strain of the disease, H3N2. I strongly recommend that pet owners with dogs that are social and regularly commingle with other dogs speak to their veterinarian now about what is right for their pet and to fully understand what puts a dog at risk for CIV.”

Chicago was picked as the first stop on Merck's tour because it was the American city where canine flu first raged last year, though the main strain Chicago dogs were suffering from was eventually identified as H3N2, a more aggressive type which can be traced to Asia. Vets warned dog owners to watch for signs of the dangerous but usually not deadly disease such as lethargy, fever and coughing, and recommended that dogs avoid close contact with other dogs (i.e. dog parks and doggy daycares). Vaccines can prevent H3N2 and other strands, but only if the animal hasn't already been infected at the time of vaccination.

The If This Dog Could Talk tour will travel to Atlanta in August and Charlotte, North Carolina in September. Saturday's event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Lake Shore East Park, 450 E. Benton Place.