Public Notices
Animal Services
County Animal Shelter Temporarily Closes due to Outbreak of Canine Illness
Effective immediately, the ASFAC will temporarily close to the public and stop dog adoptions due to an outbreak of an undetermined illness spreading at the facility until further notice. The temporary closure will allow staff to initiate quarantine protocols to stop the spread of the disease and to treat dogs who are ill. At this time, the disease is not spreading from dogs to any other animals within the facility, and testing is ongoing.
ASFAC will allow pets to leave the facility if:
- It is a return to the owner (RTO);
Read the January 4, 2024 press release here.
County Animal Shelter Identifies Shelter Bacteria Outbreak
The ASFAC has confirmed a bacterial respiratory infection named Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, also referred to as Strep Zoo (pronounced “Zo”), as the virus causing the temporary closing of the shelter last week. The infection is highly contagious and mostly fatal in dogs when not caught early and has not been known to impact cats or other animals within the facility. The infection is causing outbreaks nationwide and is most dangerous in animal shelters where animals are held in close confinement and have high levels of stress.
The facility’s reopening to the public will be based ten days from the last reported new symptomatic animal.
The ASFAC recommends that any time a pet shows signs of any illness, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately. Symptoms can include:
- Sneezing
- Nasal discharge
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy (low energy)
- Fever
- Coughing blood
- Vomiting
For more information on Strep Zoo, review this fact sheet.