Front Street Animal Shelter is not currently accepting stray dog intake as two dogs have tested positive for the bacteria Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Strep zoo).
The bacterium can cause rapidly progressive and severe respiratory disease, which can spread quickly from dog to dog and cause high rates of serious illness and death.
“Our shelter veterinarians collaborated with staff from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, which has studied the disease extensively and provided counseling to other shelters,” said Phillip Zimmerman, manager at Front Street Animal Shelter. “The mutual conclusion was that healthy dog intake should be closed for at least 7-14 days, not only to protect the incoming dogs from being placed at risk, but also to create a “clean break” so the disease can be eradicated without new animals being introduced.”
“Dogs are not the preferred host for Strep zoo, but in crowded shelter environments where many dogs are immunocompromised due to stress, the disease can have devastating effects,” said Dr. Victoria Smalley, veterinarian at the shelter.
Other shelters have experienced strep zoo outbreaks, including San Diego Humane Society, which reported four dogs died before the virus was contained. Many shelters, such as The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak, have implemented similar closures.
“Fortunately, we haven’t had any fatalities due to the disease,” Zimmerman said. “With quick and effective action, along with the support of the public, we hope to keep it that way and resume normal services as soon as possible.”
All dogs are receiving preventative antibiotics to significantly decrease their chances of developing symptoms.
Adoptions will remain open.
“The fastest way to eliminate the disease is to reduce the population density, so animals leaving the shelter via adoption not only protects them, but helps curb the disease as a whole,” Smalley said.
The shelter is providing ten days of medical support to newly adopted dogs in case Strep zoo complications arise. If adopters already have dogs in their home, they are considered low risk, since the home environment does not create the same crowded, stressful environment that leads to the spread of this disease. The antibiotics that all adopted dogs will receive will further lower the risk of transmission.
The most important thing the public can do to help is hold onto any stray dogs they find roaming, rather than bringing them to the shelter. In many cases, animals can be reunited with their owners within 24-48 hours, and the shelter provides tips for doing so at cityofsacramento.org/found. The shelter can provide food, vaccines, supplies, medical care and other support if the finder comes to the shelter and completes foster volunteer paperwork.
The shelter is working on other solutions, including leveraging its network of foster volunteers, to assist in cases where finders can’t hold onto pets. To assist as a foster, please visit the Front Street Foster Program page online.
