The Stockton Animal Shelter will close for two weeks, turning away intake of stray animals and suspending pet adoptions, as it tries to eliminate a highly contagious, pneumonia-like disease that can kill dogs, officials announced Thursday.
The shelter said the closure was prompted by discovery of a case of streptococcus zooepidemicus, also known as “strep zoo.” The compound hopes to knock the pathogen out with a thorough disinfection campaign.
The shelter, at 1575 S. Lincoln St., says on its website that it takes in about 8,000 animals a year. It will not reopen until Nov. 1, according to the news release about the closure.
The federal government’s National Institutes of Health describes strep zoo as “a highly contagious and often fatal disease” that usually occurs in group settings such as shelters, where many dogs are being housed in a confined space.
It is “characterized by a high mortality rate despite intensive treatment. Affected dogs showed severe respiratory distress and a rapidly deteriorating clinical condition,” the NIH says.
Until the Stockton shelter reopens, officials are recommending anyone who finds lost or stray animals in their neighborhoods to post flyers and share pictures on social media in an effort to find their owners.
Those who still want to turn animals in can call Animal Services at (209) 937-7445 to schedule an appointment once the shelter reopens.