SD ​Humane Society Suspends Dog Intake Due To Canine Virus Outbreak

SAN DIEGO, CA — A rise in respiratory virus cases among shelter dogs prompted the San Diego Humane Society to quarantine affected animals and temporarily suspend dog surrender services, the organization announced Monday.

Testing confirmed that the condition is canine pneumovirus, a relatively new and emerging virus that causes symptoms similar to other canine respiratory viruses, according to the Humane Society. While the affected dogs are quarantined, the organization is unable to take in owner-surrendered dogs at its locations in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego, except in emergency cases that threaten the health of the pet.

"Canine pneumovirus is a relatively new virus, and causes symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge," said Dr. Zarah Hedge, chief medical officer for the Humane Society. "While most affected animals experience minor cold-like symptoms, a small number of dogs may develop pneumonia."

Hedge said the virus often spreads through kennels due to the high number of dogs in one space.

"In a shelter setting, it's critical that we quarantine sick dogs for 14 days so they can rest, recover and we can prevent spread of the virus to the rest of the shelter population or the community," Hedge said. "In order to preserve space, we are asking for the public's support to limit the number of dogs being brought to our shelters."

Humane Society President and CEO Gary Weitzman called on San Diegans for assistance during the outbreak.

"This is a challenging situation occurring during the busiest time of the year," Weitzman said. "We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible, and we sincerely appreciate our community's understanding and support.

"This relatively new virus is already present in the community," he added. "Most dogs will develop only mild symptoms but if you notice cold-like symptoms in your dog at home, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to evaluate your dog and recommend an appropriate course of treatment."

The Humane Society offered alternatives to help community members who are unable to keep their dogs, including behavior and training tools and services, a community pet pantry, housing and eviction resources, and rehoming resources.