Dogs at the Chesterfield Square Animal Shelter in South Los Angeles have been confined to their kennels for three weeks due to an outbreak of giardia, a common and highly contagious parasitic infection. As of Thursday, 20 dogs had tested positive for the illness, which can cause diarrhea in both animals and humans.
The outbreak, first detected on January 22, prompted shelter officials to pause walks, play groups, and adoption meetings outside of kennels. An initial two-week isolation period was extended indefinitely by the shelter’s veterinary team, according to L.A. Animal Services.
“As an open intake shelter, LA Animal Services Centers are mandated to accept every stray, abandoned, or injured animal from their respective jurisdiction, which makes the shelter pet population vulnerable to animals arriving into the shelters with unknown health histories,” said Agnes Sibal-von Debschitz, spokesperson for L.A. Animal Services, in a statement.
Despite the ongoing outbreak, the shelter remains open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. To 5 p.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. To 5 p.m. Potential adopters are currently limited to viewing animals through the doors of their kennels.
Concerns have been raised regarding the shelter’s cleaning protocols. Annette Ramirez, Animal Services general manager, stated at a meeting of the Board of Animal Services Commissioners on Tuesday that while the goal is to deep-clean kennels daily, a lack of a tracking system means some kennels are not cleaned every day and the task is deferred to the following day.
The conditions within the shelter have drawn criticism. On Wednesday, reports indicated some dogs were housed in kennels soiled with feces and urine. Notes attached to animal identification cards detailed illnesses, including giardia and diarrhea.
Volunteers have also voiced concerns about the shelter’s handling of the situation. Kat Typaldos, a volunteer, stated she requested information about cleaning-shift coordination on the day the outbreak began but did not receive a response for weeks. “The lack of communication and an organized agenda … creates confusion and delay at a time when rapid volunteer support could be critical,” she said during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting.
As of Monday, three dogs exhibiting stress-related behaviors were listed for euthanasia, according to Ramirez. She clarified that euthanasia rates had not increased in recent weeks due to the isolation protocols, stating, “It is inhumane to continue to keep them in a shelter environment where their condition continues to deteriorate.”
A limited return to normal operations is planned for this Sunday, according to Sibal-von Debschitz.
