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Residents press council over animal‑shelter care and distemper outbreak; staff says testing and fostering underway
Summary
Multiple residents described animals abandoned and turned away from San Bernardino Animal Services during a distemper outbreak. Director Watson said staff are expanding testing, opening buildings as possible and seeking foster support while using discounted PCR tests from the University of Wisconsin.
Dozens of public commenters used the June 4 meeting to raise concerns about the San Bernardino Animal Shelter, saying the facility has refused intake at times during a distemper and parvovirus outbreak and citing cases of abandoned and injured animals.
Several speakers described animals left in washes and cemeteries, reported instances they said involved shelter staff advising residents to relocate animals rather than take them into the facility, and urged the council to ensure a veterinarian on staff and a functioning mobile clinic.
Animal Services Director Chris Watson responded during the meeting that the shelter has been managing a distemper outbreak that can be hard to control in congregate animal settings. Watson described steps under way: acquiring additional SNAP screening tests, sending confirmatory nasal PCR tests (discounted through a University of Wisconsin veterinary partnership), opening a building to house and isolate animals, expanding individual housing to limit spread, offering supplies to community members who can foster animals, and increasing testing capacity (the director said the city ordered 350 PCR tests). Watson said staff were coordinating with outside rescues to place animals when needed and asked the public to help with fostering while the outbreak is contained.
Council members and staff described the issue as a public‑health and operational challenge; the council did not vote on regulatory changes at the June 4 meeting but members asked staff for updates and clarity on shelter policies and intake procedures.
