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San Bernardino animal shelter confronts distemper outbreak as residents raise care and intake concerns
Summary
Animal services staff reported a distemper outbreak and described testing and foster options; multiple public speakers said the shelter had refused intake and urged more on‑site veterinary capacity and mobile clinic use.
San Bernardino animal services staff reported an active distemper outbreak at the municipal shelter on June 4 and described the steps the department is taking to limit spread and protect animals.
Director Chris Watson (identified in the meeting as the department director) told council the disease is an annual challenge tied to low vaccination rates in the community and that the shelter had temporarily restricted intake patterns to manage infection risk. The department said it had purchased additional PCR testing capacity, increased SNAP testing and was seeking discounted diagnostic support from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. Watson said staff had opened an additional building to isolate and individually house dogs, were seeking foster caregivers to reduce shelter density, and had taken in 23 dogs on the day before the report.
Multiple public commenters told the council they had been told by shelter staff to abandon animals or to “relocate” strays rather than bring them to the municipal facility when the shelter said it was restricting intake; commenters described animals dying or being left on washes and cemeteries. Speakers called for an in‑house veterinarian, better mobile‑clinic use and reimbursement support for nonprofit rescues that accept animals when the shelter is at capacity.
Watson acknowledged the outbreak’s seriousness, described operational limits and said staff were working with external veterinary partners to expedite testing and manage the population. The department asked for public patience while it completed testing and isolation steps to get the outbreak under control. No council action was taken; councilmembers asked for ongoing updates.
