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Distemper outbreak, staffing shortfalls strain San Bernardino animal shelter operations
Summary
San Bernardino Animal Services told commissioners the shelter handled a distemper outbreak while managing surgical backlogs and multiple staffing vacancies; staff described high testing costs, mass antibiotic treatment and plans for modular kennels to reduce future outbreaks.
San Bernardino Animal Services reported a distemper outbreak and ongoing staffing shortages that have strained shelter operations and forced large-scale testing and treatment.
Director Chris Watson told the Animal Services Commission that from April 1 through July 2 the department used five per‑diem veterinarians to complete 330 surgeries at its campus while continuing open intake. Watson said the shelter is relying on per‑diem clinicians and temporary staff because it currently has no applicants for the full‑time staff veterinarian position and two registered veterinary technician (RVT/RBT) vacancies that limit the number of surgical days.
Watson said the department identified distemper cases after being alerted by a nearby shelter and confirmed infections with PCR testing. The department contracted with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for clinical guidance and worked with University of Wisconsin labs to obtain discounted PCR tests; Watson reported the department paid about $450 per PCR and ran 127 tests in one large batch. Because PCR testing for all animals would be cost‑prohibitive, Watson said staff used a mix of SNAP…
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