Distemper outbreak, staffing shortfalls strain San Bernardino animal shelter operations

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 screening tests and targeted PCR sampling.

The director described the response as intensive: “We have 300 dogs on campus, and all of them are on antibiotics twice a day,” Watson said. She said the shelter boosted vaccination efforts, administered antibiotic “cocktails” for exposed animals, isolated positive kennels and, where illness became neurological and untreatable, made euthanasia decisions on humane grounds. Watson said SNAP tests are less sensitive than PCR and that distemper infections may be asymptomatic for weeks, which complicates containment.

The department also described operational steps to increase surgical capacity: expanding use of per‑diem veterinarians; seeking approval from human resources to hire per‑diem RVTs; and proposing a future item to city council to approve fees or fee waivers before mobile‑unit public surgeries can be offered. Watson said some per‑diem veterinarians decline to operate on privately owned animals because establishing a veterinary‑client‑patient relationship with public owners increases legal liability.

Commissioners and staff discussed turnover in front‑line roles. Watson said animal shelter attendant is an entry‑level classification with high turnover because the daily work is physically demanding; the department has arranged temporary staffing to cover feeding, cleaning and intake tasks while recruitments proceed. Watson said the city’s class and compensation study is pending and staff are starting recruits at the top step HR permits to make positions more competitive.

Watson provided monthly statistics showing the shelter’s combined save rate dipped to about 81% in May during the initial distemper impact, then recovered to higher levels in June. For the prior 12 months the packet showed 11,345 animals taken in under the regional partnership, roughly 70% dogs and 30% cats.

Staff also reported construction and capacity investments intended to reduce outbreak risk: 12 modular buildings will add 311 separate dog kennels at the main campus, the first three modular units are expected to arrive in early August and the contractor expects site completion by October. Watson said the added buildings should allow more single‑kennel housing and help prevent contagion spreading across multiple groups.

The department requested donations of wet food and enrichment supplies and continues to operate a monthly pet food pantry and an Amazon wish list at sbcitypets (site link noted in the packet). Watson said volunteers and foster partners remain critical to moving animals through the system; the department reported 227 animals in foster and 1,821 animals pulled by rescue partners in the first six months of the year.

Commissioners asked about the cost and availability of PCR testing, whether per‑diem clinicians would convert to full‑time and how modular kennels would be phased in. Watson said per‑diem clinicians have not expressed interest in converting to the full‑time vet opening, that she would push HR on compensation for the critical vacancy, and that the modular buildings will be phased through December with connections finished earlier if possible.

Ending: The commission received the report as an informational update; no ordinance or new policy was enacted at this meeting. Watson also told the commission this was her last meeting before retiring later that week and said she would continue to support staff locally while stepping away from the director role.