Stanislaus animal shelter temporarily closed. Respiratory illness spreads quickly
.JPG "A Stanislaus Animal Services Agency volunteer plays with a shelter dog during the 2023 Earth Day celebration.")
Stanislaus County’s animal shelter is temporarily closed to the public because of a respiratory illness among the animals.
Lily Yap, executive director of Stanislaus Animal Services Agency, said animals at the shelter are infected with kennel cough, which has prompted the shelter not to receive dogs or cats from the public.
The actual respiratory condition identified at the shelter is called canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), the agency said via email.
It’s more than a common cold. “CIRDC is a complex syndrome caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses — including bordetella, mycoplasma, parainfluenza and canine coronavirus — that often work together to compromise an animal’s health,” said Sarah Cadwell, county animal services medical director.
The shelter on Cornucopia Way is admitting only emergency cases, such as aggressive or injured animals brought in by animal service officers or the public. Adoptions continue as normal.
The Stanislaus shelter often houses far more animals than its 183-dog capacity. Overcrowding creates a risk of disease outbreaks in animal shelters, Cadwell said in the email.
The shelter serving the county, Modesto, Ceres, Hughson, Patterson and Waterford is making a “clean break” to stop the cycle of transmission and let animals recover.
A temporary closure of the facility allows for reducing the population density and dedicating time for treating the sick animals. The shelter can also focus on deep cleaning and disinfection to control the spread of illness.
The Stanislaus shelter has seen an increase in co-infections or animals struggling with more than one pathogen, which causes more severe symptoms and risk of pneumonia, the email said.
The agency said community members can help by serving as emergency fosters. That involves providing a temporary home for a healthy dog that’s been exposed to the illness. The foster care is 14 days.
During the temporary closure, residents finding a lost pet are asked to make an effort to find the owner in their neighborhood before calling the shelter. Assistance from the community will help the agency reopen the shelter sooner and return to normal operations.
A notice on SASA’s website says the shelter has suspended intake of stray animals. The shelter began limiting admissions Dec. 27, the executive director said. The agency did not have an estimate on when the shelter may reopen.
The animal shelter can be reached at 209-558-7387. For information on what to do if you see a stray dog, call 209-558-7369.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 2:01 PM.
