Giardia Outbreak Locks Down LA Animal Shelter's Dogs for Weeks
Chesterfield Square Animal Shelter in South Los Angeles is grappling with a giardia outbreak among its dogs. The contagious parasite has led to stricter measures, including extended isolation for the animals. As of Thursday, 20 dogs have tested positive for the infection.
The outbreak began on January 22, 2024, forcing the shelter to limit operations. Dogs have now been confined to their kennels for three weeks without walks or group play. The original two-week isolation period was extended indefinitely to control the spread.
The shelter remains open to visitors, but interactions are restricted. Potential adopters can still view animals through kennel doors. Staff aim to deep-clean kennels daily, though inconsistent tracking means some may not be cleaned as planned.
Giardia is a highly contagious parasite causing diarrhoea in both animals and humans. While the dog-specific strain rarely infects people, the shelter's open-intake policy—accepting all strays, abandoned, or injured animals—makes outbreaks harder to prevent. Three dogs with stress-related issues were even listed for euthanasia as of Monday.
No public records show how many dogs have been adopted or how much revenue the shelter has earned since the outbreak. The extended isolation and cleaning efforts continue as staff work to contain the infection. For now, the shelter remains operational but with strict limitations in place.
