Bacteria Spread Impacts Miami-Dade County Animal Services
Miami-Dade County Animal Services (Animal Services) is at critical capacity and managing an outbreak of Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus, a bacterial agent that causes hemorrhagic pneumonia in dogs and can occasionally cause disease in people and other animals. This bacteria can affect humans that are immunocompromised but the occurrence is low.
Dogs that are brought to the shelter are at high risk of contracting the bacteria. Therefore, to prevent the spread, effective immediately Animal Services is suspending some public services, including:
• Wellness Clinic- spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations
• Response to service requests for stray dog at large and stray dog pickups (The Department will continue to respond to all other service request types.)
• Receiving – we can not accept any pets at the shelter, we ask residents to keep their pets at home
Adoption and TNVR services remain open. Adopters are urgently needed to help get healthy pets into loving homes.
There is no vaccine for Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus. Pet parents should watch for symptoms including fever, lethargy, coughing (with or without blood), mucopurulent or bloody nasal discharge, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and in some cases sudden death. If you believe your pet is exhibiting symptoms contact your veterinarian immediately for further recommendations and treatment.
The preferred treatment is with a 7 day course treatment with Cephalosporins. The second preferred line of antibiotics are penicillins. This bacteria is resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics; therefore, they should not be used in the treatment of this disease.
To keep the bacteria from spreading, we are asking our community to please assist us by fostering and taking as many of our pets out of the shelter as possible. To become a foster, please visit our website Animal Services Department (miamidade.gov) or email:ASDFoster@miamidade.gov
For more information, visit animals.miamidade.gov or call 311.