Dogs confined to kennels for 3 weeks as illness grips L.A. shelter - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Sandra McDonald

February 13, 2026

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Dogs at the Chesterfield Square animal shelter in South Los Angeles have been confined to their kennels for three weeks due to an outbreak of giardia, a highly contagious parasitic infection that causes diarrhea in both animals and humans. As of Thursday, 20 dogs tested positive for giardia, leading to the suspension of walks, play groups, and adoption meetings outside kennels during a two-week isolation period. This period was extended indefinitely by shelter veterinarians to contain the outbreak and treat affected animals. The shelter’s open intake policy makes it vulnerable to incoming animals with unknown health histories, complicating efforts to manage the outbreak. While daily deep-cleaning of kennels is the goal, a lack of tracking systems has resulted in some kennels not being cleaned every day. Giardia spreads through feces-contaminated water, soil, and food, and sick dogs can be reinfected by

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/13/2026