News – Sheridan Media
Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter Operations Manager Hannah Edwards and Unleashed Foundation founder and operator Marian Eccles appeared on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to alert the community to a kennel cough outbreak that has halted adoptions and surrenders at the shelter.
Staff at the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter place the health of the animals under their care as the top priority. When an outbreak of disease occurs, no matter how mild or severe, staff put a quarantine in place, halting adoptions and surrenders until the situation is resolved.
Currently, dogs at the shelter have shown signs of kennel cough. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, kennel cough is also referred to as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) or infectious tracheobronchitis. It is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs.
M. Eccles
Kennel cough is typically marked by a harsh, dry cough that often sounds like a “goose honk,” sometimes accompanied by sneezing, runny eyes or nose and mild lethargy.
Edwards consulted with families in the adoption process. Those families chose to wait until the symptoms subsided before bringing home their new family member. She said it was at this time they began to notice symptoms in other dogs.
H. Edwards
The condition usually clears on its own but can be more severe in puppies, older dogs, or those with weakened immune systems. The shelter currently has dogs that fall in all three of those categories.
Eccles suggested that the use of public water bowls may have contributed to the initial illness and asked the public to keep pets at home and comfortable until any symptoms have subsided.
Many healthy dogs recover with rest and supportive care, similar to treating a mild cold. In more serious or prolonged cases, veterinarians may prescribe cough suppressants, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatories.
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Last modified: August 27, 2025