 Winter 2024
Happy New Year from all of us at the King County Pet Business Program! Read on for more information about:
Permit renewals are now available online. You can renew and print your 2024-2025 permit online at Environmental Health's online services portal. Here is our current fee schedule.
Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), commonly known as "kennel cough," is a highly contagious illness affecting the airways in dogs. Several different types of bacteria and viruses can contribute to CIRDC, and dogs can be infected by two or more of these germs at the same time.
In late 2023, there were numerous reports of an unknown respiratory disease in dogs across the US. On Dec. 1, 2023, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) reported they received 16 reports from veterinarians in Washington of dogs with respiratory disease that met certain criteria for additional review. The WSDA continues to investigate the cause of these dogs’ illnesses, and the majority of these cases have recovered. Current information suggests that many of the reported cases across the US are the same bacteria and viruses that contribute to CIRDC.
What we know: symptoms and spread
Like other common causes of canine respiratory disease, reported symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal and/or eye discharge, and lethargy. In some cases, it can cause dogs to develop pneumonia, which can kill dogs.
Currently, there is no evidence that humans or other animals can be infected.
Similar to other common canine respiratory diseases, the illnesses being reported seem to spread between domestic dogs, likely through direct contact, surface contact (such as toys, hands of caregivers, floors, and clothing), and through droplets in the air (from coughing).
Guidance for Pet Business owners
Here is what Pet Business owners can do to help reduce the spread of canine respiratory disease in your facility:
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Follow strict cleaning and disinfection procedures.
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Isolate dogs with respiratory illnesses.
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Reduce stress for dogs.
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Ensure all dogs are up to date on vaccinations.
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Prevent overcrowding – don’t take in more dogs than you have space for.
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Limit shared water and food dishes.
If a dog at your facility shows some of the symptoms listed above, contact a veterinarian.
Here is what pet owners can do to keep their dogs safe:
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Make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations, especially against canine respiratory diseases.
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Keep your dog away from sick dogs.
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If your dog is sick, keep it away from other dogs.
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Consider avoiding close contact with other dogs, such as play areas and boarding facilities. However, do not delay taking your dog for necessary veterinary care.
- Call your veterinarian for advice if your dog shows any of the symptoms listed above.
Even though this is a disease that does not make people sick, our job is to make sure that the pet businesses we regulate know the best ways to prevent an outbreak in their business and the community. This includes proper infection control, monitoring dogs carefully for signs of illness, and immediately isolating any dogs that have symptoms. We’re working with community veterinarians to increase their awareness and help educate the public about how to prevent disease spread.
We’ve published a new Pet Business Regulations guide to help Pet Business owners and operators navigate King County regulations. Read through it to learn a few of the details about getting started. This includes siting your facility, preparing for your inspection, Board of Health requirements, and other helpful information.
We are preparing to move to new software for inspections and permit and plan review applications. These changes will allow for some improvements such as:
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Easier access to your online account and printing your permit.
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Improved inspection reports.
- Streamlined plan review and permit application submittal.
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Email notifications about important updates.
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Inspection reports will be public and searchable for all permits online.
We’ll share more information next year as it becomes available.
Pet businesses must prepare for disasters to protect the animals and people onsite, and to safeguard the facility. To prepare for an emergency, we recommend you complete this disaster planning process:
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Evaluate the facility’s location: determine the emergencies that could impact your facility, such as:
- structure fires
- hazardous material spills
- flooding
- earthquakes
- winter storms
- wildfires
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Evaluate the facility’s vulnerability: assess the risks to the building for each type of emergency. Document areas that need attention and include these in the disaster plan. Consider the following areas of concern:
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Structural integrity - construction, hazardous building materials, window placement, electrical wiring.
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Structural design - safe storage areas, exit doors, kennel locations, shelter-in-place area, drainage.
- Safety features - fire extinguishers, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors, smoking policy, security.
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Develop a plan: create an emergency preparedness and response plan that includes the following:
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Mitigation: make permanent changes to the property or facility to eliminate or minimize the impact of emergencies (e.g. fix drainage, install fire alarm system)
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Preparation: take steps to prepare for specific emergencies (e.g. evacuation plan for animals, purchase generators, and train staff)
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Response: outline specifically how staff react when an emergency is imminent or has occurred (e.g. staff responsibilities, animal care, equipment use).
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Recovery: set guidelines for returning to normal operations. Public Health may need to inspect the facility before reopening.
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Ongoing Planning: review procedures and policies on a regular basis (at least annually) and hold quarterly disaster drills.
The Pet Business Program publishes newsletters semi-annually. Visit our pet business webpage for previous newsletters. Questions? Email us: petbusinesses@kingcounty.gov.
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