WATSONVILLE >> The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is temporarily closing its Watsonville location through at least Tuesday due to confirmed cases of canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia, the agency announced in a news release.

“These highly contagious diseases pose a serious threat to the health of the animals under SCCAS care, and steps are being taken to prevent spread and protect the lives of other animals at that location and at the Santa Cruz shelter location,” the agency wrote in a news release Wednesday.

Canine parvovirus, which affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and puppies and is highly contagious, was detected Friday in a puppy that recently arrived at the shelter. As a result, the intake of dogs at the Watsonville shelter was paused and the facility underwent quarantine, cleaning and disinfection measures.

Additionally, two stray kittens at the shelter were found to have feline panleukopenia — also known as feline distemper — on Tuesday. The highly contagious virus attacks rapidly growing cells such as those in lymph nodes, bone marrow and intestines. It primarily impacts kittens and unvaccinated adult cats.

As both diseases are life-threatening, particularly to unvaccinated puppies and kittens, and can spread quickly through direct contact and contaminated surfaces, shelter staff have decided to temporarily close the Watsonville shelter, the agency wrote. Signs have been posted outside the building explaining so.

“Shelters have an inherent risk for introduction of such contagious diseases into their facilities because unvaccinated animals can acquire infections but not show symptoms for many days afterward, and there are no predictive tests for either of these conditions; that is, until symptoms are present, testing is ineffective to detect the disease,” the agency wrote. “Vaccines provided upon intake at a shelter take a week or two to be fully effective.”

The agency explained that the animals currently at the Watsonville shelter have been fully evaluated and are being quarantined until they have been cleared to be moved to the Santa Cruz location, where they will be made available for adoption. The Watsonville location is undergoing rigorous disinfection and cleaning and will not accept new animals or process adoptions until it reopens.

In the meantime, the Santa Cruz shelter remains open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 1001 Rodriguez St. The shelter has more than 100 animals available to adopt, and all cats and dogs have been vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped, all of which are included in the adoption fee. As part of the “Spooky Low Adoption Fees” Halloween promotion, dogs and cats are available to adopt for $31 and small pets for $13 through Oct. 31.

The Watsonville shelter is asking pet owners to have their animals vaccinated and to spread awareness about vaccinating against viruses such as the parvovirus and feline panleukopenia. It is also accepting financial donations.

“We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience as we work to ensure the safety of all animals in our care,” the agency wrote. “We look forward to welcoming folks back to our Watsonville shelter when it is safe to do so.”

For more information on adopting pets from the Santa Cruz location or all other inquiries, call 831-454-7200.