COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Cobb County animal shelter has shut down after a sick dog tested positive for the highly contagious “strep zoo” infection.

The shelter will remain closed to the public for several weeks, officials said.

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None of the shelter’s 285 other animals have tested positive for the bacterial infection, which causes respiratory illness and can be deadly.

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“Shelter staff had suspected the case after a dog suddenly became ill and proactively quarantined a portion of the shelter,” officials said. “Test results confirmed the diagnosis, prompting the quarantine to be expanded to the entire shelter.”

Shelter officials said that staff members will contact people who have recently adopted and will reschedule appointments and surgeries.

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Shelter officials said that animals with suspected cases of “strep zoo” will be quarantined and treated with antibiotics.

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