County Continues To Waive Animal Adoption Fees

Earlier this year, Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control (AACACC) waived its adoption fees for all its animals due to overwhelming numbers at its shelter.

“There have been a variety of reasons that animals have come in,” said administrator Robin Catlett. “People are finding themselves on hard times and are just not able to provide the care their animals need.” In addition to these “give-ups,” Catlett stated that the shelter is “seeing lots of stray animals that people are just not coming to reclaim.”

Due to this combination of factors, the shelter has more animals coming in compared to those going out. Because AACACC is an open-access shelter, it is required to take in animals that it receives from Anne Arundel County. From January to June of 2022, the shelter took in 817 dogs and 690 cats. During that same time span this year, the shelter took in 894 dogs and 886 cats.

AACACC has been taking steps to deal with the overwhelming number of animals it has received, but it is still not enough.

“We do adoptions, redemptions, and we have been reaching out to all of our rescue partners as well,” Catlett explained. “But unfortunately, during and after COVID … a lot of the resources that we would normally rely on are just not able to help. Other shelters are also extremely full … We are utilizing all of those options to the best of our ability.”

The shelter is limited by space, and if it cannot decrease the number of animals it must care for, its final option is euthanasia.

So, what can be done to help?

The best solution is adoption. Not only are adoption fees currently waived, but the process itself is straightforward.

“It is really easy to adopt a pet from us,” Catlett said. “We have a one-page prescreen application.”

Applicants must provide a photo ID, proof of homeownership, or, for renters, contact information for their landlord or a copy of their lease that confirms they are allowed to have a pet. Finally, as required by the state, applicants need proof of rabies vaccination for any dogs, cats or ferrets they currently own. Additionally, all available dogs are spayed or neutered.

“We do recommend that people come into the shelter to do our one-page prescreen to see what animals we have here,” Catlett said. “Coming here in person streamlines the process for people.”

While adoption is the best aid the shelter can receive, there are other ways to assist AACACC, such as informing others about the situation and the need for adopters.

Volunteers are always welcome.

“One of the things that is really important for the animals that we do have here is providing enrichment,” Catlett said. “Having volunteers to help with their care or even help with our operations to free up staff to do things with the animals can make it better for those animals who are here in our custody.”

There are options, such as fostering, for those who can’t commit to pet ownership long-term.

“They are not making a lifetime commitment to the animal, but they are giving us short-term space in their home, caring for the animal and reducing stress on the animal by having it in a home environment rather than a shelter,” Catlett said.

Foster care can be as brief as a weekend to give an animal a break from the shelter or as long as a few months. AACACC prefers families who can take animals for two weeks to one month at a time to provide the most relief for the shelter.

“We are extremely full, and we really want to spread the word and get people in here,” Catlett said. “We are all working toward the same common goal, which is helping the animals.”

More information is available at www.aacounty.org/pets.

AACACC is located at 411 Maxwell Frye Road in Millersville. Its public hours are 10:00am to 3:00pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesday hours extend three hours. The facility is also open one Sunday a month.