FY2023 Adopted Operating and Capital Budget

FY2023 Adopted Budget Organizational Budgets

Animal Control Division

Animal Control Division The Frederick County Animal Control Division provides shelter and care for stray and homeless animals, presents educational programs to schools and organizations, maintains community outreach programs, assists pet owners in finding lost pets, and enforces laws pertaining to animals. The Division investigates animal bites and animal cruelty cases for prosecution. The Frederick County Animal Control Division serves a unique role in the community. Animal Control Officers ensure public health and safety through enforcement of laws and ordinances. They not only respond to calls for service, but serve in a capacity of educating the public on animal care, appropriate food and shelter, and provide resources and outreach for County residents in need. Additionally, they perform investigations; their findings are crucial in legal proceedings.

,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH PRUH ³SXEOLF IDFLQJ´ SRVLWLRQV RI $QLPDO &RQWURO 2IILFHUV support staff at the shelter consistently work to be responsive to public need in a timely manner. Shelter staff coordinate pet adoptions, animal care, and ensure that associated administrative tasks are performed to meet or exceed public expectations. 7KH 'LYLVLRQ¶V VWDWLVWLFV FRQVLVWHQWO\ UHIOHFW D PRYH LQ WKH ULJKW GLUHFWLRQ ZLWK trends of owner surrendered pets and animal euthanasia declining over time. 7KH 'LYLVLRQ LQ D FRRUGLQDWHG HIIRUW ZLWK WKH &RXQW\¶V IIT Division, has developed an interactive statistics page that is available online.

While the overall number of animal intakes has declined over the past few years, there is still a need to provide a shelter environment for unwanted or stray animals. The Frederick County Animal Control Division maintains a high standard of care for shelter animals by providing preventative vaccines and parasite treatments, enrichment and a clean, safe environment, and ensure that all adopted pets are spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter. Additionally, the Division holds routine, low-cost microchip clinics.

Educating the public on all things animal-related is incumbent on all 'LYLVLRQ SRVLWLRQV (GXFDWLRQ LV D ILUVW ³JR WR´ WR HQVXUH FRPPXQLW\ awareness of the appropriate treatment of animals. For families in need of the basics to maintain a family pet, the Division maintains a pet food bank. Despite the current public health crisis, we are striving to provide good customer service in balance with public safety and human health. Animal Control staff continues to provide excellent care to the stray and homeless pets currently housed at the Frederick County Animal Control Pet and Adoption Center.

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