FY2025 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets

FY2025 Proposed Budget Organizational Budgets

Division of Animal Control

Division of Animal Control The Frederick County Division of Animal Control 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 domestic 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.

In addition to the more “public facing” positions of Animal Control Officers, 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. The Division’s statistics consistently reflect a move in the right direction with trends of owner surrendered pets and animal euthanasia declining over time. The Division, in a coordinated effort with the County’s 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 Division positions. Education is a first “go to” to ensure community 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. We strive every day to provide outstanding customer service, ensure animal welfare, 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. Those interested in adopting a pet, please schedule a visit to the Pet and Adoption Center. We will be happy to help you with the adoption process.

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