Coronavirus Changes Policies At Anne Arundel Animal Shelters

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — While people are scavenging for toilet paper or hunkering down in place during Maryland's State of Emergency, animals awaiting adoption at shelters in the county faced an uncertain future before the new coronavirus emerged. However, those who care for the shelter animals in Anne Arundel County are doing everything they can to make sure the pets are as happy as can be while waiting to be adopted.

When Anne Arundel County Executive Stuart Pittman announced Wednesday that county buildings, including the county's animal care and control facility, would close to the public at the end of business Wednesday, employees snapped to action.

• All animals were vaccinated against rabies if old enough so they could be quickly and easily reunited with owners or placed with fosters.
• All animals were microchipped who are headed to foster homes or other rescue shelters.
• Tested dogs awaiting adoption.
• Wrapped up meet-and-greets where adoptable dogs were introduced to other dogs in prospective homes and expedited dog observations for the adoptables.
• Safely sent 26 animals to foster homes including two turtles, 16 cats and nine dogs.
• Returned four dogs to their owners.
• Transferred three dogs to other rescues.
• Adopted out five dogs and two cats.

"We worked as a team to get as many animals ready to leave as possible and Dr. McDonough even came back after going to help at another clinic to do two more dog surgeries to facilitate them leaving. Other staff and volunteers worked together to facilitate, organize and accept large donations of stuff to get us through these tough times," the shelter wrote on its Facebook page.

At this time, no volunteers are allowed in the county animal care and control building, only county employees. Sadly, no adoptions will be allowed while county buildings are closed to the public and donations cannot be accepted.

The county shelter confirmed on its Facebook page that staff will continue to care for, feed and medicate all animals at the shelter. To reclaim an animal, an appointment must be made and proof of ownership must be provided. However, the county shelter requested that fosters and volunteers consider taking home "an animal or two" and asked its other shelter partners in the county to take on some of the adorable adoptables in the meantime.

Other services not available at Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control include:

• Viewing animals
• Owner-requested euthanasia
• Shelter tours
• Trap loaning
• Rabies/Microchip Clinic
• Processing of Affidavits of Complaints
• Community education programs
• Licensing in person (all licenses can be mailed in)
• Owner surrenders of animals (for emergencies relating to this, contact field services)

However, employees are giving the public a glimpse of the animals with live virtual tours. They hope that will help return lost animals to their home, line up new fosters and attract adopters for when operations resume.

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At the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, the shelter's visitation policies have been adjusted but "staff and volunteers are still at the shelter to socialize the animals, feed them, medicate them and give them the level of care and love that the SPCA is known for," said shelter director Kelly Brown.

"Without any signs of slowing — and with the speed that the virus is spreading — we have modified our existing visitation policies.Our focus remains on the health and safety of our employees and volunteers who are vital to the care of all our four-legged guests. Until at least Monday, March 30, to comply with the current executive order of the Governor's Office, all services have moved to appointment only. There will be no exceptions made," said Brown.

Services that require appointments include:

• Adoptions
• Animal viewing
• Animal surrender
• Donation drop-off
• Spay and neuter clinic appointments
• Foster animal appointments
• All other business/services

"This policy will allow us to honor the practice of 'social distancing,' the keeping of at least six feet away from one another to help contain the spread of the virus ... We will continue to remain vigilant regarding the outbreak of COVID-19 and will return to our previous policies as soon as we feel confident in our safety," said Brown.

Nick Crawford, office manager at the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, told Patch that they still want to find the shelter animal homes, so adoptions and animal meet-and-greets are continuing, but by appointment only.

"We are encouraging people to view adoptable animals on aacspca.org (click on "adopt") and submit an adoption application via email or fax. After it has been received and processed, someone from the shelter will contact them to schedule a meet-and-greet," Crawford said. "It's important to note that there is no current danger to animals or pets with the current COVID-19 pandemic, so no need to euthanize or surrender your pets out of fear they could be affected."

The SPCA of Anne Arundel County also is expanding its food bank program that provides pet food to owners who are unable to afford it. Apply and learn more here: https://aacspca.org/pet-food-bank/

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