HSHC Play Yards Dedicated To Shelter Supporter Tyler G. Anderson Killed In Car Accident

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A new play yard at the Humane Society of Harford County has been unveiled and in a surprise to the Anderson family, it was named in memory of Tyler G. Anderson, who was known as a big supporter of shelter animals.

Anderson, an avid disc golfer and member of the Harford County Disc Golf Club, had persuaded fellow club members to designate proceeds from their annual spring tournament to the animal shelter years ago, but shortly after his 21st birthday in 2012, he was killed in a car accident.

His parents, Glenn and Annie Anderson, vowed to make sure their son's memory lived on and so they put together a new annual tournament called Let's Throw for Tyler Together. In its first year in 2013, the memorial event generated enough funding to make a $10,000 donation to the Humane Society of Harford County. In the decade that followed, the family would donate a total of $78,000 from Tyler's memorial tournament to support the HSHC.

The recently held 12th annual Let's Throw for Tyler Together tournament was the largest so far and expanded to two days from just one at the Scarboro Hills Disc Golf Course in Street. Last month, the Andersons and members of the Harford County Disc Golf Club presented a check from the 2024 tournament. It was the highest amount so far - $18,000.

As HSHC Executive Director Bob Citrullo accepted the check from the Anderson family, he surprised them and everyone on hand with the dedication of two play yards in Tyler's name.

"Tyler's friends and family have raised nearly $100,000 for the homeless pets of Harford County, so we wanted to do something to permanently honor him here at the shelter," Citrullo said at the event.

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly presented the Andersons with a proclamation officially dedicating the yards in memory of Tyler and Citrullo unveiled a plaque in the garden in front of the yards. The Andersons cut the ribbon and members of the disc golf club brought their dogs into the newly opened yards to explore.

“Giving shelter dogs daily access to fresh air and exercise is an important part of their enrichment,” Citrullo added. “It’s a great way to keep them mentally stimulated and ultimately more adoptable.”

The fenced yards are situated on a hill overlooking the animal shelter, have sail canopies for shade, benches for staff and volunteers to sit with the dogs, and a pump house nearby to provide fresh water.