Prince George's Shelter Bursting With Pets Desperate For Forever Homes

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Julia Roberts, Lionel Ritchie, Skippy, Diesel, Spyce, Jennifer Hudson, Barbie and Nelly are just a few of the star-studded pets waiting for their forever family at a crowded animal shelter.

Anyone considering adopting a pet is encouraged to look no further than the Prince George's County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center, which currently is beyond capacity.

"There is a critical need to find loving, FURever homes for shelter pets, especially larger and senior dogs," the shelter stated. "Without your immediate help, the heart-wrenching reality of finding alternative solutions for healthy, adoptable dogs becomes a possibility."

This August, participating shelters across Maryland are part of an adoption challenge to help 3,000 animals find homes, including in Prince George's County. The Maryland 3,000 Adoption Challenge offers waived adoption fees and all adopted animals will be vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered.

The Prince George's County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center also has partnered with NBCUniversal, NBC4's annual Clear the Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign, which runs from Aug. 1-31, along with an extended fundraising effort now through Sept. 15. As part of the nationwide initiative, NBC and Telemundo stations are partnering with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to promote pet adoption and raise funds that support animal welfare. Since its start in 2015, Clear the Shelters has helped nearly 1.2 million pets find new homes and has raised more than $5 million for participating shelters and rescues.

Steps for the adoption process

1. Visit 24petconnect.com/PGEOADOPT to view animals available for adoption from the facility.
2. Call 301-780-7200, option 2, with the animal ID number(s) to check availability.
3. Complete the Adoption Application for Dogs & Cats or Adoption Application for Exotic Animals, print and bring the application with you to the facility. Do not fax or email applications.

Adoptions are done on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-ins are accepted during normal business hours. Only one application is accepted per animal. In many cases, pets can go home the same day they are adopted, so come prepared with a leash and collar if adopting a dog, or with a pet-safe
carrier if adopting a cat, rabbit or another small animal.

Rules per the shelter

• Adopters must be 18 years or older.
• Valid photo ID is required.
• Animals are placed as household pets only. You are not permitted to adopt animals for guarding, hunting or other purposes.
• Per Prince George's County law, all female pets must be spayed and all male pets must be neutered. Animals adopted out will be spayed/neutered before going home. If a medical condition prohibits spay/neutering at the time of adoption, a contract will be signed to bring the pet back for spay/neuter surgery later.
• The animal must be maintained per the licensing and other laws of the community where it resides and be provided with routine and emergency veterinary care as required.
• The Animal Services Division's objective is to place pets from the facility in the most suitable home for both the pet and the family. The shelter reserves the right not to place an animal, to refuse or deny any application or to make recommendations to consider another selection.

The adoption center is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located at 3750 Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro. For more information and to view adoptable pets, visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com.