How Southern Maryland’s Animal Shelters Stepped Up During The Snowstorm To Protect Dozens Of Dogs And Cats

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — As the snow and ice started falling and temperatures dropped, animal shelters across Southern Maryland didn’t shrink back in fear. They were determined that no animal would be left behind.

Across the region, dedicated shelter staff and volunteers worked around the clock to ensure their animals’ safety. They stocked up on food, sent animals to temporary foster homes to ride out the storm, and some even sheltered in place with the animals to make sure they had consistent care.

The storm left many people around the county stuck in their homes for one or two days until plows could clear the roads. The ice has made plowing difficult, and many roads still remain hazardous. This means that without these efforts from staff, animals may have been stuck without care for days on end. That means no food, no fresh water, and no bathroom breaks. It would’ve meant being cooped up in their pens until someone was able to drive in.

But the shelters weren’t going to let that happen.

Anne Arundel County Animal Services and The Humane Society of Calvert County nearly cleared their shelters by sending animals to temporary foster homes. These lucky pets got to ride out the storm in warm homes, in the arms of caring humans — and some even got to go out and enjoy the snow.

Calvert’s Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter and St. Mary’s County Animal Services both had staff members stay overnight with the animals. St. Mary’s County posted that they had “probably enough” food to last three weeks.

Calvert County Commissioner Mike Hart wrote in an emailed statement to The BayNet that two staff members — Michael King, an animal care attendant, and Shelley Limerick, animal control officer — stayed overnight Saturday through Monday during the worst of the storm to care for the animals.

“They demonstrated their dedication and compassion to the animals there,” Commissioner Hart wrote. “They are wonderful people who care very much about animals. It was very kind of them, and we thank them.”

These efforts were seen across the region, by both county and privately run shelters. When the times got tough, this dedicated network of staff, volunteers, and animal lovers refused to let the most vulnerable among us suffer.

“It’s not often you get to have a sleepover at your job. But staying was important to make sure our coworkers didn’t have a dangerous commute,” said Claire Stevens, a staff member at St. Mary’s County Animal Services. Stevens stayed overnight with fellow staff members Heather Foster and Jennifer Johnson.

“We weren’t worried about being snowed in because we knew we had the support of the Department of Emergency Services, who could come rescue us at a moment’s notice,” Stevens added. “It was touching to see how much the community cares about our emergency service personnel, and to know we have the support of so many wonderful people.”

These efforts are uplifting, but shelters say there’s nothing like a loving home for an animal. Leaving the shelter for good is always the best outcome. Most of the shelters in Southern Maryland are now open, and you can check the adoption hours and list of adoptable animals at the shelter closest to you.

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