Humane Society Of Charles County Issues Urgent Plea For Donations To Avoid Closure

WALDORF, Md. — The Humane Society of Charles County is asking the community for urgent support as the nonprofit animal shelter works to raise $125,000 to help fund operations and continue caring for animals across Southern Maryland.

For more than 50 years, the Waldorf-based shelter has served the tri-county region of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, providing care, medical support and adoption opportunities for animals in need. It is the only no-kill shelter in Charles County, meaning animals are allowed to stay as long as necessary until the right home is found.

Shelter leaders say reaching the $125,000 fundraising goal is critical to maintaining daily operations.

“This is an urgent plea for help,” said April Hodges, director of the Humane Society of Charles County. “We, unfortunately, are in real danger of closing our doors for good after 50 years of serving this community.”

Located at 71 Industrial Park Drive in Waldorf, the shelter relies entirely on private donations. The organization does not receive funding from Charles County government, the State of Maryland or the national Humane Society.

Those donations help cover food, veterinary care, supplies and the day-to-day costs of caring for animals waiting to be adopted.

Hodges said donations have slowed over the past year as economic pressures and job losses have affected many households across the region. At the same time, the shelter is seeing an increase in animals being surrendered as some families can no longer afford veterinary care, food or other pet-related expenses. Because the Humane Society of Charles County operates as a no-kill shelter, many residents bring their pets there knowing the animals will be cared for and not euthanized, which means the organization must take in and provide food, medical care and shelter for even more animals while donations are declining.

“Every animal that comes through our doors is waiting — not just for shelter, but for hope, compassion and a second chance at life,” Hodges said. “We have provided that second chance for thousands of community animals.”

Because the Humane Society of Charles County is a no-kill shelter, animals are not placed on time limits and remain in care until they find the right family.

One example is Cenna, a 7-year-old terrier mix who has been at the shelter for about two years. Staff say she is energetic, expressive and loves attention but simply has not found the right match yet.

At a no-kill shelter, dogs like Cenna are given the time they need.

A local trainer with Happy Active Dog LLC recently highlighted Cenna and offered to cover the cost of board-and-train obedience training for her future adopter in hopes of helping her find a home.

Last year alone, the Humane Society of Charles County rescued 63 animals from the Charles County Animal Care Center — formerly known as the Tri-County Animal Shelter — and helped place them into permanent homes.

Shelter leaders say stories like Cenna’s show why community support is so important. Without additional donations, they warn the shelter’s ability to continue caring for animals across the tri-county area could be at risk.

How to Donate

Community members who want to help can donate to the shelter in two ways: through the shelter’s GoFundMe campaign here, or directly through the shelter’s secure online donation page here.

Contributions may also be mailed to Humane Society of Charles County, 71 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf, MD 20602.

For animals like Cenna — and many others still waiting for their second chance — community support could make all the difference.

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