Residents at the recently improved animal shelter in Prince George’s County, Maryland are eagerly anticipating new homes for their furry friends.
On Friday, officials marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the first major renovations of the county’s animal shelter in 17 years, held in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
The renovation project, costing $1.7 million, has transformed the Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center, adding new housing for cats, updated interaction rooms, 14 extra dog kennels, and enhanced safety features along with new flooring.
Prince George’s County animal shelter receives $1.7 million renovation
Among the new sanitation tools is a pressure washer and a ride-on floor scrubber humorously dubbed “Lord Buffington,” complete with decorative eyes, a nose, and a mouth. These upgrades contribute significantly to maintaining a pleasantly clean environment, even with hundreds of animals in residence.
David Fisher, the Chief and Administrator of the county’s Animal Services Division, shared with WTOP that the shelter managed 9,338 animals in 2025, with expectations for an even higher number this year.
“In July alone, we had 600 dogs inside our facility,” Fisher stated, emphasizing that despite the addition of 14 new kennels, the shelter only has 184 available spaces.
“So you have 600 dogs and only 184 kennels. As my daughter often points out, the math here doesn’t add up,” he quipped.
During the ribbon-cutting event, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy proudly described herself as a “dog mom.”
“They bring us joy and laughter, sometimes tears, and even a bit of annoyance as they run around,” Braveboy joked. “But through it all, they always show us love.”
She expressed gratitude to the dedicated shelter staff and volunteers, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to the animals.
Shelter volunteer Marsha Dabolt remarked before the ribbon-cutting that she felt overwhelmed with emotion since Braveboy was the first county executive to visit the facility.
The recent renovations have also introduced a break room and a secure outdoor area for staff and volunteers, who continued to care for hundreds of animals throughout the construction phase without reducing the shelter’s capacity. However, the project is far from complete.
The next stage of the ambitious $3.1 million endeavor will include the establishment of a medical treatment area, an operating room, X-ray equipment, and diagnostic tools. Fisher noted that animals currently need to travel for up to an hour for surgical care, but in the near future, many procedures will be performed on-site.
Additionally, the county plans to hire its first full-time veterinarian.
“With their arrival, we’ll have all the necessary tools available at our disposal,” Fisher said. “There will be no need to borrow or look elsewhere for what we need.”
Phase two of the renovations is expected to be finished within six to eight months.
Another ambitious objective is to become the first “no-kill” shelter in both Maryland and the surrounding region. Officials revealed that the shelter’s current save rate hovers in the mid-80% range, with the threshold for no-kill status at 90%.
In light of this goal, Fisher extended an open invitation to the community.
“Everyone is welcome—bring your family, friends, and even those visiting from out of state. Come check us out,” Fisher encouraged. “If you’re thinking about adopting, we have exceptional animals waiting for homes!”
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