HAGERSTOWN – Whether you’re looking for cats, dogs, birds or bunnies, the Humane Society of Washington County has it all! Located at 13011 Maugansville Road, this is the only animal shelter in Washington County.
“Our doors are open to animals in need, and we hold the animal control contract for Washington County, which means that we enforce the county animal control ordinance, and we also enforce state laws related to animals,” says Colin Berry, executive director.
Their programs include a “pet food bank,” which helps families who would otherwise not be able to provide food for their pets. They also have wellness clinics scheduled throughout the year that help families secure “preventive and low-cost veterinary care for their animals that they may be unable to afford otherwise,” Berry said. “It is important not only for the animal but for the general animal population and public health here in the community.”
Berry recommends looking at the society’s online gallery to see what animals are available for adoption.
After viewing the website, interested readers can go to the Humane Society to walk through the kennel and talk to the adoption counselors about the kind of pet they wish to adopt. Coming in and talking to the counselors can “help us to understand what kind of lifestyle the person has, whether they’re at home all day or perhaps they travel or they work throughout the day, maybe they have children, or maybe they’re just ‘empty-nesters’ and would just like an animal to keep them company” Berry said.
The Humane Society has had lots of success when it comes to rescuing stray animals and making them healthy, happy and ready for a forever home.
For example, Beetle is a dog that was rescued in early December along with another dog in a similar condition. According to Allison Pritchard, content coordinator at the shelter, “His skin was filthy, his skin had been marked with pressure sores and urine scald. Beetle, though a 6-year-old pitbull mix, only weighed a mere 39.6 pounds.”
The veterinary team at the Humane Society monitored him closely to ensure that he was eating enough food and gaining weight. After only two months of being properly taken care of, Beetle was ready to be adopted. With his new life (and new name, Brody), he “is a fixture at the senior living center where his mom brings him with her every day” Pritchard said.
Stop in or check their website at hswcmd.org/foster-app to see all the animals they have available for adoption. The facility is a no-kill shelter. Readers can also reach them at 301-733-2060.
