Prince George’s County officials gathered on Friday in Upper Marlboro to mark the completion of the first major renovation of the county’s Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center in 17 years. The $1.7 million project added new housing for cats, a dedicated interaction room, 14 additional dog kennels, upgraded safety features and brand‑new flooring.
Modern equipment keeps the shelter clean
Among the upgrades is a pressure washer and a ride‑on floor scrubber affectionately nicknamed “Lord Buffington.” The scrubber, painted with eyes, a nose and a mouth, helps keep the facility remarkably clean despite housing hundreds of animals at any given time.
Capacity still outpaces space
David Fisher, chief and administrator of the county’s Animal Services Division, told WTOP the shelter handled 9,338 animals in 2025. In July alone, the facility housed 600 dogs, even though the new kennels raise the total kennel count to only 184. “So you have 600 dogs, 184 kennels. As my daughter likes to say, the math is not mathing,” Fisher said.
County executive shows support
County Executive Aisha Braveboy, who described herself as a “dog mom,” joined the ceremony. She joked, “They make us feel good. They make us laugh. Sometimes they make us cry. Sometimes they annoy us because they’re running around so much. But you know what? They always, always love us.” Braveboy thanked shelter staff and volunteers for their dedication.
Volunteer enthusiasm
Volunteer Marsha Dabolt said she was moved to tears because Braveboy was the first county executive to visit the facility. The renovation also added a break room and an enclosed outdoor area for staff and volunteers, allowing them to continue caring for animals throughout construction without reducing capacity.
Phase two on the horizon
The next phase of the $3.1 million overall project will introduce a medical treatment area, an operating room, X‑ray equipment and other diagnostic tools. Currently, animals travel up to an hour for surgery; the new facilities will bring many procedures on‑site. Fisher noted the county is also hiring its first full‑time veterinarian. “When that person comes in, now they have all the tools. We don’t have to beg, borrow, and steal. We just have it at our disposal,” he said.
Goal of becoming a no‑kill shelter
Officials said the shelter’s current save rate sits in the mid‑80 % range, while a no‑kill designation requires a 90 % save rate. Phase two is expected to be finished within six to eight months, moving the shelter closer to that benchmark.
Open invitation to the community
Fisher extended a warm invitation to residents and visitors alike: “Everybody, everybody, their cousin, their mother, their sister, and whoever’s visiting from Florida or whatever other state, come on in. You want to take an animal back anyway. We got better stuff here than you have back home.”
The renovated shelter stands as a tangible example of Prince George’s County’s commitment to animal welfare, community service and responsible stewardship of public resources.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
