PRESS RELEASE

 

For immediate release: 
January 18, 2024

For more information, contact: 
Brittani Garner, Public Information Officer 
Department of the Environment 
bgarner@co.pg.md.us; 301-883-5985 

 

County Animal Shelter Reopens to the Public on Saturday, January 20

Facility services for all animals resume with some restrictions on dog interactions

 

LARGO, MD – The Prince George’s County Animals Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) will reopen to the public during regular hours on Saturday, January 20, 2024. This marks ten days from the last emergence of symptoms reported due to Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, also known as Strep Zoo. The facility has been closed since January 4, when the illness began impacting dogs. 

Veterinary medical professional expertise continues to drive operations and best practices at ASFAC in reducing the spread of the bacterial respiratory infection while providing much-needed pet services to the community. 

“We would not have been successful in our response and reopening without the valued guidance of our veterinarians and support of other animal service organizations in the local area and nationally,” said David Fisher, Associate Director of the Animal Services Division. “Their expertise mixed with the elbow grease of our facility staff have enabled us to reopen our doors to the public.”

While some dogs remain symptomatic and receive treatment, the ASFAC has quarantined those affected to specific rooms. The three rooms the public can access will be symptom-free from Strep Zoo. In-person adopters will only be able to interact with UP TO two (2) dogs from those rooms. Any animal on medical treatment will be sent home with the appropriate treatment. Should any dog adopted from the facility exhibit any symptoms of illness within seven days of adoption, they may be brought for treatment.  Adopters may also choose to take the dog to the vet of their choice at their own expense.

Cat and small animal adoptions will also resume on Saturday per normal policies and without restriction. Same-day adoptions are only permitted if the animal has been spayed or neutered and received all necessary shots. All adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis, and adopters can view available pets from the ASFAC at 24petconnect.com/PGEOADOPT. 

Additionally, volunteers will be allowed back in the facility starting this weekend, and animal rescue partners can begin pulling dogs from the shelter to aid with overcrowding and home placement.

The Animal Services Division continues to seek volunteers and foster parents. Fostering pets provides animals needing extra tender, loving care (TLC) outside the facility with a stress-free environment while looking for their “fur-ever” homes.

For more information on adopting or fostering a pet, contact (301) 780-7200 or visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com.

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