Prince George’s County shelter asks residents to foster, adopt 20 dogs now

Prince George’s County’s Animal Services Facility & Adoption Center in Upper Marlboro was at full capacity, and county officials were asking residents to move quickly on more than two dozen dogs before crowded runs put even more pressure on the shelter.

The appeal was not just about finding pets homes. Each adoption or foster placement freed space for another animal coming through the doors, and if placements did not increase, the county faced tighter kennel space, more strain on staff, and fewer options for dogs that needed immediate care. The shelter had already spent months under recurring capacity pressure, including a March stretch when dogs were facing a euthanasia deadline if they were not adopted by 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The county’s message also reflected a broader policy shift. Hours after the County Council voted to lift its 27-year-old pit bull ban, residents rushed to the shelter to adopt dogs that had been placed on an urgent list because of overcrowding. That change removed one barrier to placement, but it did not erase the underlying problem of too many animals and too few open kennels.

County officials said residents who are not ready to adopt can still foster, rehome pets with family or friends first, or contact county-approved rescue organizations. The foster program is intended for animals that are too young or immature for adoption, injured or recovering from surgery, require special care because of illness or pregnancy, or simply need a second chance.

Residents can search available animals through the county’s pet listing service using zip code 20772, then call 301-780-7201 with an animal ID number to confirm availability and schedule an appointment. The county has also expanded pet services with low-cost drive-up vaccination clinics at the facility and its first full-time in-house veterinarian, signs that the shelter system remains under sustained strain even as it tries to move more dogs into homes.