Prince George's County hires first full-time veterinarian for ASFAC

Prince George's County strengthened veterinary capacity at its Largo shelter this week by hiring its first full-time County veterinarian for the Prince George's County Animal Services Facility & Adoption Center (ASFAC). The move, effective January 13, adds 40 hours per week of on-site veterinary coverage aimed at improving medical response and population health at one of Maryland’s largest animal shelters.

Dr. Constantine Tinaza joined the Animal Services Division as the full-time veterinarian, bringing experience in shelter medicine, livestock care, and disease mitigation. Before his appointment, ASFAC relied on two dedicated part-time veterinarians; those clinicians will remain part of an expanded three-veterinarian team. County officials said the fuller schedule will allow more consistent exams, faster treatment, and broader disease prevention measures for the hundreds of dogs, cats, and other animals that pass through the shelter annually.

“This is a transformative moment for Animal Services and for the thousands of animals that come through our shelter each year,” said Dr. Samuel B. Moki, Director of the Department of the Environment. With ASFAC operating as a high-volume, open-admission shelter, staff have managed constant demands tied to intake, medical triage, and population-level disease control. County leaders framed the hire as a practical response to those pressures, intended to reduce wait times for veterinary exams and to strengthen routine preventive care that supports adoptions and public health.

“This milestone reflects our commitment to investing in animal welfare and supporting the staff and volunteers who care for these animals every day,” said David Fisher, Associate Director of the Animal Services Division. Shelter volunteers and kennel staff will now operate alongside a full-time on-site clinician, which officials expect will make clinical decisions and protocols more nimble during spikes in intake or suspected outbreaks of contagious conditions.

For Prince George’s County residents, the change could mean healthier outcomes for animals surrendered or picked up by county services, and faster paths to adoption once medical needs are addressed. The presence of a full-time veterinarian also strengthens the county’s ability to respond to zoonotic disease concerns and to coordinate with regional animal health partners when issues cross municipal lines.

The county directs residents seeking shelter hours, adoption information, or animal services resources to princegeorgespets4us.com. The takeaway? Investing in a full-time veterinarian is a practical step that should translate into quicker care and better public-health guardrails at ASFAC; if you have a pet in need, considering vaccination, microchipping, or checking the shelter’s adoption listings on the website can help keep animals healthy and in homes.