St. Mary's County shelter reports 502 animals in custody; county likely to fund full‑time vet

The St. Mary's County Animal Control Advisory Board heard a detailed operations report May 6 showing the shelter had 502 animals in custody from March 4 through May 5, a 23% increase from the same period in 2025.

Animal Control supervisor Heather Caliganis told the board the overall census included 244 dogs, 153 cats and 105 other animals. "So our overall total is 244 dogs, a 153 cats, and a 105 other animals bring us to 502, which is a 23% increase from 2025," Caliganis said.

Caliganis broke down recent intake and outcomes: owner surrenders numbered 168 (73 dogs, 78 cats, 17 other animals); seized or protective‑custody intake included 106 dogs and 86 other animals (reported as 192 seized animals); stray intakes were 53 dogs, 64 cats and 2 others. From March through May the shelter recorded 153 adoptions (81 dogs, 46 cats, 26 other animals). Shelter‑performed euthanasia totaled 44 animals (14 dogs, 27 cats, 3 others); owner‑requested euthanasia was reported as 33 animals (26 dogs, 7 cats).

Caliganis also reported operational metrics: return‑to‑owner figures were 56 dogs and 10 cats, transfers out were 11 dogs and 32 cats, and TNR/service‑out activity accounted for 40 cats. "Our live release rate right now is 79 percent. If we're not including owner euthanasia... our live release rate is 86 percent," she said. Average length of stay was about 12.5 days for dogs and 21.6 days for cats.

Board members pressed for clarifications about transfer destinations; Caliganis said she believes animals were transferred to other shelters but did not have specific receiving organizations available. She also said euthanasia decisions follow veterinarian recommendations and behavioral assessments and that she did not have a breakdown of euthanasias attributable to aggression at that time.

Chair Doug Islip told the board that the county budget process is expected to resolve a staffing request that would convert the veterinarian position from half‑time to full‑time. "We're going from halftime to full time," he said, and the board expects a final decision when the county budget is finalized next week.

A motion to approve minutes from the January 7 meeting passed at the start of the session. The meeting closed after a brief announcement about an upcoming rabies clinic and a motion to adjourn.