Local developer Rick Bailey greets former Calvert Commissioner Linda Kelley during the announcement of the plan to build an animal shelter in the county.
Prince Frederick, MD – There’s a big change coming to Calvert County’s animal kingdom, thanks to an alliance formed by local government and a large development company—with a lot of input from animal welfare activists. On Tuesday, May 17 the parties involved announced a plan to construct a new animal shelter—approximately 8,000 to 14,000 square feet—on a 3-acre tract of land at the eastern end of the Calvert Industrial Park.
In addition to housing Calvert’s displaced domestic animals, the facility will become the new headquarters of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Control Unit.
In making the initial announcement, Calvert Commissioners’ President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R – District 3] called the plan “a change in direction.” For nearly 60 years Calvert has partnered with Charles and St. Mary’s counties in the funding, utilization and funding of the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville.
Slaughenhoupt conceded the “compelling reason” for the direction change was “growth.” All three jurisdictions well exceed their 1960 human population figures. With that spike has also come an increase in the number of domestic animals.
The local development company that came forward to aid the county was Dunkirk-based Marrick Properties. Rick Bailey of Marrick Properties explained his company would construct the facility and lease it to the county. Cost figures for construction and operation of the new facility have not been finalized.
One aspect of the new shelter that has drawn strong support from animal welfare advocates in Calvert is the pledge from county government officials that “no healthy or treatable animals will be euthanized, even when the shelter is full. Euthanasia will be reserved for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety.”
“Lots of operational details haven’t been finalized,” said County Administrator Terry L. Shannon, who did reveal that the shelter would have a staff of 10 fulltime employees, including a volunteer coordinator and shelter manager.
Slaughenhoupt said the commissioners and other government officials “are going to do some deliberate planning” before any of those details are determined.
The plan does not impact the county’s proposed fiscal year 2017 operating budget. Construction of the new shelter and its subsequent opening is planned for some time in 2018. Bailey stated that Marrick has already hired an experienced architect for the project and promised the new shelter will be “a well-thought-out facility.”
“It’s everything we always hoped it would be,” said former Calvert County Commissioner Linda Kelley, who is one of the county’s representatives on the Tri-County Animal Shelter Board. Kelley and other members of Calvert’s group of board representatives recommended to the commissioners late last year that the county consider constructing its own shelter. Bailey admitted he and his business partners were swayed by Kelley’s comments.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
