Prince Frederick, MD – A pot-bellied pig holds a prominent profile on the logo for Calvert County’s animal shelter, set to open in October. The logo was unveiled Tuesday, Aug. 21 during the weekly meeting of the Calvert County Commissioners.
The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter is located on Route 231. It is named for the late county commissioner who played prominent roles in rewriting Calvert’s Animal Ordinance and, as a member of the Animal Shelter Advisory Board, recommending the county break ties with the decades’ old Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville and establish its own facility.
According to Animal Shelter Division Chief Crystal Dowd, the logo was created by the county government’s Department of Communications and Media Relations at the request of the Department of Public Safety. “The logo represents the many animals that are expected to be sheltered at the animal shelter,” Dowd stated in a memo to the commissioners. “Criteria and input on the design was sought from many, including the Animal Shelter Advisory Board and Mr. Thomas Kelley. It [the logo] symbolizes the Calvert County community, its animals and captures items of importance to Mrs. Linda L. Kelley.”
Linda Kelley gained much notoriety for her ownership of pot-bellied pigs. Dowd added that the former commissioner, who died in February of 2017, loved the Calvert County flag, which is also incorporated on the logo.
“We’re going to be putting that sign up pretty quickly,” said Department of Public Safety Director Jacqueline K. Vaughan. There will be a formal recommendation for Calvert County to officially secede from the Tri-County Animal Shelter for the commissioners to vote on at an upcoming meeting.
“We know we wanted better,” said Commissioner Mike Hart [R – District 1]. “We took the lead on that.” Hart noted that the other two Southern Maryland counties are now planning to construct their own shelters. “Everything is on track,” Hart said. “It [animal shelter] is going to be an example for the whole state. I can’t wait for those doors to open.”
“I know this is going to be a first-class operation,” said Commissioners’ President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt [R – District 3]. “I love that logo.”
Marrick Properties is building the shelter to lease to the county. The developer describes the facility as “state-of-the-art.” A 12,910-square foot building will house up to 200 animals. A 1,380-square foot barn on the parcel will be used to shelter livestock. Last September the commissioners approved the lease agreement with Marrick after a public hearing at which no one spoke in either favor or opposition to the proposed pact. The rent will be $550,000 per year for 10 years and $632,000 per year after the 10xth anniversary is marked. The rent is terminated if the county government opts to purchase the facility and proceeds to settlement.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter is scheduled for Oct. 9.
“October is going to be a big month,” Slaughenhoupt predicted.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com