St. Mary’s County Commissioners Approve AROO Partnership To Expand Support For County Animal Shelter

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County commissioners on Jan. 13 unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding supporting a partnership between the county’s Department of Emergency Services and the nonprofit Animal Rescue & Outreach Organization (AROO), to help address rising animal shelter intake and medical care costs.

The memorandum of understanding, approved during a meeting of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners, formalizes collaboration between the county’s Animal Services Division and AROO, a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on fundraising, medical support and community outreach for animals housed at the St. Mary’s County Animal Shelter.

Director of Emergency Services Jennifer Utz told commissioners the shelter has experienced a sharp increase in animal intake, underscoring the need for strategic partnerships.

“In calendar year 2025, we had an intake of over 2,900 animals in our animal shelter,” Utz said. “We’re on track, on pace, for fiscal year 2026 to intake over 3,400 animals. It represents a year-over-year increase of 65% of animals in our shelter.”

Utz said the growth has placed pressure on shelter operations and budgets, making outside support increasingly important to ensure humane care and positive outcomes.

“It takes some strategic initiatives and partnerships in order to maintain the operational needs of caring for these animals and developing ways to really operate within our budget, and also for the humane care of these animals,” she said.

AROO founder and president Doug Isley told commissioners the organization was formed out of admiration for the shelter’s leadership and staff, particularly Animal Services Division Manager Hollis Lampy.

“AROO was founded this year for two reasons,” Isley said. “We are animal lovers, but the second is we’re big fans and appreciative of the shelter. The shelter is really well run, and the staff is tremendous, and the animals are really well cared for.”

Isley highlighted shelter performance metrics showing improvement between 2024 and 2025, including a rise in adoptions, a live release rate increase from 82% to 89%, and a reduction in average length of stay, which is a key factor in reducing stress and improving adoptability.

Utz emphasized reducing an animal’s length of stay in the shelter is critical, noting that prolonged shelter time increases stress on animals and can make them more difficult to place in permanent homes.

Commissioners also heard that volunteer engagement has more than doubled, from just over 2,000 volunteer hours in 2024 to more than 5,000 hours in 2025.

AROO’s mission is to supplement the shelter’s budget through fundraising and targeted projects, including veterinary care for animals whose medical needs exceed what the shelter can afford.

A central example presented was Scoobert, a dog surrendered by his owner due to an inability to pay for treatment of a large tumor.

Through donations raised by AROO, Scoobert received the necessary veterinary care, recovered fully and became highly adoptable.

“Scoobert went from being a euthanasia candidate to a happy, loving dog in a home,” Isley said.

Utz said Scoobert’s case illustrates how nonprofit support can change outcomes in a high-volume shelter environment.

Utz said the shelter is preparing to care for roughly 3,400 animals annually, requiring staff to carefully balance medical needs with limited resources. While the county increased its medical services budget, costs for evaluations, medications, vaccinations and surgeries must be spread across a growing population, forcing difficult decisions about which treatments can be afforded. She said AROO’s financial support helps offset expensive procedures that might otherwise prevent animals from becoming adoptable, calling the partnership a critical tool as intake continues to rise.

“When you have 3,400 animals a year, those are the kind of difficult decisions we’re faced with,” Utz said.

Beyond medical funding, AROO has already contributed to shelter improvements, including visual barriers in play yards to reduce stress, benches and enrichment enhancements, and landscaping work to make outdoor areas more usable. The organization also supports the community pet pantry, which provides food and supplies to residents struggling financially so they can keep pets in their homes and avoid surrender. AROO is working with local dog trainers on a pilot training program aimed at improving adoptability and reducing returns, as well as exploring future projects involving Eagle Scouts, schools and local businesses.

Commissioners expressed strong support for the partnership, calling it a natural fit for an animal-loving community.

“This is a no-brainer,” one commissioner said prior to the vote.

The memorandum authorizes the commission president to sign the agreement, formally allowing AROO to continue its fundraising and support efforts in coordination with county animal services.

Residents interested in supporting or volunteering with AROO can find information through the organization’s website and social media pages or by volunteering directly with the St. Mary’s County Animal Shelter.

You can watch the full meeting below at the one hour, 48-minute mark.

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