Volunteers Cite Problems at Animal Shelter

Nonprofit Operator, Whose Contract Ends in June, Faces Criticism Over Cleanliness and Euthanizations

In November, Christine Attanasio went to the Prince George's County Animal Shelter to adopt a dog. She fell for a healthy beagle mix named CeeCee, a 2-year-old female scheduled to be euthanized that day.

"No, no, no," Attanasio recalled telling a shelter worker. "I'll take her."

The shelter would not budge. Attanasio asked to speak to Rodney Taylor, head of the county's animal management division. Taylor arrived after about 15 minutes, but it was too late. CeeCee had been euthanized.

Several animal rescue workers and shelter volunteers said the incident, although particularly tragic, is in many ways emblematic of shortcomings at the facility, operated by a nonprofit organization for almost a decade.

The organization's contract expires June 30, and the county is seeking new management for the Forestville facility.

"Things like this shouldn't happen," Attanasio said of the incident, which Taylor confirmed. "Not once, not ever. . . . She died for no reason."

Under the Prince George's County Animal Welfare League's management, volunteers said, kennels are not cleaned properly and dogs are not walked often enough. Taylor said that each dog is walked daily and that kennels are cleaned. The animals' well-being is the top priority, he said.

The adoption process can be lengthy and bureaucratic, volunteers said, discouraging some prospective pet owners. A few of the volunteers spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared they would be barred from helping at the shelter if they allowed their names to be published.

The outdated building is also a problem, volunteers and officials said. Some dogs and cats develop respiratory illnesses because of the building's poor ventilation, said volunteers, Taylor and the president of the welfare league.

The league has been contracted to run the shelter for about $1 million annually for at least eight years. Under the current agreement, Taylor said, the league had a three-year contract and an option for two additional years. The county approved the first-year extension but is not renewing the contract for the second year, he said.

Taylor said that the league's performance has been "satisfactory" and that bids are being accepted because "it was time to do it."

"There's always room to improve," he said. "The goal is to be outstanding. We're not there yet. The vision we have is to become the number one shelter in the nation. It takes a lot of work to get there."