
07/05/2025
BIG NEWS! Effective today, Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control is now the Department of Animal Services. We are no longer a bureau within the Police Department. Instead, Animal Services is a stand-alone county department!
Residents can be assured that our core services will remain in place. Animal Services Officers will continue with their current duties. Programs including adoption, foster, and Paws Around Town will continue as usual.
Animal Services will continue to work cooperatively with the Police Department. We will assist them when needed, and vice-versa. That includes the vital service of Police Officers bringing found pets into our facility after hours.
The new department was proposed by County Executive Steuart Pittman and unanimously approved by the County Council, which also added additional staff and funding to the shelter's 2025-2026 fiscal year budget to aid in the transition.