SPCA of Anne Arundel County

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The SPCA receives no funding from city,county, state, or federal government. We are supported by private donations.

Our veterinarian, along with the assistance of the animal caretakers, makes sure healthy animals stay healthy. They diagnose and treat sick or injured animals, and take care of any animals that may become sick during their shelter stay.

All kittens, cats, puppies and dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and current on age-appropriate vaccinations prior to being available for adoption. All rabbits are spayed or neutered, and male guinea pigs are neutered, prior to being available for adoption.

No.  National organizations including the ASPCA in New York, the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association do not financially support our shelter or any other shelters.  Potential contributors sometimes mistakenly send a donation intended for our SPCA to one of the national organizations, but we don’t benefit from this.

No, Anne Arundel County Animal Control and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County (SPCA) are independent of each other.

The SPCA is a private, non-profit animal welfare organization.   

Anne Arundel County Animal Control is county-funded and enforces all Animal Control Laws, responds to animal related complaints, and conducts investigations of cruelty and problem situations.

All adoptable animals will stay in the shelter until adopted unless the animal contracts a contagious, non-treatable illness or becomes behaviorally un-adoptable.  The SPCA does not place a limit on the amount of time adoptable animals stay in the shelter. As long as they stay happy and healthy, they’ll stay at the SPCA, waiting for homes.

We offer low cost neutering of male cats twice a year – March and September -- at our “Male Cat Neuter-a-thons”.

Call our clinic at 410-268-4388 x 123 to schedule an appointment for your male cat.

We spay/neuter all of our shelter’s puppies, dogs, kittens and cats before they are offered for adoption; however we are unable to offer spay/neuter services for non-shelter animals at this time.

Low Cost spay/neuter options:

Spay Now, Inc.
25 Pullman Crossing, Suite 101
Grasonville, MD 21638
410-827-6464

SNAP, Inc.
PO Box 686
Chesapeake City, MD 21915
410-885-578

Yes. Any dog or cat residing in Anne Arundel County that is 4 months of age or older must have an Anne Arundel County License. Proof of a current rabies vaccination is required to obtain a license.

Licenses may be purchased through the mail or in person at:

Anne Arundel County Animal Control
411 Maxwell Frye Road
Millersville, Maryland 21108

Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am – 3:00pm.
Phone: 410-222-8900

No -- we do not offer boarding services.  We recommend that you ask your veterinarian, neighbors, friends, etc. for their recommendations of a reputable boarding facility. We also recommend that you visit the kennel/cattery prior to leaving your pet to be sure you are comfortable with the staff and facility.

The SPCA works with the Canine Training Association, a non-profit hobby dog obedience training club that was formed in 1950. Classes begin every ten weeks.  They meet on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the SPCA’s Volunteer and Education building. Classes are also available in Davidsonville and Beltsville (Prince Georges County).

Basic dog obedience classes are $60.00 and meet one hour a week for ten weeks.

Call 410-573-6556 for information and to register.

No, we adopt animals to good homes throughout the area.

We screen adopters to make sure animals are placed in safe and healthy homes.

If you are surrendering a pet, please follow the directions below:

1. Call our shelter office (410-268-4388) if you have questions concerning the relinquishment of your pet.
2. Locate your pet's previous veterinary and vaccination records, if possible, to bring with you.
3. You will need to show us a current driver’s license or other official identification.
4. Bring your pet to the SPCA’s Incoming building – the first building on your left as you enter the driveway.  .
5. All dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier. If you need a leash or carrier please leave your pet in your car and ask to borrow one from our shelter staff.*
6.  You will need to complete and sign a give-up form and complete a pet profile.
7. We do not charge a give-up fee for any animals; however, we appreciate and depend on your donation.

PLEASE NOTE:

Once your animal has been signed in to us:

We will not return the animal if you change your mind and want it back.

We do not release any information regarding the health or placement of your pet once it has been signed in to the SPCA.

* When the weather is warm do no leave your pet in your car—call us from your car when you arrive and we will bring one to you.

Yes. It will save you time if you fill out the pet profile for the animal you are surrendering before you come to the SPCA. We have both forms available here for download.

Dog Profile

Cat Profile

Our volunteers commit to a minimum of six months of active service.

Volunteers between the ages of 13-18 can assist as a volunteer with an adult volunteer mentor over the age of 25. The adult volunteer mentor must be a parent or legal guardian, or another adult recommended by a parent.  Both the teenager and adult volunteer must attend volunteer orientation and shelter training and must always volunteer together.

We welcome volunteers over the age of 13 if accompanied by a parent or an adult mentor. All volunteers, including your teen volunteer, must complete our volunteer orientation session.

We cannot accommodate high school or college students who are required to fulfill short-term community service hours.  The SPCA will not grant community service hours for any volunteer unless they have been an active volunteer for 6 months prior to requesting verification of service hours.

We maintain a list of local veterinarians who have generously donated to the SPCA.

Stray animals in Anne Arundel County are handled by Anne Arundel County Animal Control in Millersville. Please see their Lost Pets form.You should also view their list of found animals.

You must go in person to Animal Control as soon as you can to see if your pet is there. We recommend returning every few days.

NOTE: Stray animals brought to our SPCA are transported by Animal Control to their shelter.

The SPCA keeps a Lost File of missing or found pets in the county.  Call 410-268-4388 to report a lost pet to us.

Contact Anne Arundel County Animal Control at 410-222-8900. You should also check the Anaimal Control website where you can post a report of a found animal as well as view a list of lost animals.

The SPCA keeps a Found File of found pets in the county.  Call 410-268-4388 to report a found pet to us.

NOTE:

If you have found an animal, please bring it to the shelter nearest to the area it was found.  This helps increase the chance that the pet will be reunited with its owner.  If you bring an animal found in another county or state to a shelter in different location, the owner may not know to look there. See our list of area animal control agencies.

The Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with or without an appointment.

Phone: 410-224-0331

Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic
808 Bestgate Road
Annapolis, MD  21401

www.aavec.com

In Anne Arundel County, cruelty complaints are handled by Anne Arundel County Animal Control, a division of the county police department.

Phone: 410-222-8900

Visit the Maryland State Department of Resources website for a list of wildlife rehabilitators.

There are two regional and three community off-leash dog parks in the county.  For the locations, visit the county’s Recreation and Park website.