By Emma Izzo ’15

The animals have run out of space and need a new home. To accommodate an ever growing stray animal population, Montgomery County has built a new state of the art facility in Derwood to house the animals and replace an almost 40-year-old aging animal shelter in Rockville. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place March 1.

The new Montgomery animal shelter was built in part, because of the previous lack of adequate space to quarantine sick animals separately from stray animals. The Montgomery County Police Department Animal Services Division will oversee operations at the Derwood facility, and, according to recent article in the Washington Post, the change in management is viewed as a way to improve practices and services. The new Muncaster Mill Road shelter at 49,160 square feet will be three times the size of the old building and will not only house animals but also serve as a public adoption center and community education resource for animal-care issues.

The new facility will provide increasing opportunities for teens to volunteer. “Students who volunteer at the new animal shelter will get student service learning hours. They will have to generally work for eight hours for six months, but for students the schedule is more flexible,” said Taleah Parker, the Volunteer Coordinator. Teenagers between 13-17 will be able to help out in groups. A teenager under 18 will need a written permission slip from parents and will have to be supervised. Minors won’t handle animals.

“Younger groups will have limitations on what they can do to help out. But there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer including some enrichment with the animals like chew toys, and for cats a sock-full of catnip, to help relieve the stress of the animals to make them feel more at home until they are adopted,” explained Community Outreach Coordinator Katherine Venzono.

Animals accepted at the new facility range from house pets to reptiles, and even exotic animals. The animal shelter will respond to any call. “We have a barn that we are quite proud of,” said Venzono.

According to the website of the Montgomery County Division of Building Design and Construction, “Environmental design features of the facility include use of a vegetated roof over the adoption areas, water efficient plumbing fixtures, energy efficient building envelope and HVAC design, and use of recycled and locally manufactured materials.”