Somerset County Dog Control at full capacity

WESTOVER, Md. – The Somerset County Dog Control Shelter in Westover is having a difficult time finding space to take in all the dogs being brought to them.

Now, they’re calling on the community to help adopt some of the canines.

“Right now we’re finding that a lot of people are giving their dogs up because they just can’t afford it, the vet bills, the food,” said Michelle Glover, Dog Control Officer.

Officials with Somerset County Dog Control said they have been having capacity issues since the onset of COVID-19.

“Our shelter is completely full, we have 23 kennels, we have 23 dogs,” said Glover. “A lot of the dogs we have are strays that we picked up that were abandoned and we just did not find their owners. There’s a few we found their owners and they decided they didn’t want them back so they surrendered them.”

Somerset County Dog Control Director Scott Sturgis says open spaces in the kennel are not keeping up with demand.

“It’s been here lately, well for the past at least six months that if we’re able to adopt a dog out by the end of the afternoon, we’ll have two to take its place and it leaves us scrambling to try and find a dog place to go,” said Sturgis.

To encourage adoption at the Somerset County Dog Control, the shelter holds a variety of different adoption events.

The shelter also received permission from County Commissioners to start a volunteer dog-walking program in hopes that those who walk the dogs will take one home.

“I just like for people to understand that once you do decide to adopt an animal, a dog whether it’s a puppy or it’s an adult dog, it’s just like having a member of the family and with that comes great responsibility,” said Sturgis.

If you are interested in adopting a dog, you can set up a time to meet with someone from the shelter.

You can call Somerset County Dog Control at 410-651-0986.