City of Greenbelt Animal Control Facility
Practices and Care of Animals

General Animal Control and Shelter Operation Information

The City of Greenbelt Animal Shelter is and will continue to be in a constant state of evolution from the policies that are now in existence. This will allow us to always provide the best available help for the animals in our care.

The Animal Control Division prides itself on being ethical and humane in its treatment of animals including providing positive reinforcement training techniques. Our staff is trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of the main diseases that affect animals. The City of Greenbelt also uses two Veterinarian companies to assist us in providing care and treatment of animals. The Animal Control Division will make every effort to provide healthy animals for adoption.

Since 2000, we have had a policy of being a “no kill” organization. However with that said there will be cases animals will animals will be euthanized at the recommendation of the Veterinarian or by our qualified Animal Control Staff. Inappropriate behavior by an animal is not automatic grounds for euthanasia. We make every attempt to monitor an animal for a while to see if appropriate retraining can be done. Occasionally circumstances from an animal’s past or present mental instability may cause it to deemed not adoptable. We can proudly say that less than 3% of the animals we have had in custody we have taken to the Prince George’s County Shelter. The majority of the animals taken to the Prince George’s County shelter have been Pit Bulls which are illegal in the County.

Viewing of adoptable animals can be done anytime by appointment. Please call 301-345-5417 if you are interested in adopting or volunteering to help the program. There are many levels of volunteering based on your experience.

Adoption Rules

• All animals that are adopted will be spayed or neutered if they are over 6 months old.
• All animals are given their first vaccination as soon as possible and their second on the appropriate date if they are still with us.
• No animal is allowed to leave unvaccinated or without having made provisions for spaying or neutering. Medical records will be provided at the time of adoption.

Animal Welfare Rules

• All animals that stay in the shelter will have a kennel card filled out and placed on the animal’s cage.
• Checking of cards and placement should be done by an Animal Control Officer (ACO) or supervisor only.
• The shelter is swept daily and moped with sanitizer.
• Different types of pets remain separated from each other, unless approve by the ACO.
• Sick and injured animals are separated from healthy animals.
• All food and water bowls are cleaned and sanitized once daily with anti-bacterial soap. Bowls are air dried.
• Cage cleaning is done daily with all items being removed from the cages and cages wiped down with a sanitizer and allowed to dry.
• Litter boxes are scooped twice a day and emptied and sanitized as needed. Bottom trays are cleaned and lined with newspaper.
• The same litter boxes and toys stay with a cat as long as they are here.
• Kennel cleaning is done daily. Solid waste is removed before rinsing the kennel and sanititizing. Kennels are moped out and sanitized with a mixture of kennel sanitizer or bleach mix then rinsed and allowed to air dry.
• Kennel bedding and toys are sanitized as needed and the same bedding and toys remain with the animal as long as they are here.

Feeding Rules

• Feeding routines are established as appropriate for the pet in question and depending on the animal a special prescription diet maybe required.
• Adult dogs are fed once daily in the morning, puppies will be fed twice a day.
• Adult dogs will be fed dry food unless approved for other types of food by the ACO or Vet.
• Adult cats are fed dry food which are filled daily and left for the cat to eat freely during the day. Other types of food maybe used if prescribed by the ACO or the Vet.
• Kittens are fed wet food and dry food and are monitored more closely.