Baltimore County to Build New Animal Services Facility

Baltimore County officials have announced their plans to replace the county's 30-plus-year-old animal control offices and shelter with a modern structure that will allow the county to improve and expand its services.

The new $5 million facility will be built on the 14-acre parcel in Baldwin where the current center is located, according to a statement from the county's Department of Health and Human Services.

The current facility is "inadequate in size and design to meet the demand we have in providing services to our pet owners, managing stray animals and finding homes for our adoptable pets," Health and Human Services Director Gregory Branch said in the statement.

The new center will include increased kennel space, an adoption "meet and greet" room, a spay/neuter surgical suite, an outside exercise area for dogs, a dog park for use by the public, a cat observation and socialization room, additional parking and office space for staff and volunteers, according to the statement.

Effectively immediately, the Animal Control Division of Health and Human Services will be known as the Animal Services Division.

"This name change more accurately reflects the scope of this division's work, which includes administration, enforcement and shelter operations," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said in the statement.