Montgomery County is home to many dedicated animal shelters working tirelessly to find loving, permanent homes for pets in need. Among them is the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC), which is currently over capacity with dogs.
While shelters across the region are full, MCASAC in Derwood remains committed to taking in dogs who need help the most.
“As an open admissions shelter, we really have to take in whatever animals need us, that’s our job. So, whether that’s a cruelty or neglect case or an owner surrender, we are always taking animals in and we’re seeing that not a lot of animals are going out,” Outreach Coordinator Brooke Ciardi told MCM on Tuesday. “It’s an ongoing issue particularly with our large breed dogs over 40 pounds.”
One of those dogs is two-year-old Juno, whose owner surrendered her to the shelter. “We get a lot of our animals through owner surrender, whether it’s because of housing insecurity or financial crisis, people losing their jobs, it’s a very common way that very loved family pets unfortunately do end up in our shelter,” Ciardi said.
And then there’s Ambassador, a one-year-old, 70-pound dog whose story reflects just how urgently shelters like MCASAC are needed. He was found tied to a bench in Takoma Park during a hypothermia alert in December 2024. Ambassador was adopted soon after, but was returned only a week later because he was considered “too big.” His story reflects a heartbreaking reality for large-breed dogs. Yet with the right family, dogs like Ambassador still have every chance to thrive.
Despite these challenges, MCASAC is making dog adoption in Montgomery County as simple and inclusive as possible. To adopt, all you need is a valid ID. In some cases, adoption fees are even waived, particularly for animals that are being fostered. These efforts ensure that more people can open their homes and hearts to pets in need.
Montgomery County can play a huge role in this. By spreading the word, considering adoption, or fostering a pet in need, residents can help ease the pressure on the shelter giving animals like Juno and Ambassador the second chance they deserve.
