Calvert County’s animal shelter is waiving fees for a category of cats not suited to traditional homes and cutting dog licensing costs in half throughout September, part of a pair of national awareness campaigns.
The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter in Prince Frederick will waive adoption fees for all “working cats” from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, recognizing Working Cat Awareness Week. Working cat programs, common at shelters nationally, place feral or unsocialized cats — animals that typically can’t adjust to life as indoor pets and would otherwise be at risk of euthanasia — into barns, warehouses, stables, or other outdoor structures, where they provide natural rodent control in exchange for food, water, and shelter. As with any adoption, working cats placed through the program are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped beforehand.
The same month brings a break on dog licensing. In recognition of Responsible Dog Ownership Month, Calvert County is cutting its standard dog license fees in half through September — dropping the cost from $7 to $3.50 for spayed or neutered dogs, and from $20 to $10 for dogs that aren’t. County law requires all dogs and cats over five months old to display a current license, with proof of rabies vaccination required to obtain one.
The shelter also announced a longer-term change to its enforcement approach: its long-running Amnesty Week program, which gives pet owners a chance to address licensing violations without penalty, will expand into a full Amnesty Month for the first time in April 2027, up from its traditional one-week run. Officials said the longer window is meant to raise awareness of licensing requirements and give more owners a real opportunity to get compliant.
Animals of all kinds remain available for adoption at the shelter, including dogs, cats, rabbits, roosters, and pigs. Every adoption includes spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, age-appropriate vaccinations, and a starter care package, and all adopters must complete the shelter’s standard screening process. The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter, an open-admission facility that opened in 2018, is named for a former Calvert County commissioner and longtime animal-rights advocate who helped shape the county’s animal welfare programs before her death.
The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 5055 Hallowing Point Road in Prince Frederick. Intake appointments can be scheduled at 410-535-7387.
