SAD NEWS UPDATE Help people and animals in Baltimore County-pass HB 1478!

THIS IS THE UPDATE I RECEIVED TODAY

THERE IS A GLIMMER OF HOPE

THIS ENCLUDES WAY OF CONTACTING THE

HB 1478 will not pass because Baltimore County has argued that the State of Maryland does not have the power to force it to implement a volunteer program or make adoption its priority means of “disposing” of animals that come into its shelter. The Attorney General agrees with Baltimore County. However, the State legislature still wants to see change to the County shelter in the form of an improved volunteer program and follow through on their promise to put the shelter into the hands of a non-profit in the near future. To that end, we have been told that Delegate Joseph Vallario, Jr. (Chairman of the Judiciary Committee) plans to send a personal letter to Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz asking that he take further action on this issue and report back to the Judiciary on the steps the County is taking to improve its shelter.

HB 1478 and your signatures, emails and phone calls have created public pressure that has pushed Baltimore County to begin the process of improving its volunteer program. Your demands are being heard. Don’t stop now; sign up to volunteer at the Baltimore County Animal Control shelter since it has recently expanded its volunteer program; keep calling and emailing the Baltimore County Council members, Dr. Gregory Branch, and Kevin Kamenetz to tell them that you want to see the volunteer program at the shelter continue to improve and you want to see the County follow through with its promise to put the shelter into the hands of a non-profit; participate in and attend public outreach events that the Baltimore County shelter attends.

Let’s continue to keep the pressure on the County and hold the shelter, the County Council members, the County Health Department, and the County Executive accountable. Baltimore County shelter animals still need your voices to help them get out alive and into rescues and/or caring homes.

(If you decide to apply to volunteer, please keep track of the date that you apply to volunteer (and print your application if possible), whether or not you are contacted, and what you are permitted to do while at the shelter. All of this information will be useful in determining whether Baltimore County Animal Control is serious about increasing volunteer opportunities and improving the lives of the animals in the shelter. We will use the information obtained to formulate further action, if necessary, and keep our elected officials informed of what is going on at the shelter. Please feel free to email your experiences to BCACreform@yahoo.com).

Here is the link to volunteer opportunities: http://volunteer.truist.com/baltimore-county/org/10506741045.html?utm_source=supporter_message&utm_medium=email
(click on “View Opportunities”)

Thank you for all of your past work and support on this issue! We would never have come this far without such widespread support from all of you!

And, thank you in advance for all your continued phone calls and emails to the Baltimore County Health Department, Baltimore County Council Members and Baltimore County Executive Kamenetz, (their contact information is below), and for keeping this issue in the forefront.

Baltimore County Health Department:
Gregory Wm. Branch, M.D., MBA,CPE
Director, Health and Human Services | Health Officer
6401 York Road, Third Floor
Baltimore, MD 21212-2130
Phone: 410-887-BCHD (2243)
E-mail: health@baltimorecountymd.gov

Baltimore County Council members’ phone numbers:

Councilman Tom Quirk- 410-887-0896

Councilwoman Vicki Almond- 410-887-3385

Councilman Todd Huff- 410-887-3387

Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver- 410-887-3389

Councilman David Marks- 410-887-3384

Councilwoman Cathy Bevins- 410-887-3388

Councilman John Olszewski- 410-887-7174

Baltimore County Council members’ email addresses:

YOU CAN CUT AND PASTE THEM INTO THE URL

council1@baltimorecountymd.gov, council2@baltimorecountymd.gov, council3@baltimorecountymd.gov, council4@baltimorecountymd.gov, council5@baltimorecountymd.gov, council6@baltimorecountymd.gov, council7@baltimorecountymd.gov

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz:
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz
400 Washington Avenue, Mailstop 2M01A
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-887-2450
E-mail: kevin@baltimorecountymd.gov