After months of closure, the freshly renovated Greenbelt Animal Shelter reopened Monday, June 2 and welcomed residents to an open house to see the changes, apply to volunteer and meet the staff who kept the program running through a difficult stretch.
That especially difficult stretch started with the resignation of two out of three animal services officers in July 2024, leaving Officer Carolina Aviles to juggle the various duties of Greenbelt’s animal services program by herself.
Part of why the shelter shut down was that one officer couldn’t possibly do all of that alone, said Patricia Fillman, who became supervisor of animal services that August. She said Aviles “went above and beyond” by caring for the remaining animals, getting them adopted, picking up rescues and more.
“She’s done an amazing job, so we’re hoping to take some of that load off of her now,” Fillman said. The two of them were joined at the end of 2024 by Officer Bella Scribner, a former park ranger, returning the staff to its original complement of three officers.
Though the shelter is now open and operational, Aviles said that challenges still remain with only three people. “I think we could definitely benefit from one more person … that would just be able to give us that breathing space.”
The Renovations
The installation of a new floor was the most critical of the renovations, according to Aviles, who said the previous one had peeling tiles and water damage caused by the regular cleaning of cages. The new floor’s surface is slightly inclined to help drain water and prevent future damage.
Other changes include a stackable washer and dryer, which Aviles said freed up space since the old system took up the entire wall of the laundry room.
The HVAC system was replaced because it broke down frequently, said Aviles. New walls make the shelter look cleaner and more open, and window screens were replaced with metal ones to prevent the cats from tearing them.
“We had a small budget, so I think they did the best [they could] with the money they had,” Aviles said.
But she also said that it would be nice if the shelter, which was originally meant to be a trailer, could be kept as an office and space for the cats and a new facility could be built for the dogs.
Cats and dogs living in the same space get stressed despite being physically separated, and it also makes it hard to hear when the officers are trying to talk to potential adopters.
“That would be probably the best-case scenario, but I like the changes now, so we’ll be able to hold out for as long as we can.”
Community Support
At Monday’s open house, residents, city councilmembers and police officers intermingled to learn about the shelter’s changes.
Some residents were longtime volunteers, like Liz Tobey, who has assisted at the shelter almost continuously since 2012. During that time, she adopted two cats there and made a lot of friends. “It’s been a great experience,” she said.
Tobey said that it’s especially important right now for Greenbelt to take care of its cats and dogs because federal layoffs have led some to lose their apartments, and various other factors that might lead to animals being surrendered.
“Having the shelter gives [animals] an opportunity to be adopted by another family that can give them what they need,” said Tobey. “I’m really happy that the shelter’s reopening.”
During the shelter’s closure, Greenbelt animal services sometimes relied on help from Prince George’s County Animal Services Division, where Fillman had worked as an officer for a decade.
Deputy Chief Tim White said, “[Fillman] coming over, knowing the policies and procedures, having the contacts, having worked there – it’s just bolstered our relationship to help us be able to serve the community better through our partnership.”
Other help comes in the form of grants that Greenbelt animal services program has and is seeking.
One such grant from the Department of Agriculture offers city residents vouchers to get their animals spayed or neutered for free, said Fillman, who encourages people to apply.
Fillman said the program also is seeking a 2026 grant to help animal services do trap-neuter-return with cats, letting them be released back into the community without producing more cats. This will help community cat programs, through which residents create miniature shelters to help take care of outdoor cats, Fillman said.
Mayor Emmett Jordan, one of the local leaders present for the open house, said that there’s a strong possibility to build a new shelter in the future. “We have some plans,” he said. “The money’s tight, but it’s a priority going forward.”
Will Hammann is a student at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the News Review.
