A Community Comes Together to Save Shelter Animals
When Katie Boord was scrolling through Facebook on a Monday evening, enjoying the smell of her husband’s chicken macaroni and cheese, she saw a post that would change her night. An animal shelter in Derwood, Maryland, had posted an urgent appeal for short-term fosters due to a broken air conditioning system. The situation posed a serious risk to hundreds of animals, who could suffer from heat exhaustion.
Boord knew she had to act. She told her husband, Sean Clayton, “I have to do something,” and he replied, “Go ahead. I’ll keep dinner warm.” Within minutes, Boord was on her way to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, joining dozens of others who had also responded to the call for help.
The shelter was facing an emergency. A heat dome—characterized by high pressure that traps heat—had brought extreme temperatures and humidity to the D.C. area, reaching around 100 degrees. Employees had initially tried to manage the situation by setting up fans and cooling mats, freezing Kong toys, and limiting outdoor time for the animals. However, it became clear that more help was needed.
Maria Anselmo, the shelter’s community relations manager, said they hadn’t anticipated such a large response. “Half of us probably cried at some point over the past couple days [from joy],” she shared. The shelter reached out to former foster volunteers and then posted a social media message asking for short-term foster homes. The response was overwhelming.
Volunteers began arriving almost immediately, with lines forming outside the shelter. Staff members were so overwhelmed that they simply asked each volunteer for their ID, address, phone number, and email. “We weren’t going to turn those people away,” Anselmo explained.
Boord arrived later that evening and waited about an hour before receiving three cats—Sponge Bob, Sandy Cheeks, and Gary. The trio had come from the same home and were among the roughly 70 animals that were fostered during the week. Boord and her husband already had an 8-year-old cat named Fillion, and they quickly set up a space for the new arrivals.
Meanwhile, Debbie Lauer, a retiree from the National Security Agency, saw the news about the shelter’s problem and decided to take action. On her 67th birthday, she drove 16 miles to pick up Princess Daisy, a young terrier mix. “It’s just feeling like you’re doing something good,” Lauer said. “I’m glad I did it. I will continue to do it.”
By Tuesday, the county had fixed the shelter’s air conditioning, but many volunteers chose to keep fostering animals. Ilya Albert, for example, decided to adopt Teton, an 11-month-old brown cat. He and his wife, Jessica DePrest, had been considering adopting a cat since their longtime pet died last month. Teton quickly became part of their family, and they renamed him Jake after a character from the 1978 movie “The Cat From Outer Space.”
About 40 dogs, 20 cats, and 10 small animals—including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and a chinchilla—were fostered during the week. The shelter expressed its gratitude to all the volunteers in a statement, saying, “This response has left us speechless.” They thanked everyone for their support and emphasized that all animals were safe and cared for.
Anselmo noted that responding to every email and social media message would take some time, but she stressed that the community’s efforts had made a real difference. “All animals are safe, cared for, and cool… thanks to YOU,” the shelter wrote.
The incident highlights the power of community action and the importance of quick responses in emergencies. It also showcases how individuals can make a significant impact, even in the most challenging circumstances.
