Fishing Creek Kennel: Dedicated Animal Welfare Volunteers

Driving down the windy rural road surrounded by farms and hidden neighborhoods, you'd never expect there to be a kennel deep in the woods next to Fishing Creek. Yet if you follow the sign and the gravel driveway, you'll come to a small building called Fishing Creek Kennel, owned and operated by the Humane Society of Calvert County, Maryland.

If you are looking for a new dog to add to your family, you have definitely come to the right place. But the staff and volunteers will be sure to make recommendations and point you in the right direction if they don't have exactly what you are looking for. This rescue has some of the most dedicated animal welfare volunteers out there. This is not your average animal rescue in which animals are carted through and euthanized when time is up or funds are short. Take Maggie Moo, for example. The kennel's longest resident, Maggie Moo has been waiting for her forever home for two and a half years. She loves people, children, and is housebroken. She's not crazy about cats and is finickly about which dogs she chooses to accept. But the Humane Society keeps all of those animals taken under its wing and works diligently to place them, unless of course they have aggression or health issues that are simply beyond any type of repair. The point is that this is probably the best place to go if you are looking to get an animal from a group that takes the time to really get to know its animals. If you aren't looking for a dog, check out the guinea pigs and hamsters waiting for homes.

Maybe you're not looking to adopt but you want to help out. This place is awesome if you are looking to help animals and get some serious exercise. Situated in a natural wooded setting, this kennel provides a serene and quiet environment in which you can enjoy your outside time. You can walk dogs ranging from those who would rather be sleeping to those who will nearly rip your arm off because they are so eager to get out. Walking can also provide help to these animals as many of them could use some basic obedience. If you are looking for a challenge and very dog experienced, there are several dogs that require more advanced handling but still need attention and need people who can continue the training that volunteers have already started. So, your walk doesn't necessarily need to be a leisurely stroll. It can be a great time for you to develop your own dog handling skills. There are tons of other projects the group needs help with like cleaning and maintenance if you don't really want to spend much time with animals but still want to help out. On weekends you can also get the opportunity to take dogs out to adoption events. If you really like what you do there, you'll find that you will make a lot of human buddies as well. The group has all different kinds of contributors from teachers to nurses to federal government workers. The kennel is also a great place to get service learning hours for school, complete community service for court related issues, or gain experience if you are thinking of a career with animals.

If you aren't looking to adopt or even volunteer, you can support the Humane Society while helping yourself! If you have a dog or small animal that needs boarding while you away, the kennel offers very reasonable rates. Wouldn't you rather see your money go toward a rescue group rather than a commercial dog boarding kennel? If you want to advertise your business, sponsor an event like the annual Pet Day 5 K held in September in Solomons, Maryland. If you donate $200, your business name will be on race T-shirts, advertised in local papers, recognized at the actual event, and also noted in the Humane Society newsletter that reaches 2,000 local households quarterly. After recent rennovations, the Humane Society is seeking donors to help cover the costs of new kennel fencing. For donations over $500, donors will receive a plaque with a message of their choice hung on the door of the kennel sponsored.

If you aren't looking for full-fledged grooming, the staff at the Humane Society also do bathing, nails, and ear cleaning.

Take some time to check out this little place. You might find that it is a great place to spend some time, make some friends, and contribute to a worthy cause.