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Happy 50th Anniversary To Us...
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We are celebrating our 50th year of caring for the homeless animals of Montgomery County and beyond! In the late 1950s and early 1960s, our adoption rate mirrored the national average of about 5%. Now, in 2008, thanks to the generous and heartfelt support from individuals like you, our adoption rate of available animals is consistently more than 90%, one of the highest rates for an open admission shelter anywhere in the U.S. Look how we’ve grown!
THE EARLY YEARS
In the late 1950s, Sherry Reed responded to the plight of a Great Dane who lived in her neighborhood without adequate care from his owners. Realizing that she had the capability to help other animals, Reed contacted Fred Myers, who was then creating the group that later became The Humane Society of the United States. Myers encouraged her to form the local organization. Reed, along with a small group of dedicated animal lovers, founded the Montgomery County Humane Society, and a new voice for compassion was born. |
| THE BEGINNING | |
| 5/24/1958 | Articles of Incorporation approved, establishing The Humane Society of the United States, Montgomery County Branch |
| 7/7/58 | Articles of Incorporation filed with Maryland Secretary of State, Annapolis |
| 2/1/61 | Name changed to Montgomery County Humane Society, Inc. |
| THE ‘70s | |
| 1976 | MCHS relocates from Brookville Road (Silver Spring) to current location on Rothgeb Drive |
| 1978 | 20th Anniversary Humanitarian Awards |
| 1979 | 1st Annual Obedience & Fun Show for Dogs Spay-Neuter Clinic opens MCHS receives accreditation from The Humane Society of the United States |
| THE ‘80s | |
| 1980 | New Dept of Animal Control & Humane Treatment now operates from County Animal Shelter 1st monthly Dog Training Seminar offered by Kirby Hill |
| 1983 | Ann Cottrell Free, former Vice President of MCHS Board, publishes book about Albert Schweitzer |
| 1984 | MCHS initiates shelter visit exchange with Enschede Humane Society, a Dutch humane group |
| 1987 | 1st Open House to kick off Be Kind to Animals Week |
| THE ‘90s | |
| 1990 | Cable Channel 21 begins Pet of the Week promotion |
| 1991 | Desert Storm pet fostering program created for pets of local service men and women serving overseas |
| 1996 | 1st Annual Wagging Tails Treasure Sale |
| 1998 | MCHS 40th Anniversary Open House at the shelter Anni“fur”sary Sock Hop (1st Annual Dances With Dogs) at Indian Spring Country Club |
| 1999 | 1st Annual Paws in the Park dog walk New Adoption Outreach Program – Mobile Adoption Unit |
| THE NEW CENTURY | |
| 2001 | MCHS’s Wagging Tails Thrifts & Gifts Shop opens Safe Haven program created to house pets of domestic violence victims |
| 2003 | Montgomery County officials complete 1st successful prosecution of a felony animal cruelty case in Maryland |
| 2005 | MCHS Private Rescue and the Ark Grooming & Pet Supplies retail store open MCHS rescues 32 Katrina animals, assists 12 reunions |
| 2006 | Joey’s Fund created to help animals with special medical needs Feline Focus Committee formed |
| 2007 | Ownership of Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery transfers to MCHS |
| 2008 | MCHS helps rescue survivors of Virginia puppy mill MCHS and friends celebrate 50 years of compassion and care
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Programs & Services: (240) 773-5054 | Emergency Services (24/7): (240) 773-5900 | Fax: (301) 279-1998