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Welcome to SO MD Animal Rescue, where our passion for animals drives everything we do. Located in the heart of Southern Maryland, we are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming shelter and stray animals in need. Our mission is to provide a safe haven for abandoned, abused, and neglected pets, giving them a second chance at a happy and healthy life.
Our team of devoted volunteers and professionals works tirelessly to ensure that every animal receives the love, care, and medical attention they deserve. We believe in the power of community and work closely with local shelters, veterinarians, and animal lovers to create a network of support for our furry friends.
At So MD Animal Rescue, we are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership and educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering, proper pet care, and the benefits of adopting rescue animals. Through our outreach programs, adoption events, and community partnerships, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them.
Thank you for supporting SO MD Animal Rescue. Together, we can make a difference, one shelter dog at a time.
In June 1990, I visited the PH County Animal Shelter in search of my first dog as an adult. I had never been to a shelter before and knew little about how they operated or the animals within them.
After looking at several dogs, I left, only to find out a few days later that the dog I wanted was no longer available. I returned to the shelter to try again. This visit would change everything for me. It was then that I learned about the many dogs who come into shelters but never make it out. The staff recommended a dog to me—a beautiful reddish-brown retriever chow mix who had narrowly escaped euthanasia thanks to the staff’s request for an extension. When I bent down, she walked over and buried her head in my lap. I knew she was the one. Since I lived out of the county, I had to wait three days before I could pick her up.
When I returned, she was so frightened that she froze to the ground and refused to move. The staff had to pick her up and place her in my car. This dog, Shelby, became my first rescue. A couple of months after adopting her, I decided she needed a companion while I was at work, so I returned to the shelter. This time, I found a small shepherd mix with a huge wound on her head, trembling at the back of the kennel. The staff were surprised when I asked to see her, as she wasn’t available for adoption yet. When she leaned against me, I knew she needed a loving home. Despite the wait, the coordinator called me the next day and said I could take her home immediately.
Shelby now had a new friend, Sheyla. Unfortunately, Sheyla was sick, and a visit to the vet revealed kennel cough—and that she was pregnant. Though I hadn’t anticipated it, abortion wasn’t an option. On St. Patrick’s Day, Sheyla gave birth to 10 healthy puppies. It was an unexpected journey, but we found loving homes for all the pups after eight weeks.
Adopting Shelby and Sheyla ignited my passion for helping animals. I started volunteering with local humane societies, assisting with fundraisers, and eventually rescuing and rehoming strays. In April 2014, I was finally able to begin my own rescue efforts. I started by assisting shelters and rescues in transporting dogs north and placing them in loving homes.
Shelby and Sheyla brought immense love and joy into my life, and through them, I learned valuable lessons about life and relationships. It became my mission to help other people experience the same joy. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to make successful matches between people and their pets. Seeing the bond between families and their new pets—and hearing how these animals have transformed their lives—makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Our rescue operates on the belief that all dogs and people deserve unconditional love. Our mission is to bring this love to as many families and homeless dogs as possible. We rescue, rehabilitate, and prepare shelter, stray, sick, injured, abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs for loving, forever homes. While the work started out as a way to help dogs, I’ve come to realize that it’s equally about helping people.
Shelby and Sheyla profoundly changed my life, and all the love they brought into it inspired me to rescue dogs and help bring that same love to other families.
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