Montgomery County Foster Homes Needed – AC Outage
- Montgomery County, MD, animal officials are urgently seeking temporary foster homes for animals at the Derwood Animal Shelter after a mechanical failure knocked out the air conditioning Monday...
- Staff at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center on Muncaster Mill Road have been working around the clock to repair the system.
- Caroline Hairfield, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services, described the situation as critical.
Urgent: Teh Derwood Animal Shelter in Montgomery County needs your help! Due to an AC outage during a heat wave, the shelter is seeking temporary foster homes for approximately 120 dogs, cats, and other small animals. High temperatures pose a critical threat, and your willingness to provide foster care offers immediate relief. Find out how to become a foster parent and help alleviate overcrowding at the shelter. Call ahead to schedule your appointment and save a life.This situation, as highlighted by News Directory 3, requires all hands on deck. Can you open your home and provide temporary foster care? Discover what’s next for the animals.
Derwood Animal Shelter Seeks Foster Homes Amid Heat Wave
updated June 24, 2025
Montgomery County, MD, animal officials are urgently seeking temporary foster homes for animals at the Derwood Animal Shelter after a mechanical failure knocked out the air conditioning Monday afternoon. With high temperatures forecast, the need is immediate.
Staff at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center on Muncaster Mill Road have been working around the clock to repair the system. However, officials say it could take days before normal temperatures are restored inside the facility.
Caroline Hairfield, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services, described the situation as critical. “It’s just hot,” Hairfield said.”There’s no air moving.”
The shelter is seeking temporary homes for approximately 120 dogs, as well as cats and other small animals.Finding temporary foster care will alleviate overcrowding and allow staff to focus on animals with the most pressing needs during the heat wave.
Shelter staff are taking measures to keep the animals cool, including deploying fans, providing ample water, and maximizing ventilation. Vets have identified 20 to 30 dogs as high-priority due to age or existing health issues,but all animals would benefit from a break from the heat.
Staff Veterinarian Tom Ramirez emphasized the health risks.”It’s exceedingly unhealthy for the animals,” Ramirez said. “It’s not healthy for peopel, and the sicker the animal is, the more debilitated thay are, the worse it is for them, and so it’s high priority.”
The community response has been swift. By 7 p.m. Monday,dozens of people were already at the shelter to offer assistance,according to staff.
The shelter typically operates at 25% over capacity. Those interested in providing temporary foster care should call ahead to schedule an appointment. Doors and phone lines open at noon.
“This is like your chance to be a hero, right?” Hairfield said. “Fostering saves lives.”
What’s next
Shelter staff will continue working to repair the air conditioning system while coordinating foster placements. The community is encouraged to continue offering support by fostering, donating supplies, or volunteering time.