Animal Welfare
A County “Fur” Everyone: Reforming Animal Services and Putting Compassion First
Nick Stewart believes how we treat animals says everything about who we are as a community.
In a county filled with pet owners, rescue volunteers, and animal lovers, our policies should reflect our compassion. But for too long, Baltimore County’s animal services system has suffered from inconsistent leadership, overcrowded shelters, preventable cruelty cases, and a lack of public trust.
Nick knows we can do better. As County Executive, he’ll lead with accountability, transparency and common sense to deliver an animal services system that works for people and their pets.
Transparency That Builds Trust
Baltimore County residents deserve a system that listens and responds. Nick will:
- Reactivate the Animal Services Advisory Commission: The commission hasn’t met since 2022 should be revived with quarterly public meetings, comment periods and a community liaison.
- Launch PetStat: Launch a new public-facing dashboard that tracks adoption metrics, enforcement metrics and the status of shelters and animal welfare infrastructure across the county.
- “Community Care for Animals” Hub: The hub will be a 24/7 digital resource for real-time shelter data, inspection reports, complaints and feedback tools.
Keep Families Together with Pet-Friendly Housing
No one should have to choose between a home and a beloved pet. Nick will:
- End breed-specific restrictions: For county-supported housing, these restrictions should be lifted so that families that need a home are not restricted based on their pets.
- Eliminate discriminatory pet policies: Work with landlords and HOAs to eliminate discriminatory pet policies.
- Rental Assistance: Expand pet-friendly rental assistance and ensure alignment with fair housing laws this includes relieving restrictions on housing vouchers, providing accommodations for service animals.
Real Enforcement for Real Protection
Too many tragedies — like Oscar, the dog who froze to death in Arbutus — highlight systemic failures. In 2024 alone, over 180 animals were rescued from cruelty in Essex and Baltimore City. Nick will:
- Prevent Neglect: Fully enforce Oscar’s Law, with trained personnel and rapid response capabilities.
- Expand Enforcement: Fund and train Animal Services Officers (ASOs) so enforcement doesn’t fall to already-overstretched police.
- Coordinate Regionally: Strengthen regional coordination on large-scale cruelty investigations.
- Address Hoarding: Treat hoarding as a public health crisis, ensuring intervention and prevention go hand in hand.
Stronger Shelters & Smarter Services
Our shelters are under stress due to limited capacity and lack of support. Nick will:
- Grow: Reform hiring practices to fill vacancies faster — especially for veterinary staff and shelter leadership.
- Innovate: Phase out outdated behavior tests and implement enrichment programs and supervised playgroups.
- Improve: End indefinite administrative holds that keep animals warehoused without resolution.
Expand Access and Reach
Animal services should be accessible in every ZIP code, not just in Baldwin. Nick will:
- Dundalk Shelter: Open a full-service shelter or resource hub in Dundalk, bringing services closer to the East Side.
- Expand mobile outreach: including spay/neuter clinics, vaccines, microchipping and the fan-favorite Cuddle Shuttle.
Prevent Problems Before They Start
Nick believes in prevention over punishment and giving residents the tools to care for their pets. He’ll:
- Finder-to-Foster: Grow finder-to-foster programs that help lost animals stay out of shelters.
- Targeted Outreach: Expand spay/neuter outreach in under-resourced communities.
- Better Tools: Equip ASOs with not just citation pads — but also tools, supplies, and education-based strategies.
A County Pet Food & Supply Bank
No one should have to give up a pet due to temporary hardship. Nick will launch a County-Run Pet Food & Supply Bank that:
- Provides free pet food and cat litter to any resident who calls for help, with no invasive forms or income requirements.
- Partners with local shelters, vets, and nonprofits to maintain donations and resources.
- Deploys mobile delivery options for seniors, disabled residents, and those without transportation.
A Humane Vision for County Government
This is about more than animals. It’s about leadership and treatment rooted in shared values, and a responsive, humane government.
Nick Stewart will bring Baltimore County a modern, effective and compassionate animal services system that honors the dignity of all life and reflects the strength of our community.