An interagency project collaboration is saving money for one Queen Anne’s County department, while creating a brighter future for those from another department who are working on the project.

Under Director Kelly Armstrong, the staff of the Queen Anne’s County Department of Animal Services is doing some heavy duty spring cleaning and some much needed renovations. Rather than spending money on outside help, Armstrong and her staff have recruited inmates from the Queen Anne’s County Department of Corrections.

“They are such hard workers…very polite, very pleasant and eager to work,” said Armstrong, who has been at the helm of the department since November. She said a small group of inmates have been coming regularly for about a month and have repainted the entire interior and are working on renovations to help create a more customer friendly front entrance, complete with animal viewing area, and more efficient office space.

Detention Center Warden LaMonte Cooke said he was glad to be able to provide the manpower. “It’s great to be able to assign those who are eligible to these projects so they can participate…they love getting out and working,” he said.

The inmates who are assigned to these projects are considered low risk; non-violent convictions, no drug convictions and no major theft convictions. “We are very careful to screen the inmates who are assigned to these projects,” said Cooke. Many times, he said, there are inmates who are skilled in carpentry or other aspects of construction and allowing them to go out and practice their skills can only help them after they complete their sentence.

“We would rather have them doing something beneficial for themselves and the county,” said Cooke.

To protect their identity, the names of the inmates were not released, although they were all eager to talk about their experience working at Animal Services.

“It’s a great feeling to get up in the morning and know I have somewhere I need to be,” said one man, who said he appreciates being one of the few selected for the project.
“It’s wonderful…we’ve painted the whole interior… and we’ve given Cindy an office with a window,” said another inmate, referring to Cindy Compton, office coordinator for the department. The staff has been so accommodating, he said, and appreciation for a job well done means a lot to all of them.

That renovation project included moving counters, spackling and repairing walls and removing a sink; all which was possible because of the carpentry skills of the men, said Armstrong.

“The whole project has worked out great; there is respect from both our staff and from the inmates,” said Armstrong. These men really are an untapped resource, she said, and the project has worked well for everyone involved.

“We are helping them ease back into their life and they are helping us rejuvenate our office,” said Armstrong.

The Department of Animal Services is always looking for volunteers. For more information about volunteering or adopting an animal, call 410-758-2393.