HART for Animals Receives 2024 Grant to Expand Lifesaving Spay and Neuter Initiatives in Maryland
HART for Animals, a charitable animal welfare organization based in Western Maryland, has been honored with a 2024 grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture as part of their ongoing Spay and Neuter Program. This initiative, now in its ninth year of support for HART, aims to address the critical issue of reducing the number of unwanted cats and dogs euthanized in shelters across the state.
Since its inception in 2011, the Spay and Neuter Program, conceived and initiated by the state of Maryland, has made significant strides in curbing the euthanasia rates of animals in the state. The program, backed by the Maryland General Assembly, was introduced to combat the alarming statistics that revealed 50% of cats and 33% of dogs in Maryland’s shelter populations were being euthanized, placing a considerable burden on taxpayers.
HART’s 2024 grant will empower its Lifesaver program to conduct 48 dog spays and neuters, along with 105 cat spays and neuters. This significant contribution will continue to provide no-cost spay/neuter surgeries to low-income residents in Garrett and Allegany Counties, fostering responsible pet ownership and addressing the root cause of the overpopulation issue.
Residents who meet the income-eligibility requirements for the Lifesaver program can now schedule their appointments for this year. Dog and cat owners seeking these services can call 301.387.7729 to secure their spot and contribute to the broader effort of controlling the animal population in Maryland.
The Maryland Spay/Neuter Program was established in 2013 through legislation, responding to the task force’s recommendations and outlining the objectives of providing affordable spay and neuter services throughout the state. The program is funded by fees from the pet food industry, ensuring a sustainable source of support for its vital mission.
Caroline Robison, HART’s Program Manager, emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering pets in reducing shelter intake and euthanasia rates. Not only does this practice contribute to longer and healthier lives for pets, but it also addresses the risks associated with unaltered animals, such as increased roaming and susceptibility to life-threatening situations.
Dr. Jessy Vandevender, HART’s veterinarian, underscores the health benefits of spaying and neutering, citing reduced risks of certain cancers for both female and male pets. The Lifesaver program, alongside the low-cost HARTHelp initiative, has successfully spayed or neutered 13,790 animals since 2009, making a substantial impact on the reduction of unwanted dogs and cats in the region.
HART for Animals continues to be at the forefront of promoting responsible pet ownership and addressing the issue of overpopulation in Western Maryland. With the support of the 2024 grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, HART’s Lifesaver program expands its reach, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment for animals and communities alike. To learn more about HART and support their initiatives, visit their website at www.hartforanimals.org.
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Jay Ferguson
Who I Am
My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service!
Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well.
I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’.
Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I
have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you.
Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about!
Honesty. Integrity. Results.
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