ABOUT AROO.

AROO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in May 2025, born from the love and compassion that we have for supporting the animals in our community and helping them find their forever homes so they can live a full and happy life.

AROO supports the St. Mary’s Animal Adoption and Resource Center (the Animal Shelter) and the surrounding Tri-County area, by raising funds for medical care, shelter improvements, and adoption or foster initiatives that are beyond the Shelter's budget. We will also increase community engagement to improve animal welfare and adoption rates.

You can find the animals we support at the St. Mary's Animal Adoption & Resource Center located at 22975 FDR Blvd, California, MD 20619 or www.stmaryscountymd.gov/animalshelter.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.

Dear Friends,

When I retired, I was looking for a way to give back — maybe walk a few dogs at the local shelter a few times a week. What I didn’t expect was to find a community of passionate, big-hearted people in St. Mary’s County who shared the same love for animals and the same desire to make a difference.

It didn’t take long to realize just how much that simple act — giving a dog a break from its kennel for a walk or sitting with a shy cat — could mean. The animals respond. They relax. They brighten up. They become more adoptable. The group of volunteers has grown in the past year, showing up day after day to help shelter animals feel safe, loved, and seen.

From those early walks, an idea grew. What if we could do more? What if we could support the shelter and its incredible staff in ways that go beyond the county’s budget? What if we could raise funds to pay for life-saving medical care, build a more enriching shelter environment, and reach out to and engage the community at large

In early 2025, we founded the Animal Rescue & Outreach Organization (AROO) to do just that.

Even as we were forming the organization, we were able to help fund emergency veterinary care for four dogs — care that likely saved their lives. Today, each of those dogs is happy, healthy, and in a loving home. We have also taken on projects like improving the shelter’s outdoor play yards, where dogs can exercise, socialize, and decompress. Thanks to volunteers, including dedicated high school students fulfilling community service hours, we’ve added landscaping, shade structures, visual barriers, benches, with more to come.

But this is only the beginning.

If you are reading this, I invite you to become a part of AROO’s journey. Whether you volunteer at the shelter, join one of our committees, help us raise funds, or make a donation — your time, energy, and compassion can change lives, both furry and human.

Thank you for being someone who cares. Thank you for being part of the AROO family.

Warmly,

Doug Isleib

President & Founder
Animal Rescue & Outreach Organization (AROO)