Animal Rescue and Outreach Organization (AROO) a Shelter Dogs Production  Welcome to our AROO newsletter. I’m grateful you’re here, because animal rescue is a team effort and this community is the reason we can keep showing up. Every day, we see animals who need safety, structure, medical care, and a chance to start over. It isn’t glamorous work, but it’s necessary, and it’s powered by people who refuse to look away. Please enjoy "Paw Prints" monthly, as we keep our pack in stride with all the wonderful things that AROO is able to do...BECAUSE OF YOU! Thanks, Doug Isleib AROO President WHY AROO MATTERS AROO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the St. Mary’s County Animal Shelter and the animals in its care. Our mission is simple: provide funding and hands-on help for the needs that fall outside the County budget, so shelter animals can live with less stress and become happier, healthier, and more adoptable. Most people don’t know that donations made directly to the shelter go into the County’s general fund—not to the shelter itself. That’s where AROO steps in. We accept donations for the shelter and fund everything from lifesaving veterinary care to facility improvements and equipment that makes life easier for both animals and staff. Just over a year old, AROO has already:
  Inaugural AROO Golf TournamentLusby, MD.- The Inaugural AROO Golf Tournament was held May 21st at Chesapeake Hills Golf Club. A full field of golfers and pet lovers were on hand to enjoy a day of food, fun, and golf with over $19,000 being raised by AROO in support of St Mary's County Animal Services. Thanks to all who volunteered, played and supported this wonderful event. More details on next year's golf event will be coming soon...4-somes/teams are sure to fill quickly! The winners of this year's event:
 Sincere thanks to our tournament sponsors!  Thank you to all the Volunteers for supporting AROO's Inaugural golf event!  A full day of golf, food, and fun gets kicked off at Chesapeake Hills Golf Club 5/21/2026.  Better bring two hands for the loaded "Merch" line.  AROO supporters "work" together to make the Inaugural Golf Tournament a success!  This hole was truly "for the dogs". Thanks to all who participated in this fun stop along the way. All proceeds support the mission of AROO.  And if you needed a reminder of why to pencil-in this event for next spring...YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! Shelter Project  You’re Making This PossibleEvery day, the dogs at St. Mary’s County Animal Service's Shelter spend hours in the outdoor play yards—stretching their legs, decompressing, and rediscovering what it feels like to be safe. But Maryland summers can be unforgiving, and too often our pups are forced back inside simply because the sun becomes too intense. That’s where AROO, our volunteers, and our community partners step in. With sponsor funding and hands‑on volunteer support, AROO is helping the shelter install durable, high‑quality sun sail shades across the outdoor yards. These shades will create cooler, protected spaces where dogs can play, train, and relax without the risk of overheating. It’s a simple improvement (because of all the support) with a huge impact: more outdoor time, better behavior outcomes, reduced stress, and a healthier environment for every dog waiting for a home. A sincere thanks to Dyson Lumber who donated some of the 16' 6x6 posts and gave us great prices on the remainder, and to JBrowne Excavating who brought the auger, without which we'd still be digging 5-foot-deep holes! The AROO "FETCHING HOPE" SpotlightAROOH-RAH!It's moments like this that keep AROO moving forward. Many thanks to Marine Corps League, Detachment 1305 for their very generous donation to AROO in support of St Mary's County Animal Services shelter animals. Semper Fi Marines! Find out more about Marine Corps League, Detachment 1305 (Facebook link above)  TATOO IF YOU AROOThank you, Blue Scarab Tattoos and Body Piercing, for hosting the ultra-successful Misfits-For-Mutts program! Paw the Links (above) for dates and The Baynet article on this artistic "ink for animals" event. What an amazing show of support! Find out more about Blue Scarab Tatoos and Body Piercing (links above)  FUTURE EVENTS:
 Yappy Hour at Stoney's (Clarks Landing) - 9/11/2026  Misfits for Mutts hosted by Blue Scarab - 9/12-13/2026 PAW AND PERSONHi, welcome to PAW AND PERSON. A monthly look at the everyday things that build trust, connection, and a stronger relationship between you and your pets. Rescue doesn’t end at adoption; it continues in the everyday moments we share with our pets. This monthly feature highlights simple ways to deepen trust, improve communication, and create a more connected life with the animals we love. Monthly tips sponsored by these AROO Partners:   This month's tips Grooming: Keep your pet’s coat healthy with a simple weekly brush‑through. Even short‑haired dogs' benefit as brushing removes loose fur, spreads natural oils, and lets you spot any skin issues early. Plus, it’s a bonding moment your pet actually enjoys. For long‑haired pups, a detangling spray can make the process smoother and prevent breakage. For all your pets grooming needs and more, visit us at Wag N Wash in California, Md. Behavior: Reward calm, not chaos. Dogs repeat whatever gets them attention - good or bad. If your pup jumps, whines, or demands things, don’t engage. Wait for a moment of calm (even one second), then reward with praise, a treat, or what they wanted. You’re teaching them: “Calm behavior makes good things happen.” Think Like a Dog addresses concerns and problems dog owners are facing and offers real world solutions and expertise. Give us a call! I am AROO...are you? Each newsletter we will highlight a friend of AROO. Get to know your crew! Meet the AROO Crew: Col Doug Isleib, USMC (Ret) AROO President From "Devil Dog" to "Shelter Dog" As a Marine aviator, Doug Isleib logged more than 4,100 flight hours, including time in the full range of Marine Corps rotorcraft. He was the first operational Marine pilot to fly the V-22 tilt rotor. However, growing up in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Doug Isleib had no special military or aviation interest. “Actually, the last career military person in my family graduated from West Point a century before I went to Annapolis.” He recalls, “I didn’t grow up thinking I wanted to go into the military, or that I wanted to go to the Naval Academy. I applied just as a matter of course along with other universities and colleges. Once I got accepted, it became a matter of, "Well, I got accepted; I guess I have to go.” Doug's United States Naval Academy studies led to a degree in mechanical engineering with no aeronautical concentration, but Annapolis also exposed the future aviator to different career paths. “First I had a couple of summer cruises at the Academy aboard LPDs (amphibious warfare ships). I spent most of my time seasick, so that convinced me I didn’t want to be a surface-line guy. Then on one of the summer cruises, we got to spend a couple of days aboard a submarine, and I felt pretty claustrophobic, so I knew I didn’t want to be a sub guy. “Then we went to Quantico, and I had a blast. That was really my first inkling that the Marine Corps would be a lot of fun. The last stop in that summer cruise was down in Pensacola, and one flight in a helicopter was when I knew that was what I wanted to do – be a Marine helicopter pilot. It took me awhile to figure out, but that one flight and I was hooked.” After 26 years in the Marine Corps, Doug Isleib left the service. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Leonardtown, Maryland. Now retired, Doug spends valued time with family and his extended family at AROO and St. Mary's Animal Shelter. For more information on how you can get involved with AROO, click the Facebook button below and say hello to Doug. More Ways to HelpAROO's fund raising efforts directly impact the work that keeps these dogs and cats alive and moving forward: • medical care and treatment • transport out of bad situations • food, supplies, and safe housing • training and stabilization so they’re adoptable, and • support for the shelter team doing the heavy lifting Fetch hope with AROO! Proudly working alongside St. Mary’s County Animal Services giving every dog, cat, and animal a real chance. AROO Needs Volunteers: Your Time Changes Everythingcontact us info here |
