Preserving, reuniting and making new families.
Immediate Donations to Animals in Need:
12,000 Homeless Animals
…Will enter BARCS this year. We have more than 300 animals in our shelter right this very minute—we are feeding, providing medical treatment and showing love to each of them. Being an open-admission shelter means that, no matter what, our doors (and hearts) are open to every animal that needs us.
Welcome to the Family!
When you adopt from BARCS, you save two lives by taking one animal home and opening the kennel for the next animal in need of a safe place to go.
Every life we save begins with you.
BARCS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates the open-admission animal shelter and provides family-preservation programs for the Baltimore City community. We simply cannot run this organization without funding from private donors. Consider making a gift today to help us save lives, reunite families and be the answer for pet owners in crisis.
Volunteer Spotlight
July 2025: Emily McMahon
Emily is a key marketing volunteer and a dedicated dog foster. She not only posts the lost dogs on the lost and found facebook groups, but she also rallies the volunteers to write posts for animals on the BARCS Adoption Network Facebook page, she writes dog bios, and she uploads pictures of dogs onto the BARCS website. She also walks dogs for miles every week giving special attention to our sick dogs. Emily also specializes in fostering scared puppies and turning them into confident dogs ready for loving families of their own. Thank you Emily for the many ways that you help animals and their families!
Coming Up On Our Calendar
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Monthly Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic
First Saturday of the Month
Since 2005, BARCS has been hosting monthly low-cost vaccine and microchipping clinics to support underserved pet owners in Baltimore who have limited income and are not able to afford a regular relationship with a veterinarian.
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Summer of Love
Weekends All Summer Long
Peace, love, and adoptable animals! Sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, this rotating pop-up features a different Maryland shelter each weekend, all working together to bring good vibes and second chances to pets in need. Come meet adorable cats and dogs and feel the love!
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BARCStoberfest
Saturday, October 25
BARCStoberfest is an annual, large-scale, pet-friendly festival and fundraiser that benefits the lifesaving programs and animal care at BARCS. It includes the a 5K Run, Half-Mile Pet Parade, Howl-o-Ween Pet Costume Contest, Barkin' Beer Garden vendors, kids’ activities, and more!
But wait, there’s more!
Thank you to our major partners who make saving lives possible:
