Preserving, reuniting and making new families.
Immediate Donations to Animals in Need:
They’re Counting on Us.
BARCS is an open-admission, high-volume shelter serving more than 12,000 homeless animals each year. Beyond the shelter, we also support thousands of owned pets and their families through veterinary care, supplies, safety-net programs and other services designed to keep pets in the homes where they are loved. All made possible by your donations.
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.
Our Greatest Needs Right Now:
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Fostering Adult Dogs
Give a shelter dog the comfort of home while they wait for their next chapter. Fostering saves lives, creates kennel space, and helps dogs show their true personalities.
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Weekday Volunteers
Our team is understaffed, and volunteers help ensure every animal still feels loved and cared for. From walks and enrichment, their time makes a meaningful difference every day.
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BARCStoberfest
Back for our 22nd year in Patterson Park! BARCStoberfest is our signature event that brings our community together for a fun-filled day that raises lifesaving funds for BARCS.
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Fostering Kittens
Kitten season brings hundreds of tiny, vulnerable kittens to BARCS. By fostering, you give them the warmth, care, and time they need to grow strong and get ready for loving homes.
Volunteer Spotlight
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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BARCStoberfest Can Art Contest
July 14-28
Your pet could become the face of the 22nd Annual BARCStoberfest! We're looking for the next furry superstar to be featured on the official 2026 BARCStoberfest beer can from Checkerspot Brewing Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, pig, bird, or another beloved companion, every pet is welcome to compete!
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Baltimore KittyCon
Sunday, August 30
Baltimore KittyCon is a cat-lover convention hosted by BARCS featuring adoptable cats, local vendors, interactive activities, learning labs, contests, crafting, food, drinks, and plenty of feline-inspired fun. It’s part cat festival, part community event, and part excuse to spend an entire afternoon surrounded by people who understand your love for your little gremlin.
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Summer of Love Pet Adoption Store
July-September
This summer, five Maryland animal shelters are teaming up for a lifesaving mission that’s all about good vibes and second chances. Each day, a different shelter takes over our pop-up adoption store at THE AVENUE at White Marsh to help cats and dogs find their forever homes. Swing by and meet adoptable pets and soak in all the love that makes choosing adoption super groovy!
But wait, there’s more!
Thank you to our major partners who make saving lives possible:
