BARCS Animal Shelter

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BARCS Animal Shelter Welcome to the official page for the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) 501(c)3. BARCS offers several programs to support our community.
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Meet adoptable Soy Bean🐱, a 1-year-old, 5 lb kitty with a tail-up pounce and total focus once the toys come out! She’s c...
10/16/2026

Meet adoptable Soy Bean🐱, a 1-year-old, 5 lb kitty with a tail-up pounce and total focus once the toys come out! She’s currently in a loving foster home, where she’s building up her trust in people. Got the patience for a girl who plays hard and warms up slowly?

☀️ A Day in the Life of Soy Bean:

🌅 Morning Routine
Soy Bean likes to ease into things. Treats are how she says hello: she’ll come over for one, sniff an open hand, and stretch out nearby, all on her own schedule.

🎣 Midday Playtime
Once she has the room, she’s all in. Wand toys, toy mice, catnip fish, and tossed treats all get the same focused chase, tail up and eyes locked on the prize.

🐾 Afternoon Wind-Down
Soy Bean came in wary of people, hands most of all, and she’s come a long way since. She’s brave enough now to play out in the open, though touch is still a step too far. Like anyone who’s been the new kid, she just needs time. She’ll do best with an adopter who lets trust come first and cuddles later.

MVP Up to Bat! I'm a BARCS MVP! Please contact our Cat Foster team at [email protected] to connect with my foster family, and get to know me better! I can't wait to meet you.

Every animal deserves a home run! BARCS MVPs are overlooked pets in the shelter. Thanks to the generous support of the Alonso, Basallo, and Bradish Baltimore Orioles families, all MVP animals have waived adoption fees AND will go home with a brand new leash and collar or cat carrier.

🧡For more information or to see the full MVP line-up, click here: https://www.barcs.org/mvp

Festival Fun: 5K, B**r Garden, Costume Contest, & More! 🧡🐾🍁We hope to see you at the 22nd Annual BARCStoberfest, present...
10/16/2026

Festival Fun: 5K, B**r Garden, Costume Contest, & More! 🧡🐾🍁

We hope to see you at the 22nd Annual BARCStoberfest, presented by Veterinary Neurology and Imaging of the Chesapeake, on Saturday, October 24 in Baltimore's beautiful Patterson Park! This family friendly event includes activities for every guest, including your furry friends. Learn more about some of the day-of fun below:

🍻 Barkin' B**r Garden

Drink local craft b**rs, cocktails, w**e, and non-alcoholic options with your pup by your side in the Barkin' B**r Garden, sponsored by the Baltimore Ravens. Enjoy it all while overlooking Baltimore's best view of the city and listening to live music!

Get your paw-ty on with an all-inclusive wristband for the b**r garden for $40. Individual drink tickets will also be available for purchase. Registered runners and parade participants will receive a FREE drink in the b**r garden and can make an additional upgrade to the all-inclusive wristband if preferred.

🎃 Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

The Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest, sponsored by Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, will take place at 12:00 p.m. on the main stage. Participation is FREE this year! Please register online ahead of the event for one of the following categories to enter:

-Best Individual (1 Pet)
-Best Pair (1 Pet + 1 Human)
-Best Group (Multiple Pets and/or Humans)

🏃🏼 "Ready, Set, SNIFF!" 5K & Half-Mile Pet Parade

You can run or walk as a team with your four-legged friend, just as yourself or with your fundraising teammates in "Ready, Set, SNIFF!" sponsored by Cyndi Kuhn, State Farm Agent.

5K Race: Participants in the 5K must register through RunSignUp. The race fee is $50, which also includes a commemorative T-shirt, doggie bandana, and a free drink in the b**r garden.

Half-Mile Pet Parade: Participants must first register on the BARCStoberfest site and create a fundraising page. Collect or donate at least $50 to take part in the parade. You must meet the $50 minimum fundraising requirement by the morning of the event. Participants also receive a commemorative T-shirt, doggie bandana, and a free drink in the b**r garden.

🎨 Kids Tent

There's something for everyone at BARCStoberfest! Our littlest attendees can stop by the Kids Tent, sponsored by Puppie Love and Kittie Kittie, for family fun.

Coloring pages, a craft station, and button making are just a few of the fun activities for kids to enjoy at the festival!

🎉 Other Fun Festival Activities

-BARCS'cade Triple Lucky Puppy Slot Machine, Sponsored by Bingo World
-Pup Cup Station, Sponsored by ProMD Health
-BARCS Adoption Tent, Sponsored by Alex Spektor Foundation
-Free Pet Friendly Photo Station, Sponsored by Subaru Loves Pets
-Dog Fist Aid Tent, Sponsored by Pet+ E.R. and AVIMO
-Swag Bags, Sponsored by VCA Animal Hospitals
-Food Trucks
-Shopping Market
-BARCS Bake Sale..and more!

Learn more and register for activities at www.barcstoberfest.org.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, BARCS has been able to provide medical care to hundreds of animals...
10/16/2026

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, BARCS has been able to provide medical care to hundreds of animals each year through the Franky Fund. A pivotal factor in achieving this has been our partnerships with local veterinary hospitals and clinics. BARCS is so grateful for these partnerships, as they play a significant role in saving the lives of thousands of homeless shelter animals in need of emergency and specialized medical attention.

This week, our heartfelt thanks go out to the wonderful team at Howard County Animal Hospital. The care provided by the HCAH team has touched the lives of countless BARCS animals, including Poundcake, who received vital treatment, all made possible by the incredible generosity of our amazing Franky Fund partner.

Sweet Poundcake, an 8-month-old puppy, came to BARCS after being found alone and in need of care. During his first veterinary exam, our team noticed that he was limping on his right hind leg and shifting his weight away from it, likely because of pain. Even so, Poundcake remained sweet and cooperative throughout his examination. To keep him comfortable, he was sedated for X-rays, which revealed a fracture of the femoral head in his right hip. Thankfully, he was still able to walk by putting most of his weight on his other legs, making him a good candidate for a Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO). This surgery removes the ball-shaped top of the thighbone to prevent painful rubbing in the damaged hip joint. To give Poundcake the best chance at a more comfortable life, he was transferred to one of our Franky Fund partners for surgery and care.

Under the care of the HCAH team, sweet Poundcake was prepared for surgery and, as always, proved to be a wonderful patient. His surgery was successful, and he received post-operative care and a rehabilitation plan to support his recovery.

While waiting for his surgery, Poundcake met the people who would become his family. That meant once he was ready, he could continue his recovery in a loving home rather than return to the shelter.

Today, Poundcake is recovering at home with his new family, and we couldn’t be happier for him. Happy Tails, sweet boy!

Thank you to Howard County Animal Hospital for all of the love and care you give to the BARCS animals who come through your doors!

We would not be able to do what we do without them—and without YOU, our Franky Fund donors. This program relies completely on private donations. Please help us always be ready to save animals like Poundcake by giving to our Franky Fund.

You can donate on this link https://www.barcs.org/franky-fund

🐾🎃 Spooky season just got a lot more snuggly! Join us this Saturday, October 17, from 12 to 4 PM at Petco Severna Park f...
10/15/2026

🐾🎃 Spooky season just got a lot more snuggly! Join us this Saturday, October 17, from 12 to 4 PM at Petco Severna Park for the Howl-o-Ween Adoption Event! The BFF Waggin’ is pulling up with some adoptable dogs and cats who are all treat, no trick. Come meet them, ask about their personalities, and see who might make a great sidekick for every season.

💜 Best part? Adoption fees are waived for every animal adopted at the event! Here are some of the adoptable friends joining us, in photo order:

🐱 Chicken Nugget 2 & 3
Age: 2 months
Weight: 2 lbs
Quick details: Chicken Nugget 2 is a boy, and Chicken Nugget 3 is a girl.

🐶 Loch Ness (Mabel)
Age: 3 years old
Weight: 47 lbs
Quick detail: She’s curious and incredibly affectionate, and she knows “sit,” “lie down,” “shake,” and “fetch!”.

🐱 Rice Krispie Treat (Cheeto)
Age: 3 years old
Weight: 7 lbs, and 2 lbs
Quick detail: He loves being petted and playing with his mouse toys.

🐱 Rainbow
Age: 3 years old
Weight: 15 lbs, and 7 lbs
Quick detail: She’s a petite girl who loves giving and getting attention.

👻 Bring your best Halloween spirit and a few pets to give!

***Standard adoption procedures still apply.

🧡 Ready, set, save the date! The 22nd Annual BARCStoberfest, presented by Veterinary Neurology and Imaging of the Chesap...
10/15/2026

🧡 Ready, set, save the date! The 22nd Annual BARCStoberfest, presented by Veterinary Neurology and Imaging of the Chesapeake, is racing into Patterson Park on Saturday, October 24. Register now, so you’re right at the front of the pack.

Come out for the annual “Ready, Set, SNIFF!” 5K Race and Half-Mile Pet Parade, sponsored by Cyndi Kuhn, State Farm Agent! Run or walk solo, bring your four-legged friend, or take part with your fundraising team. 🏃🐕 Check out the race-day timeline below!

🍂 8:30 AM: Registration/check-in opens for the 5K + Half-Mile Pet Parade
🍂 10:00 AM: Half-Mile Pet Parade begins
🍂 10:10 AM: Ready, Set…Sniff 5K begins
🍂 10:00 AM: BARCStoberfest Festival opens (food trucks, shopping market, kids’ tent, adoptable pets, games, etc.)
🍂 11:00 AM: 5K Awards at the Main Stage

Haven’t registered yet? Here’s how you can get involved:

🧡 Ready, Set, SNIFF! 5K Run
Sign up for the 5K on RunSignUp and pay the $50 registration fee.
Includes an ultra-soft commemorative T-shirt, a doggie bandana, and a free drink in the Barkin’ B**r Garden.

🧡 Half-Mile Pet Parade
Get started by signing up to fundraise and selecting the “Pet Parade” option.
Raise a minimum of $50 to earn your spot in the parade and score the same awesome swag!

Stick around for the Howl-o-Ween Pet Costume Contest 🎃, the Barkin’ B**r Garden 🍺, local vendors, and kids’ activities, plus plenty of other fun around the festival!

🎃 For more information and fun go to https://www.barcstoberfest.org

✨🐶 Say hi to Messua, a girl who would take a cuddle over an adventure any day of the week. She’s a little shy at first, ...
10/14/2026

✨🐶 Say hi to Messua, a girl who would take a cuddle over an adventure any day of the week. She’s a little shy at first, so don’t expect a big welcome party. Fun fact! On a recent outing, she was free to roam and explore. She picked snuggles instead. Can’t say we blame her.

Here are a few “gems” about Messua:

💎 Slow burn: New people get a few minutes of polite distance, then she’s leaning on you like old friends.
💎 Pets, please: Offer a hand and she’ll lean right into it.
💎 Best seat in the house: Her idea of a great afternoon is sitting next to her person and watching the day go by.
💎 Treat-friendly: Snacks help her relax around new people, so bring a few.
💎 Good walking buddy: She’s easy to take out on leash.
💎 Agility fan: Agility trails are right up her alley, so she’s got a playful, active side too.

🐾 Messua is 1 year old, weighs 40 pounds, and will shine with someone patient who lets her settle in at her own pace. She’ll need to meet any potential dog roommates first to make sure everyone gets along.

MVP Up to Bat! I'm a BARCS MVP! Please come down to the shelter to get to know me better! I can’t wait to meet you.

Every animal deserves a home run! BARCS MVPs are overlooked pets in the shelter. Thanks to the generous support of the Alonso, Basallo, and Bradish Baltimore Orioles families, all MVP animals have waived adoption fees AND will go home with a brand new leash and collar or cat carrier.

🧡For more information or to see the full MVP line-up, click here: https://www.barcs.org/mvp

❤️🐶🐱 Adoption fees are WAIVED through Sunday, October 18, and this crew, some of our adoptable dogs and cats, has every ...
10/14/2026

❤️🐶🐱 Adoption fees are WAIVED through Sunday, October 18, and this crew, some of our adoptable dogs and cats, has every kind of personality: wiggly or wise, chatty or chill, playful or plush. Whether your ideal plus-one prefers the couch or the trail, a nap in the sun or a good game of fetch, you might find them at BARCS. This is the week to bring one home to stay, or foster one and brighten their day, and freeing a kennel helps another shelter friend find their way to a loving home of their own.

🐾 In photo order:
🐶 Birria
🐶 Terra
🐱 Timmie
🐶 Jack O’lantern
🐶 Seven Brew
🐱 Odyssey
🐶 Gravy 6
🐶 Mabel
🐱 Kodie
🐱 Sophia
🐶 Tanner
🐱 Fun Dip
🐱 Sno-cap

Come meet them at BARCS, 2490 Giles Rd, Monday through Friday 2-6 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM-4 PM.

EMERGENCY: We are out of space for dogs at BARCS. And now, we are running out of options.As Baltimore City's open-admiss...
10/13/2026

EMERGENCY: We are out of space for dogs at BARCS. And now, we are running out of options.

As Baltimore City's open-admission animal shelter, we cannot close our doors when our kennels are full. Dogs will continue to arrive tonight, tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that… We have nowhere left to put them.

The reality is difficult to say, but our community deserves to hear it: If dogs do not leave BARCS immediately, some may lose their lives through humane euthanasia because there is no longer enough space to house them. We do not want space to determine which dogs get a chance at a home–and we know our community doesn’t want to see that either. Our staff and volunteers love these animals, and that is why we are asking for your help right now.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

❤️ Effective immediately, BARCS is waiving adoption fees now through Sunday for all animals (cats included). Adoption hours are weekdays from 2-6 PM and weekends from 11-4 PM.

❤️ We are urgently seeking emergency foster homes. The best way to get involved is to come down to our shelter during foster walk-in hours: weekdays from 11AM-6PM and weekends from 9AM-4PM.

❤️ Share this post. We know that so many of our followers already have full homes. You can still help us through this emergency by sharing–you never know who of your friends or family might be looking for a new furry friend.

We know that Baltimore cares about its animals. We see that compassion every day. But right now, we need that compassion to turn into action. There are dogs at BARCS whose futures depend on what happens in the next few days. Every animal who leaves our kennels creates a space for another animals who has nowhere else to go. Please help us get them homes.

🧡👻 Love spooky-cute Halloween traditions? Then you’re in for a treat! BARCStoberfest is hosting the Howl-O-Ween Pet Cost...
10/12/2026

🧡👻 Love spooky-cute Halloween traditions? Then you’re in for a treat! BARCStoberfest is hosting the Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest again this year, sponsored by Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, at 12:00 PM on the main stage. Enter one of these categories:

🎃 Best Individual (1 Pet)
🎃 Best Pair (1 Pet + 1 Human)
🎃 Best Group (Multiple Pets and/or Humans)

Ready to show off your pet’s costume? Each category has only 20 spots, so register early this year to claim yours. Pick your category and sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/262814959965174

🐾 Learn more https://www.barcstoberfest.org

🐶🏈 Maura is the newest draft pick, and Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green is covering the signing bonus! At ...
10/12/2026

🐶🏈 Maura is the newest draft pick, and Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green is covering the signing bonus! At the Ravens’ annual Caw to Action service day, held in partnership with United Way of Central Maryland, Mike spent time in the play yard with Maura and other adoptable pups, and they all had a blast. He wanted to do something special to help Maura find a loving home, so he’s sponsoring Maura’s adoption fee, leash, and collar, so the only thing left to do is welcome your new teammate home.

🏈 Maura’s game plan is simple: stick close to her favorite person, enjoy a good walk, and make time for plenty of cuddles.

🐕 She’s 2 years old, 47 lbs, appears housetrained, and a polite passenger in the car.
🦮 Maura is a good walking buddy who pays attention to her person. Squirrels, deer, and other dogs can be exciting distractions, but treats and praise help her refocus.
🍪 Maura loves snacks and is eager to learn. She knows “sit,” “leave it,” and “easy,” and takes treats gently.
🧸 Bully sticks and stuffed toys are high on her favorites list. She’s also trying out tug-of-war, though chewing is more her style.
🐾 Maura has done well with an older dog and has reportedly met children, too. She’ll need to meet any potential doggie roommates first, and if you have a yard, make sure the fence is tall and secure because this girl can jump!

Basically: an affectionate cuddlebug who’s always ready to play, and happiest by your side.

Ready to draft Maura to your team? 🏈 Submit an online adoption application to connect with her foster family and see if this sweet girl is your next MVP!

Address

2490 Giles Road
Baltimore, MD
21225

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 6pm
Tuesday 2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6pm
Thursday 2pm - 6pm
Friday 2pm - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

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