BARCS Animal Shelter

11/27/2025

🧡🐾 BARCS will be closed today, 11/27, and will resume normal operations tomorrow, 11/28. 🥧🍂

**For animals in life-threatening crisis, please immediately call 911. For non-emergency animal concerns, please contact Baltimore City Animal Services at 311.**

11/26/2025

Say hello to Shabazz 🐶, the tenderhearted cuddlebug who seems made of velvet, devotion, and sweetness. In his loving foster home, he’s blossomed into the kind of dog who melts into soft blankets, settles easily into routine, and looks at his people as if they hung the moon. Gentle, people-focused, and full of charm, Shabazz is ready to make his future family smile and feel deeply loved.

A Day in the Life of Shabazz:

☀️ Morning Routine
Shabazz starts his day cozy and well-mannered, stretching out of his crate after a full night’s sleep—he’s fully housetrained. He then heads out for a calm, thoughtful stroll, checking in often and exploring his route, savoring every scent along the way. Treats make his tail wag, and he’s already practicing cues like “sit,” “stay,” and “look,” showing just how clever, eager, and motivated he is. This sets the tone for a day full of cuddles, gentle adventures, and soft moments with his people.

🏡 Midday Comforts
Back home, Shabazz leans into his favorite hobbies. He’s a seasoned napper who lives for fuzzy blankets, fluffy pillows, and all things soft. While his humans work or step out, he snoozes peacefully, doing great when left alone and greeting his people with warm enthusiasm when they return. He’s wonderfully quiet too, making him a strong fit for apartment living. Visitors? He adores them. New friends on walks? He’s all gentle curiosity and tail wags.

🧸 Afternoon Favorites
Once he’s recharged, Shabazz enjoys his enrichment toys—his yak chew, peanut butter-filled bone, and strawberry treat toy are top-tier treasures. When he’s feeling tender or ready to settle in, he suckles softly on a blanket, a sweet little quirk that shows just how gentle his heart is. And when playtime calls, he’s happy to explore again, meeting calm, tolerant dog pals politely and with a soft spark of interest.

🐾 Shabazz would do best in a cat-free home and may be a great fit with gentle, tolerant canine companion, so he’d love to meet any future doggie housemates. Sweet, devoted, calm, and endlessly cuddly, this darling boy is ready for his loving home.

Shabazz is a BARCS VIP⭐, which means his adoption fees are always waived! To learn more about his personality and needs, check out his VIP profile by clicking here: https://www.barcs.org/vip-urgent-list

11/26/2025

Black Furiday is back at BARCS—come find your furry friend! 🐾 Enjoy WAIVED ADOPTION FEES and extended hours from 2–8 PM, because nothing says holiday cheer like a wagging tail or a purring snuggle. With so many animals in need, every adoption makes a difference, and you could be the reason a pup or kitty’s heart is full this season!

Kicking things off, these adorable adoptables can’t wait to say hello:

🐱Name: Sherlock
Age: 5 years old
Weight: 14 lbs.
Highlight: A sweet, friendly kitty who’s good with her litter habits.

🐶Name: Brulee
Age: 3 years old
Weight: 43 lbs.
Highlight: Brulee is housetrained!

🐱Name: Nugget
Age: 4 years old
Weight: 18 lbs.
Highlight: A calm sweetheart with a soft, cute meow.

🐶Name: Perron 1 (Roscoe)
Age: 6 years old
Weight: 61 lbs.
Highlight: Perron 1 is housetrained and already knows how to “sit”!

🐱Name: Cosmo “Momo”
Age: 1 year old
Weight: 10 lbs.
Highlight: Shy little lady who loves to while away the hours perched by the window.

🐶Name: Radar 5 (Oliver)
Age: 7 years old
Weight: 50 lbs.
Highlight: Radar 5 is housetrained and balances playful bursts with mellow, relaxed energy!

Come visit us at BARCS! We’re located at 2490 Giles Rd, with adoption hours Monday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11/25/2025

Every single day, we are humbled by the dedication, compassion, and generosity of the thousands of people who stand beside the animals at BARCS. During this Thanksgiving week, we want to pause and do our best to put our gratitude into words — even though our hearts feel fuller than anything we could ever write.

❤️ Thank you to our adopters who open not just your homes, but the most tender parts of your hearts. To a former shelter pet, every moment with you is a miracle. The soft bed, the warm meal, the gentle hand, the second chance... It means the world to them. You save two lives with every adoption: the one who now calls you family, and the one whose empty kennel opens the door to safety.

❤️ Thank you to our volunteers. Truly, we could not do this work without you. You are the hands, the feet, the voices, the quiet comfort in the kennels, and the cheerleaders at every adoption. Every walk, every load of laundry, every donation sorted, every match made — every single moment matters. You are the glue that keeps this shelter standing and these animals loved.

❤️ Thank you to our fosters who open your homes to pets who need a little more time, a little more healing, or simply a place to exhale. You turn fear into trust, and pain into hope. You help a dog learn what love feels like. You watch an injured kitten regain strength. You give these animals a soft landing and a future they may never have had without you. You are brave, compassionate lifesavers.

❤️ Thank you to our rescue partners who step in, step up, and say “yes” to animals who need an extra hand. Your willingness to share the load helps us save more lives each year, and your commitment means more than words can ever express.

❤️ Thank you to our donors and advocates. Your generosity fuels every heartbeat we protect. Because of you, thousands of Baltimore’s pets have been treated, sheltered, fed, and given a chance at life. Your support shows up in every happy reunion, every healing wound, every wagging tail. You make our lifesaving work possible.

❤️ And thank you to our BARCS team — the beating heart of this organization. You work in the hardest of circumstances: in the mess, the stress, the heartbreak, and the heavy moments. And still, you show up with love. You train, you comfort, you heal, you advocate for the animals who cannot speak. Shelter work is not easy, but your courage, tenderness, and resilience make miracles happen every day. This team is truly one of a kind.

From the animals who have found families of their own to those still waiting patiently for love, we extend our deepest, warmest gratitude to our entire community. Thank you for your kindness, your compassion, your generosity, and your willingness to stand with both animals and people in need.

Happy Thanksgiving — and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. ❤️

11/24/2025

🐾💜 Celebrate love, tail wags, and wedding season with Rooney and Wendell, our 2026 bride and groom! Join us Sunday, November 30, from 6–9 PM at Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar, Baltimore’s cozy and charming barbecue hideaway. Raise a glass, enjoy dinner, and toast the happy couple at a playful, pre-wedding soirée full of love, laughter, and a little Baltimore magic.

For just $15, enjoy an event-exclusive signature cocktail and a raffle ticket for a chance to win two Ceremony Floor Seats—cheers to love, laughter, and kicking off wedding season with a wag and a toast!🥂💍

✨ Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/yvdurnt5

11/24/2025

Meet adoptable Brett Andbuter 🐶—he’s pure joy on four paws! This easygoing pup wins hearts wherever he goes, whether he’s sticking his head out the car window on a breezy ride or soaking up every bit of attention from his fans. Brett’s tail is always wagging, he’s a stuffie-chasing adventurer who loves exploring the yard, and he’s a snuggle-seeker who can’t resist breaks for pets and affection.

Brett is also a smart, treat-motivated pup with a solid “sit,” walks nicely on leash, and appears to be housetrained. He’s eager to learn and ready to show off his skills, whether it’s a new trick or a simple walk around the block.

His playful, curious personality really shone on his Dogs Day Out at Caton Waterfront Park! He loved the car ride, sticking his head out the window, and exploring a nearby trail with a volunteer. The day ended perfectly with a pup cup, tail wagging with every bite. Brett is an easygoing, affectionate companion who enjoys adventures, cuddles, and treats, ready to share his calm, loving nature in a home of his own.

That same enthusiasm carried over to his recent adoption event. Though he whined a little on the drive, he arrived full of tail wags and excitement. He greeted everyone, showed off his sit and emerging paw, accepted treats politely, and shared hugs and kisses that charmed the crowd. Curious and full of life, many were surprised by his age—they thought he was a puppy!

Brett Andbuter has also met other pups at the shelter and enjoys play, though he can get a little tense at times. He does best with patient, tolerant female playmates and would need to meet any potential doggie roommates to ensure they’re a good match.

Brett Andbuter is a BARCS VIP⭐, which means his adoption fees are always waived! To learn more about his personality and needs, check out his VIP profile by clicking here: https://www.barcs.org/vip-urgent-list

11/24/2025

BARCS is excited to team up with our friends at BISSELL Pet Foundation for this lifesaving adoption event from December 3–15. This December, let’s ‘Empty the Shelter’ and give our animals a paw-some holiday season by helping them find the loving homes they’ve been waiting for. 💙🐾✨

🎄 ’Tis the season to adopt, not shop! Give a shelter pet the ultimate gift—a loving home this holiday season. ❤️

From December 1–15, BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters® – Holiday Hope event will take place at 300+ shelters in 44 states, helping pets go from shelter kennels to cozy couches.

Thousands of pets are waiting to meet you! Let’s make the season merry and bright for shelter pets by choosing adoption. 🫶

Find a shelter near you: https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters/

11/21/2025

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 Anne Arundel Veterinary Hospital. The care provided by the AAVH team has touched the lives of countless BARCS animals, including Felix, who received urgent treatment, all made possible by the incredible generosity of our amazing Franky Fund partner.

Friendly and sweet Felix was brought to BARCS after his community caretaker found him in distress with an injured eye and a bloody mouth, likely from being hit by a car. Even while in significant pain during his initial veterinary evaluation, he remained remarkably gentle and trusting. Thankfully, the blood around his mouth was from clotting caused by the impact — but his eye had been dislocated from its socket and couldn’t be saved. An enucleation surgery would be necessary to remove the damaged eye, protect his overall health, and restore his comfort. Thanks to our incredible Franky Fund partners, Felix was able to be transferred for the specialized medical care he would need to survive and begin his healing journey.

Once under the care of the AAVH team, Felix stayed in good spirits. His damaged eye was carefully cleaned and surgically removed, and the eyelid was sutured so precisely that no stitching was even visible. He was a model patient, and when he was finally cleared to leave, he headed out of the hospital—e-collar in place and a brand-new beginning ahead of him.

Back at BARCS, it didn’t take long for Felix’s sweetness to shine, and before we knew it, he had found his very own Happy Tail. Felix was adopted! We’re over the moon for him and wishing him nothing but love and comfort in this wonderful new chapter.

Thank you to Anne Arundel Veterinary 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 Felix by giving to our Franky Fund.

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

11/20/2025

🖤🐾 This Black Furiday, skip the shopping lines and find a furry friend instead! Join us Friday, November 28, from 2–8 PM at BARCS for an extended-hours adoption event with waived adoption fees. It’s the perfect chance to meet your new best friend and give a shelter animal the gift of love — and maybe even leave the chaos of holiday shopping behind for a little tail-wagging joy. Stop by, enjoy the holiday spirit, and see which wagging tails and purrs capture your heart!

***All regular adoption procedures still apply. Baltimore City residents are responsible for a $10 pet licensing fee.

11/20/2025

Introducing adoptable Hedge! This big, blocky-headed goofball has a grin that could melt hearts, a love for chin scratches, and a tail that wags like she’s celebrating the best day ever—every time she’s with you! Hedge has been described as a bit timid when meeting new people, but once comfortable, she’s affectionate, friendly, playful, active, and smart. She came to BARCS after being found alone and in need of care and shelter. At the shelter, Hedge has been gradually warming up to people, enjoying pets, and showing off her big, joyful smile and wagging tail. Hedge is hoping for a patient, loving home where she can get plenty of affection, chin scratches, and fun walks, with someone who appreciates her goofy, cheerful personality and heart-melting grin. If Hedge sounds like your kind of pup, come to BARCS and meet her!

Here are some tidbits about Hedge:

🐶 Hedge is 4 years old, 65 lbs.

✨ Hedge appears housetrained at the shelter!

💝 Hedge is a total lovebug! Once she knows you’re a friend, she leans right in for pets, chin scratches being her favorite, and her happiness bursts out in a wagging tail and that unforgettable, ear-to-ear grin.

🐕‍🦺 Hedge has been reported to be a confident and eager walker—she mostly stays by your side on a loose leash, delights in exploring every scent, and occasionally shows interest in other dogs; if she wants to change direction, she politely pauses and steers herself but is easily redirected.

⭐ Hedge is a clever girl—she knows “sit,” patiently waits for her treats, and picks up on cues and routines quickly, always eager to make you proud.

🐾 Hedge has met other pups at BARCS and can be a bit unsure around them, preferring to coexist calmly rather than play. She enjoys gentle, polite companions and would like to meet any potential dog roommates to make sure they’re a good fit.

If Hedge has captured your heart or if you're looking for a different furry friend, come visit us at BARCS! We’re located at 2490 Giles Rd, with adoption hours Monday to Friday from 2-6:00 PM, and on weekends from 11 AM to 4 PM.