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Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS)

2490 Giles Rd
Baltimore, MD 21225

Our Mission

About Us:


Baltimore's homeless and abused animals need help. More than 11,000 unwanted, abused and stray animals enter the doors of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) each year...kittens, puppies, even wildlife and exotic animals. BARCS accepts all animals in need.


Many of the animals BARCS cares for were abandoned or given up by owners who can no longer care for them. Too many animals come to the shelter as victims of abuse or hit and run accidents.


BARCS is working to improve the lives of Baltimore's homeless animals. Formerly the Baltimore City Municipal Animal Shelter, BARCS was recognized as a non-profit in July 2005.Since then BARCS has hired new staff, created new programs and changed the shelter's standard operations. These changes have helped us dramatically increase adoptions and rescues, and significantly decrease euthanasia. And we've done all of this on a shoestring budget. With your help we can do even more.


How Far We&#3

Adoption Policy

Anyone interested in adopting from one of our offsite locations can visit during normal business hours to look at the many prospective cats we have available for adoption. In order to adopt, you must be at least 18 years old, provide proof of a current address, and have a current photo ID. Once you have made your choice, please fill out an adoption application and turn it in to the store staff, they will fax it to our offsite staff who will process the application. Once the application is approved (normally 24-48 hours) we will contact the adopter to set up a date/time to come in and finalize the adoption. If you have not had a chance to interact with the cat, we will do so prior to finalizing. Payment for an adoption is due at the time of finalization. Payment can be made by cash or credit card. The adopter will attend a brief class on basic animal care and behavior. During the class the adoption paperwork is completed, and the adopter is issued a city license (city residen

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