Looking back on 2024
Photo featuring adoptable Bat Girl snuggled up in her foster home.
As we ease into 2025, we find ourselves reflecting on the countless individual stories behind the animals who came through our doors last year. Every intake is more than a number—it’s a life that matters. A cat surrendered due to housing issues. A dog rescued from an uncertain future. Each animal represents a family’s heartbreak, a lost home, or an unexpected crisis. They come to us in need, and we strive to be their bridge to a future filled with love and belonging.
Last year, our shelter felt the weight of a growing crisis. In 2024, BARCS took in more than 6,000 dogs—a staggering 40% increase over the last two years. That’s 2,000 more dogs finding themselves in need of refuge last year alone. Many of them were large adult dogs who require more resources, are more expensive to house and care for, and typically take longer to adopt. Cats, too, have flooded our doors, with 5,400 cats entering our care last year—a 42% increase over the last two years. These numbers are daunting, but they’re not just statistics—they’re individual faces, each one waiting for their chance at a new life. And, January is shaping up to be another high-volume month too.
Despite this, we’ve continued to innovate and expand our programs to meet the rising need. While our shelter has many lifesaving programs, the following are special highlights from last year:
ADOPTION: In 2024, over 6,300 animals were adopted, which is more adoptions than ever in the history of our organization.
SPAY/NEUTER: Our medical team cared for more than 12,000 animals (dogs and cats, plus small companion, exotic and farm animals) and performed more than 8,000 surgeries–a record number for our organization!
FOSTER: Foster placements for dogs doubled with 1,000 dogs to be in or have passed through foster homes for the year compared to 500 two years ago. In addition, we also cared for more than 1,000 cats in foster this year.
LOST & FOUND: We added dedicated staffing to manage our Return to Home program to help increase the number of lost animals (65% of our intake) going back to their families.
FIELD TRIPS: Our new Dog’s Day Out Program gave over 1,000 dogs a chance to stretch their legs, find potential adopters, and experience joy outside the shelter.
DOG BEHAVIOR: We launched the VIP Program to spotlight dogs struggling with the shelter environment. In just a few months, 84 VIP Dogs saw their chances of adoption or foster increase by over 70%.
COMMUNITY PETS: Our expanded community clinics provided free and low-cost care to over 5,000 pets and their families, reaching those who need us most in underserved neighborhoods.
Last year brought immense challenges. With shelter capacity stretched daily, rising veterinary costs tested our limits. Inflation and a shortage of veterinary professionals have driven up the cost of medical supplies, prescriptions, and procedures. We’ve adapted by performing more procedures in-house, but as intake numbers rise, so does the financial strain.
Yet, when we reflect on 2024, we’re filled with gratitude. Every life saved, every second chance given, is a testament to the strength of our team, our community, and our supporters. The faces of animals we’ve helped—the ones who’ve found homes and those still waiting—fuel our drive to keep going.
As we look ahead in 2025, we do so with renewed determination, ready to face whatever comes next. With the unwavering support of our community, we’ll continue fighting for them—one life at a time