End-of-Life Services

Deciding to say goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, especially when they are suffering from a serious illness or injury. At BARCS, we understand the emotional weight of this decision and are here to support Baltimore City residents through it. We offer free, owner-requested euthanasia with communal cremation for pets nearing the end of their lives. In this option, your pet’s ashes will be respectfully spread in an apple orchard outside the city. For those who wish to have their pet’s ashes returned, we also offer a service that includes their ashes in a wooden box for an additional fee.

It's important to speak with your veterinarian about your pet’s health, comfort, and quality of life before making this difficult decision. They can help guide you through this process with care and understanding.

For further guidance, here are two articles from VCA Hospitals, one of our partners, which may help in assessing your pet’s quality of life:

Quality of Life at the End of Life for Your Dog

Quality of Life at the End of Life for Your Cat

Please note that BARCS will not euthanize healthy or adoptable pets, so it’s important to have your pet’s veterinary records available if possible. Also, for procedures done at BARCS, owners may not be present in the room during euthanasia.

Make an Appointment

Contact: resource@barcs.org

Our Address: 2490 Giles Road, Baltimore, MD 21225