Our Story
The history of how BARCS turned the municipal city shelter into a lifesaving adoption center and invaluable resource for the Baltimore community
“When this opportunity came up, I was skeptical. The shelter had so many problems and they seemed so insurmountable,” says Brause. “But as soon as I started to do it, I knew it was right.” —The Underdog, Baltimore Magazine, September 2015
Photos from our original shelter in West Federal Hill (prior to 2020).
Once nicknamed the “underdog,” the nonprofit organization Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) has cared for more than 200,000 animals since 2005 along with thousands more that we prevented from becoming homeless. When you step into our bustling adoption lobby today, it's hard to imagine that, prior to the creation of BARCS, most animals that entered the former municipal Baltimore shelter lost their lives. Only 2% of the animals were spared, while the other 98% were euthanized without a hope of finding a family. Animal sheltering in Baltimore was understaffed and lacked critical funding. This led to animal lives lost, frustrated employees, poor husbandry practices, dismal customer service, a badly maintained building and astonishingly low adoption rates.
In 2005, BARCS was founded as a private nonprofit (501c3) to take over the city shelter and to be a safe haven for animals in need. Lifesaving doubled in our first year despite taking in an annual average of 12,000 animals. Today, BARCS is the largest companion animal shelter in Maryland. Each year, we take in 11,000-12,000 lost and homeless animals, including dogs, cats, small companion animals, wildlife, farm animals and exotic animals. We also help more than 5,000 owned pets each year.
As an open-admission organization, BARCS never turns away an animal in need of shelter, food and a loving touch; we grant refuge to every abandoned, neglected, abused, lost or surrendered animal that comes through our door. Though our hardworking team seemingly never has a moment’s rest, the deep love and compassion we have for the animals who need us inspires us to keep our doors open 365 days a year to those in need.
Today, BARCS is led by Jennifer Brause, Executive Director and Founder, supported by a staff of nearly 80 and overseen by an active Board of Directors with 12 members. In 2020, we moved into a new facility, in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, which was provided by Baltimore City. This new shelter has many features that make life better for our animals during their stay. BARCS provides animal care and adoption services, spaying and neutering for animals in our adoption program and greater community, medical care for animals that come into the shelter, public education and outreach, resources for families with financial instability so they can keep their pets, and so much more. Individuals from all over Baltimore come to BARCS every day of the week for reasons as diverse as reclaiming lost pets, adopting new furry family members, joining our foster and volunteer programs, and receiving free and low-cost resources to help them keep their pets in homes.
BARCS current facility, constructed and opened in 2020.