The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Reviews

A Google User

Found a sweet little cat in my backyard and took him/her to this shelter. An amazing facility! They were able to take the cat in and helped me to get the cat out of My car since I didn’t have a crate. They had many clients but were able to help Me quick and professionally. I also got to observe them interacting with a complicated individual and the lady kept her composure and was very professional and polite. I was glad to hear this facility only does humane uthanasia when animals have extreme behavioral issues or illnesses. This made me much more comfortable with leaving the stray cat here. Also, they gave me a code I could check in the cat and see how it was doing. Even though I am a stranger this helps me to feel a sense of comfort that I did the right thing for this stray kitty. They will tell you they don’t answer phones. If you go there you can see they are packed to the brim with work. I am so thankful for this facility. Also if you see this post go adopt this sweet cat! Mungbeen is what I think they named him/her. She let me pick her up and was really calm on the car ride. She will make a sweet and good cat. If I lived in my own place I would have kept her and made her my cat 😭😭.

A Google User

I adopted a 4 year old pit mix (Taz) and had to have my dog put down less than 2 months of owning him today. I wasn't going to write a review but after the euthanasia staff saw how broken down I was, they spilled all the beans on BARCS and told me to please tell my story. I loved Taz to pieces. He was so sweet & loving with me. Helped me emotionally through the loss of a child. But he was developing some serious aggression towards humans outside of our home including family he met before and kids (not disclosed) and other dogs (dog reactive was disclosed to me). Idk how the shelter was able to have him for over a month and get him calm and accepting for interactions with random humans. He was more calm and accepting when I first got him which may have been due to sedation or mild starvation (he was VERY skinny for a dog his stature BARCS had for over a month, 48lbs when I got him and a healthy 63lbs by his death). I tried a little training and was recommended a behaviorist by my VCA vet, who by the way said Taz was completely healthy just scared. He wasn't tested for heart worms, which BARCS said he was, luckily he didn't have anything. Based on my vet's assessment, he also had moderate fear based aggression. I had to use trazadone before any new stressful events and even then he was still fearful and mildly aggressive. He was not himself on that medication. So dull with no life in his eyes. I hated when I had to use it, but I did use it as instructed. I didn't sign up to spend 3k out of nowhere on a behaviorist for a 4 year old dog who may not even improve at this point in his life, have my dog locked in a cage when anyone came over, only able to do night or extreme early morning walks, danger to my community, or have my dog on zombie medicine his whole life. BARCS knew I was a first time dog owner, and needed an easy dog. I told them I was 25. Work full time but from home. In school. If I knew what I was getting myself into as a first time dog owner, I would've NEVER brought him home. He should've never been adopted out. Even the professionals at Howard County Animal Shelter I had to do the emergency euthanasia due to a recent incident said that. They were so sweet and understanding with my dog and about my situation. They felt extremely bad for me. I cried so loud and hard the whole entire time while rubbing my sweet baby as he passed away. He had no chance of being rehomed based on his history, so I decided to let him go in my care. He loved and trusted me. Now let's go over my dog's history in my possession. Behavior that BARCS probably hid from me. After my dog got settled after 3 weeks, he was always on edge despite the love, reassurance, and care I constantly gave him. Reactive to people who stopped and stared or talked to him. Dogs who walked by. Bite wise, my boy ended up biting my adult brother (no warning or provoking, a small piece of his finger was hanging off, bloodshed). My mom (quick growl then immediate bite, had thick pants on, no blood). He met both of them the first week I got him and still attacked them two weeks later. He also bit the vet (no warning, bit through her pants, bloodshed). A stranger (no warning, he did sniff the stranger and allow pet for 3 seconds before biting for no reason but I warned this person of the outcome, blood shed) who luckily decided not to report or sue me. Last incident was that he lunged at a child, which was my last straw. He didn't harm the child, but I was harmed in the process of trying to control him. I was picking up his poop, so caught off guard. Then once noticing his lunge and rising up, I fell from tripping combined with his strength. My left knee is scraped up and right leg is in so much pain. I can't imagine how the child is feeling, as it was so scary I bet. I feel awful. RIP my sweet Taz. I hope now you are free of all your constant worry and fear. I wish I could've done more for you. I had so many plans for our life together. I love you so much. BARCS you can go straight to H*LL. HORRIBLE dishonest non-attentive place. I HATE you.

A Google User

I am 16 and over my life, My family adopted multiple cats from BARCS. The first was a gorgeous orange girl named Tangerine, who’s lived with us for 10 years now and is just as sweet and loving as the day we got her. She has been amazing, got along well with all 3 of our dogs and put up with me when I was a kid. The second cat was adopted a few months ago, a male kitten who came into the shelter as a stray and was named Eiffel. My mom took me to BARCS to look around, and I fell in love with him. He had just been neutered and wouldn’t be available for adoption until the next day, so we came back before they even opened the day after. We brought him (Now named Bones) home the same day, he was all over me right away. He’s insanely playful but is calm when he needs to be, he’s a perfect movie watching buddy. He’s smart and already knows tricks, is insanely food motivated and hasn’t scratched or bitten me even once. He’s the greatest thing that’s happened to me in recent years. He also gets along great with our dog and other cats, he’s so playful and tolerant. I adore him. Thank you BARCS for my best friend, I’ll love him forever.

A Google User

You would think volunteers would be happy to help people adopt animals, until you meet that one nasty person. My wife wanted to see multiple dogs. I know that can be a lot but I had the intention of leaving with one or multiple. Until this lady decided that while walking away from us there was a problem with us seeing multiple dogs(deciding to say who has time to show all these dogs under her breath). Then deciding to arguing with my wife because we don’t know the protocols? What!? We are trying to save these dogs and get them the love and safe home they need. At this point it was time to leave. Do better..

A Google User

I recommend you fill out any forms online prior to going to the shelter. I would also look online at the animals that they have so you know what you're looking for when you get there. We just got a foster dog. We were in and out.

A Google User

I found a stray dog and took her to BARCS. Staff was very kind and helpful and made me feel like she was in great hands. They also made sure to get all the information of where she was found in order to try to find owners.

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Business Hours
Monday:14:00PM - 18:00PMTuesday:14:00PM - 18:00PMWednesday:14:00PM - 18:00PMThursday:14:00PM - 18:00PMFriday:14:00PM - 18:00PMSaturday:11:00AM - 16:00PMSunday:11:00AM - 16:00PM

Popular Times

Service options

• Onsite services

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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