Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is a partner of Best Friends, working together to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups — all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country.

From Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

In recognizing the need to have a city animal shelter that serves as a true resource for the people and animals of Baltimore, the city has reorganized its animal shelter into a 501(c)(3) non-profit and renamed it the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS.) In addition to receiving funding from Baltimore City, BARCS now has the critical ability to raise private funding from the community and enhance its volunteer efforts.

Baltimore, MD 21225-1011
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How is your community doing when it comes to lifesaving? 

Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.

Every partner has one common goal: to save the lives of homeless pets.

How Is Your Community Doing?

Animals in Maryland need your help

You can make a world of difference in the lives of cats and dogs in your community when you work with Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and Best Friends to support homeless pets and save more lives.

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Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat you’re saving the life of a loving and loyal animal. You’re also making space for other pets to find families of their own.
Adopt a Pet
woman holding two kittens

Foster a pet

Fostering a pet is a short-term commitment with long-term impact. By opening your home to a dog or cat for even a few days, you can save lives.
Foster a Pet

Heartwarming stories from our partners

Just like Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), shelters and rescue groups around the country are saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs. Read more about their lifesaving work. 
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Small acts bring big impact for animals

From coast to coast, Best Friends Network Partners are showing up with love, humor, and lifesaving care for animals.
Network partners create moments of hope and healing
Best Friends Magazine
Person hugging a black and brown dog beside a shade canopy at the dog spay/neuter event

Free spay/neuter for L.A. dogs

Group effort to serve 400 dogs in need of surgeries.
A successful event
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Black and white dog lying on a floor wearing a pink collar beside a person's foot

Animal shelters’ no-kill state of mind

A look at the progress toward no-kill nationwide — from the states that are already no-kill to the ones furthest from that goal but still committed.
Everyone can do something
Best Friends Magazine
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Who we are

Best Friends Animal Society  works alongside thousands of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to save the lives of cats and dogs across the country and to make the entire country no-kill in 2025.

The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of animal welfare groups from every single state, all working to save the lives of pets in their own communities.

Ranging from animal shelters and rescue groups to spay/neuter and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) organizations, they collaborate with Best Friends to save even more lives in every corner of the country.

Best Friends provides marketing help, fundraising events, webinars, grants, and other resources so that, together, we can Save Them All.

Interested in becoming a partner? Visit bestfriends.org/network »