Best Pet Rescue Shelters In Baltimore
Pet rescues are constantly popping up all over town. Make sure to research a rescue group before you adopt from them. They should have an adoption application, a veterinarian who works with them and a good track record for placing animals. The website www.petfinder.com is a wonderful site that helps some smaller rescues place animals that are available for adoption. If you are currently unable to adopt, most of the following organizations are thrilled to have volunteers help them.
BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue Care And Shelter, Inc.)
301 Stockholm St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 396-4695
www.baltimoreanimalshelter.org
BARCS is probably the most well-known dog and cat shelter in the Baltimore area since first opening in 2005. It has an excellent reputation for placing animals throughout the community. All kinds of people, including some local celebrities, have adopted from this shelter. All types of dogs and cats are available.
Baltimore Humane Society
1601 Nicodemus Road
Reisterstown, Md. 21136
(410) 833-8848
www.bmorehumane.org
Another shelter with ties to big names around town, the Baltimore Humane Society has been around since 1927. This no-kill shelter is mostly populated with dogs and cats, but also has other animal species for adoption. This organization has a long-standing place in the rescue community and is dedicated to finding permanent homes for its animals. It has a huge pet cemetery on the premises with the grave of a circus elephant, as well as the final resting place of many beloved family pets.
Maryland SPCA
3300 Falls Road
Baltimore, Md. 21211
(410) 235-8826
www.mdspca.org
This is a wonderful shelter to adopt a dog or cat. The SPCA places more than 3,000 animals every year. Many animals are available for adoption, and on the website, Baltimore-area residents can list lost and found animals in the area. Not only can you adopt an animal at this charming facility, but it also offers low-cost spay/neuter, shots and other veterinary services for your pet once you adopt it.
Luna's House, Inc.
2801 Pulaski Highway
Edgewood, Md. 21040
(410) 671-2954
www.lunashouse.org
Luna's House is a shelter for all species of pets. Located in nearby Harford County, it has an assortment of animals that are furry, scaly and feathered. Relatively new on the rescue scene, Luna's is averaging about 400 adoptions per year. Oftentimes, Luna's House will take animals that the traditional shelters cannot take because they are exotics and have no facilities for them. Luna's House has boarding and some grooming services available.
The Ferret Inn
Columbia, Md.
(410) 531-4936
www.theferretinn.com
The Ferret Inn caters to people who want to adopt a ferret rather than purchase one. Ferrets are not for everyone, although their ability to move like a slinky attracts many pet owners. Ferrets need care that dog and cat shelters often cannot provide. Smaller rescues do not have facilities and adoptions are done out of a home, thus no street address is provided for this rescue. The Ferret Inn has been around since 1999, and has placed more than 1,000 ferrets since that time.
Holli Friedland is a freelance writer whose work can be found on Examiner.com.
