Beyond Adoption: Baltimore's City Animal Shelters

A city steeped in history and culture, Baltimore is also a hub for animal welfare. From rescue and rehabilitation to heartwarming stories of adoption, the city's animal shelters offer a wide array of services. If you're looking for your new furry friend or simply want to help an animal in need, here is a list of local animal shelters in Baltimore.

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter

2490 Giles Road, Baltimore, MD 21225 

An open-admission city shelter, the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter takes in all animals in need, regardless of health, history, age, or temperament. It has been a haven for many dogs, cats, other small companion pets, farm animals, wildlife, and exotic animals since 2005. It goes beyond being an animal shelter, providing emergency triage for sick, injured, abused, surrendered, and homeless animals. As of this writing, it takes in over 12,000 animals each year. It has provided 110,000 veterinary exams, 6,000 spay and neuter surgeries, 5,000 pet vaccinations, and more than 30,000 volunteer hours annually.

Learn more about Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter

Maryland SPCA

3300 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21211

With the objective of improving the lives of pets and people in the communities of and around Baltimore City, Maryland SPCA is a local animal shelter you need to know about. Founded in 1869, it has given over 1,800,000 meals to community pets, vet care to over 9,000 pets, and a 94% live release rate. It helps pets find their forever homes by providing them with medical care and training until they become their best selves. It uses force-free methods to ensure the animals learn without pain, intimidation, threats, and force or coercion.

Learn more about Maryland SPCA

All Shepherd Rescue

PO Box 23231, Baltimore, MD 21203 

As its name suggests, All Shepherd Rescue focuses on finding forever homes and other after-adoption services for German Shepherd dogs in the Baltimore area. It rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes them and other related mixes. It also educates the public on the importance of providing medical care, training, and spaying/neutering their pets. It believes in connecting the right dog with the right family. Thus, the volunteers work tirelessly to find the perfect match. If you're not looking to adopt a German Shepherd, you can always help in various ways, including donation and fostering.

Learn more about All Shepherd Rescue

Paws For A Cause

606 E Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286

Born out of compassion for a shelter in West Virginia that caught fire, Paws for a Cause was founded in 2006. Since then, it has raised thousands of dollars, hosted hundreds of events, and rescued and rehomed thousands of needy animals. 

Learn more about Paws For A Cause

Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc.

PO Box 9488 Catonsville, MD 21228

Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc. is a non-profit community service organization that helps animals in need in Baltimore and around Maryland. It rescues abandoned, abused, stray, and feral animals, provides them with shelter and medical care, and then finds them forever loving homes. Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc. takes pride in managing its resources carefully, directing animals in need to partnering rescue facilities instead of euthanizing them to make room. Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc. also provides low-cost veterinary services through its vet clinic partners and other volunteers. 

Learn more about Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc.

Baltimore Humane Society

1601 Nicodemus Road, Reisterstown, Maryland 21136

Previously known as The Humane Society of Baltimore County, Baltimore Humane Society (BHS) was founded in 1927. Like many city shelters in Baltimore, it does not euthanize animals due to time or space constraints. Today, it cares for thousands of animals yearly while providing low-cost veterinary and spay/neuter services to low-income pet owners. Furthermore, it is home to the Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park, which provides a final resting place for many beloved pets. It offers burial, funeral, cremation, and bereavement services, as well as special memorial events. It has a separate area that serves as home to many wildlife, including deer, foxes, several species of birds, and other types of local wildlife.

Learn more about the Baltimore Humane Society

Tara's House Animal Rescue

722 Dulaney Valley Rd, Towson, MD 21204 

With a mission to rescue and provide care for pets in need, Tara's House Animal Rescue is another no-kill shelter in Maryland. It offers foster homes for rescued animals and teaches them to love and trust again. They do this by placing them in a home setting to help ease the transition into a permanent loving home.

Learn more about Tara's House Animal Rescue

Small Miracles Cat & Dog Rescue

10236 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042 

Having found loving homes since 2006 for over 12,000 cats and more than 7,000 dogs, Small Miracles Cat & Dog Rescue really does miracles. It is a no-kill shelter, taking in animals from other shelters that are about to be euthanized, including pregnant cats, dogs, and injured pets. It advocates for the rescue of abandoned, abused, and homeless cats and dogs and places them in foster and forever loving homes.

Learn more about Small Miracles Cat & Dog Rescue

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

P.O. Box 507, Poolesville, MD 20837 

A 400-acre, non-profit haven in Poolesville, Maryland, Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary provides refuge to farm animals and wildlife. It aims to provide care, rehabilitation, and permanent sanctuary for many neglected, abused, and abandoned farm animals and a protected habitat for their rescued wildlife. The sanctuary was founded in 1996 and has since built barns and fences to house its growing animal population of pigs, bunnies, goats, and many other animals. Currently, it has over 200 animals living in the sanctuary.

Learn more about Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary

6409 Stream Valley Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20882 

While many city animal shelters care for animals in need, House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary takes a different route. It provides care and homes to senior and special needs dogs and cats who have lost their hoomans, allowing them to live a life worth living. It has a two-acre property where these animals can play outdoors, spend time in grassy fields, and get ongoing health care and wellness screening. This shelter takes pride in giving its residents their best lives with consults with veterinary specialists and high-quality food, treats, and special diets if needed.

Learn more about House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary