Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Inc. [visit web site] Welcome to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Inc. (BARCS), a non-profit organization created in 2005. We work in conjunction with the Baltimore City Bureau of Animal Control. Together our mission is to protect animals from neglect, abuse and exploitation, to advocate their interests and welfare, and to inspire awareness and compassion for all living things. The day-to-day operation of BARCS involves the direct handling of lost, abandoned, unwanted and injured pets and wildlife. We accept all animals. BARCS encourages adoption of its animals by providing a low-cost adoption package, which includes the animal's neuter/spay surgery and first vaccinations. To ensure that only caring and responsible owners adopt our animals, we also require all new owners to attend an adoption course. During the class, the adopter is issued a city license (city residents only), rabies certificate, and an adoption package that includes helpful information regarding pet ownership.