Best Places To Adopt Puppies And Kittens In Baltimore

When you're picking the newest four-legged member of your family, first check with these awesome area shelters and save a puppy, kitten or rescued pet who needs a home like yours. These Baltimore organizations know pets and pet rescue, and are specially trained to help you find the right fur-baby fit.

Maryland SPCA
3300 Falls Rd.
Baltimore, Md. 21211
(410) 235-8826
www.mdspca.org/

Price: $125 per medium or large dog/$195 per puppy less than 6 months old or small dog/$55 per cat/ $100 per kitten less than 6 months old
Hours: Mon and Tues – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wed to Fri – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat and Sun – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Note: Pet visiting hours end 15 minutes prior to closing.

A founding member of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance, the Maryland SPCA finds homes for more than 3,000 homeless pets every year. With a mission to match up the best animal with each person's unique home and lifestyle, this adoption center prides itself on providing animals with premium care and a clean, pleasant environment until they are adopted. By visiting its website, visitors may easily search online for their perfect pet. The adoption fee also includes services such as spay/neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, rabies vaccination and de-worming. If needed, Maryland SPCA offers behavior counseling and training courses as a resource for the community to help keep pets in loving homes.

Maryland Animal Sanctuary & Rescue, Inc.
P.O. Box 5143
Baltimore, Md. 21224
(410) 227-3566
www.masrescue.org/

Price: $225 per dog or puppy/$85 to $100 per cat or kitten/may be less for older animals
Hours: Mon to Sat – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

MAS Rescue Inc. is committed to providing emergency rescue services to shelter animals whose time has run out, as well as help for homeless animals found wandering the streets. Its mission is to save, treat and rehabilitate animals through placement in temporary foster homes until they may be adopted. The adoption process can take up to seven days for approval and consists of filing an application and providing relevant references. Because all of the animals are living in foster homes, a visitation will not be scheduled until adoption is approved. You are never obligated to adopt an animal after visiting. A MAS Rescue volunteer is always present during your visit and works together with you and the pet to help determine if your personalities are a good match.

Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter, Inc. 
301 Stockholm St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 396-4695
baltimoreanimalshelter.org/

Price: $65 per dog or cat
Hours: Mon to Fri – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat and Sun – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A well-known nonprofit organization, BARCS takes in almost 12,000 homeless and unwanted animals a year in Baltimore City. BARCS works with local vets to treat and rehabilitate sick and injured animals so they may be adopted in the future. Visitors will often find a large number of super-sweet pit bulls (puppies, young and mature dogs) who are in desperate need of a home. Adoption classes are offered daily, and additional programs and services available include: vaccinations, microchips, pet licenses and training. Due to the high volume of animals serviced, BARCS is always looking for volunteers and donations, in addition to foster homes for moms and their newborn kittens or pups.

Related: Orioles and Their Pets Raise Money For BARCS Animal Shelter

Baltimore Humane Society
1601 Nicodemus Rd.
Reisterstown, Md. 21136
(410) 833-8848
www.bmorehumane.org/

Price: $165 per adult dog more than 25 pounds/$225 per adult dog  less than 25 pounds or puppy less than 6 months/$105 per adult cat 6 months and older/$125 per kitten
Hours: Tues to Sun – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Protecting, saving and caring for animals in Maryland since 1927, the Baltimore Humane Society is committed to finding homes for more than 1,000 animals every year. To adopt, the first step is to visit the pet, fill out the adoption questionnaire online or in person, and then speak with an adoption counselor for an interview. Because each animal is different, counselors strive to match the needs of each pet with appropriate adopters. Counselors are also trained to help ease the introduction and adjustment of the pet to a new family and home. On average, allow one to two hours to complete the adoption process. You may also schedule a follow-up appointment for a dog-meet-dog introduction for homes with existing pups. This option is not available for resident cats.

Recycled Love
P.O. Box 38800
Baltimore, Md. 21231
recycledlove.org/

Price: $100 to $150 per adult dog/$200 to $250 per puppy (less than 6 months old)/$50 to $75 per cat and kitten
Hours: Mon to Thurs – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri and Sat – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Founded in 2004, Recycled Love has been providing local dogs and cats with the second chance they deserve. Rescued from abuse, injury, neglect and abandonment, animals are immediately placed with foster parents whose goal is to recycle the unconditional love that animals possess for their human guardian so they may be adopted. After completing an application, pet parents will be contacted in 24 to 48 hours and put in touch with the foster parent to set up a meeting. As part of the adoption process, Recycled Love also makes a home visit to see where the new member of the family must learn to fit in. All animals are 100 percent vetted and exposed to training while waiting for their new homes.

Related: Cute Baby Animals

Keri Ann Beazell is a Baltimore writer following the latest developments in arts and culture, natural wonders, lifestyle and pets. She enjoys promoting thought-provoking discussions, education, new ideas and smiles among readers. Follow her on Twitter at @KtBlue16 and online at Examiner.com