The Walk and Stay Woof Pack

10/08/2024

Happy October!! At the end of this month, I will be ringing in the big 3-0 and would love to spread the love and support to some of my favorite local animal shelters.

There are so many ways to help shelter pets awaiting their forever homes from donating, fostering, volunteering, and of course, adopting. The power of community is something I wholeheartedly believe in and would love if you could show your local shelters some love this month.

Below are some of my favorite local shelters who would graciously benefit from your support.

Baltimore Humane Society - https://bmorehumane.org/donate/

BARCS Animal Shelter - https://www.barcs.org/donate
BARCS also has an amazing program called “Dogs Day Out” where you take a shelter doggo out for the day, giving them a much needed break from the shelter.
https://www.barcs.org/dogs-day-out-program
BARCS also is having their BARCS-toberfest on my birthday - October 26 at Patterson Park (I will be there)! https://www.barcstoberfest.org/

Friends of Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control, Inc.- https://www.faacac.org/donate-cash-other-items/

Maryland SPCA - https://www.mdspca.org/volunteer/

Puppy Paws Rescue - Maryland (where we found our Ricky Ricardo) https://www.puppypawsrescue.org/

SPCA of Anne Arundel County - https://aacspca.org/ways-to-give-individuals/

Any amount helps and there are plenty of ways to get involved - many thanks for the consideration 🩵

08/02/2024

🐶🩷 ADOPT (or foster) Missy!! 🐶🩷 ⁣
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I took this sweet girl out for a DDO today and she is too sweet. She is a two year old brindle bombshell with so much love to give. She is a little shy and skidish at first around new people, but warms up very quickly. ⁣
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Some of her highlights I noticed - ⁣
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🚗- she is a pro in the car; and would make a great co captain! ⁣
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🌍- she has a big green thumb! She loves sniffing flowers and trees ⁣
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🕵️- she is a professional sniffer and really gets to the bottom of smells on walks ⁣
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🩷 - she takes treats SO gently ⁣
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🐶 - she walks beautifully on a leash and checks in with her human during the walk. The only time she was pully was when she wanted to sniff something or play chase with a squirrel (she is squirrel reactive on the leash) ⁣
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😋 - she is highly food motivated (see pictures)! ⁣
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She would like to meet and future furry roommates prior to being adopted. Go check Missy out today! ⁣
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Location: BARCS Animal Shelter in Baltimore, MD ⁣
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2490 Giles Road⁣
Baltimore, MD 21225⁣
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Monday-Friday 2pm-6pm⁣
Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm⁣
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https://www.barcs.org/adopt-dogs/⁣
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07/29/2024

Such an honor to be interviewed by Canvas Rebel. Many thanks to David Tan for allowing me to share my story. Check it out! 🐶🩵

We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Robertson recently and have shared our conversation below. Nicole , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization ....

07/06/2024

If you can open your home to a dog or cat as a temporary foster as BARCS gets their AC unit fixed, that would be stellar 🐶🩵

UPDATE 6PM 7/6/24 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/PTDoLqesUfUMAsqb/?mibextid=WC7FNe

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UPDATE 2PM 7/6/24—PLEASE READ AND SHARE

Due to the overwhelming outpouring of support, we have hit max human occupancy in our shelter. We are now closed (on Saturday) for further foster appointments and walk-ins. We will post a new plan for Sunday at a later time once we assess the success and challenges from today.

We are still closed for adoptions.

We can only take emergency surrenders. If you have found a lost pet in Baltimore City, please hang on to the pet as long and safely possible and search for its owner before bringing it to BARCS. Animals on stray hold in our shelter cannot leave for foster, so they must remain in the shelter. However, citizens can hold on to them instead in their air-conditioned homes!

Other ways you can help:

**Gatorade and bottled water for our staff and volunteers**

Emergency Items for making ice bucket treats for our dogs: ProSelect Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Pails — Durable Pails for Kennels and Farms - 5", 1-Quart https://a.co/d/054eM0pl

Fillings: Applesauce, canned pumpkin (plain, not pie filling), watermelon, cucumbers, carrots, strawberries and blueberries (frozen or fresh)—but shelf stable items are best at this time.

More items found online or local:

Slip lead leashes (this brand specifically) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXTN3WL5?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_ZPRZ33CD88WS4MYN7SCG&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_ZPRZ33CD88WS4MYN7SCG&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_ZPRZ33CD88WS4MYN7SCG&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=2
Cat carriers
Small or medium sized bags of Science Diet adult dog and adult cat food
Large or XL crates
Large or XL Kongs
Nylabones
Tracheas and/or bully sticks
1-1.5 Cup Tupperware containers
Cooling pads for large dogs

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PARTIAL CLOSING 7/6/24–Due to ongoing challenges from our broken air conditioning, BARCS will be closed for adoptions; open for emergency fosters from 11-4PM; Dog’s Day Out limited destinations. Details below.

Adoptions: Due to the amount of temporary cooling equipment throughout our shelter, BARCS will be closed today for adoptions. Since our air conditioning is still not fully repaired, we must limit the amount of foot traffic, electricity and opening of doors.

Fosters Needed: If you can foster an animal for at least a week, come to our shelter today (Saturday) between 11AM - 4PM. We have crates for you to borrow and food. We need fosters for both cats and dogs. Please expect that you will be fostering a large adult dog (45LBS or more) or an adult cat.

Dog’s Day Out: If you have an appointment for Dog’s Day Out today, volunteers must plan their adventures in places with air conditioning. Thank you for understanding.

Donations Needed: We need bags of ice, bottled water and battery operated fans for our staff and volunteers.

Thank you for helping us get through this incredibly unfortunate situation.

07/03/2024

🐶🩵❤️

Please please please do your part to avoid your pup getting lost over the next few days with all the fireworks everywhere.
Check your gates, update microchip info NOW, get meds if they need them to stay calm and double leash at all times.
July 4th is the worst time for shelters that are already overflowing as this has been the worst the rescue world has seen in a long time 💔

06/30/2024

ADOPT PHOEBE 🐶🐶🐶🐶 ⁣
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Today I had the opportunity to volunteer with BARCS for their dog day out program. I had Phoebe, a very sweet 1 year old pittie mix. ⁣
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Phoebe walks beautifully on a leash and loves to smell all the things! We went for a walk around Fort McHenry then headed over to Petco in Canton Square for some shopping. Come see Phoebe BARCS Animal Shelter
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06/27/2024

Please share! Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control is overwhelmed with stray dogs whose owners have not come to reclaim them.

Adoption applications are accepted on all pets as soon as they arrive, with the understanding that an owner has five business days to redeem a pet before it can be officially adopted by someone else.

06/26/2024

BARCS is looking for foster homes/ forever homes for these pups 🐶🩵

Today was not a good day. Early this morning, we did our rounds and were negative dog kennels right from the jump from animals brought in overnight from Baltimore City Animal Control. What we did not predict was that the day would only get worse. While we were working to solve the 11-kennel deficit we had in the morning, 43 more animals came in this afternoon–notably, 30+ large dogs seized by Animal Control from unsafe conditions.

BARCS cannot handle this alone. We are already tremendously understaffed, underfunded and this year saw a 71% increase in dogs. That’s 2,300+ more dogs to take care of and find outcomes for. Our live release rate is dropping after so many years of lifesaving progress. This is not sustainable without major and immediate support from the Baltimore community and beyond.

**These are BARCS’ immediate calls to action starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 26**

➜ Adoption fees are waived for all animals in our shelter located at 2490 Giles Road, Baltimore, MD 21225. We will waive fees through Sunday but please do not delay. Animals must start leaving on Wednesday.

➜ Large adult dog emergency fosters are needed. Please walk into our shelter tomorrow and pick out a dog to take home temporarily. (Extended hours through Friday of 10:30AM-5:45PM.)

➜ Rescue partners are needed to pull animals from the shelter. If you are an existing partner, please reach out to help. If you are a rescue but not an existing partner, please contact [email protected] to fill out an application.

➜ If you adopted in recent days and are scheduled to pick up your new pet post-surgery, please look for calls and emails from our team with updates as we are trying to get those animals home to you immediately.

➜ If you find a lost pet, hold onto it–don’t bring it to the shelter–and help look for the owners. A majority of lost pets are found within a few blocks of their homes. Notify the shelter and follow these steps on our website: https://www.barcs.org/lost-and-found-help/

➜ If you need to rehome your pet follow these tips to rehome them and also use our rehoming platform on our website https://www.barcs.org/resources-rehoming/

We have done everything we can on our own to save as many as possible. In order to save the lives of the animals still coming in above our capacity, we need to call on you–our community–to foster, adopt and help us make room for the overflow of animals we continue to get.

BARCS is a nonprofit that does not have the funding, kennel space or resources to save lives under these current circumstances without our community's support.

Please help us help them.

For questions about adoption, fostering or volunteering, please email [email protected].

06/19/2024

Kim and her team are the best! 🐶🩵

🐶 Exciting News from Paws and Possibilities! 🐶

We're thrilled to announce a special opportunity for foster puppies! At Paws and Possibilities Dog Training, we believe every pup deserves the best start in life. That's why we're opening our Puppy Program to offer complimentary training for foster puppies under 6 months old.

This is a new opportunity with only a few spaces available, so don't miss out! If you’re fostering a puppy who has been cleared by a vet, we’d love to welcome them into our program while they wait for their forever home.

Let's work together to give these puppies the foundation they need to thrive. 🐶❤️

For more information or to apply, comment below or send us a message!

Thank you for being a part of our community and helping us spread the word by sharing this post and tagging rescue organizations in Anne Arundel County you think would like to take advantage of this opportunity!

06/15/2024

Today’s the day!!!

Come find your sunshine companion at The Mega Summer Adopt-a-thon!🕶️🐾

It's happening TODAY! Join us at the Timonium Fairgrounds in the 4H Building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adoption fees will be WAIVED for all animals at the event. Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and small companion animals will all be available for adoption!

Gear up for summer adventures with a new furry friend! Swing by and join BARCS, the Maryland SPCA, the Baltimore Humane Society, and Baltimore County Animal Services for a mega adoption event. Sponsored by Petco Love , this is the largest adoption event in the Baltimore area and neighboring counties. Don’t miss this paws-itively perfect chance to find your summer companion!

Families are able to bring home their new furry friends the day of the event if the animal is already altered. All adoptions are first come, first served and adoption fees have been waived for all pets at the event. Standard adoption procedures still apply.

Adoption Information:

☀️Adopters need to bring a valid photo ID and proof of current address. Adopters must be at least 18 years of age.
☀️Adopters may NOT bring their current pets to the event. Adoption counselors from each shelter will be giving all adopters very thorough instructions about acclimating new pets to homes with existing pets.
☀️Cat carriers, leashes and collars will be available for additional purchase at the event.

And if you don’t find your match at the Mega Adoption event, come by BARCS. We have lots of wonderful adoptable animals waiting to meet you, and the adoption fees are waived at our shelter too!😎🐾

06/11/2024

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☀️ Get ready to find your new furry best friend just in time for all your summer escapades! This Saturday, June 15, BARCS will be teaming up with the Maryland SPCA, the Baltimore Humane Society, and Baltimore County Animal Services for a mega adoption event at the Timonium Fairgrounds. Thanks to Petco Love, this adoption event is the biggest one in the Baltimore area and surrounding counties. Don't miss out on this paw-some opportunity to find your match❣️

The Mega Summer Adopt-a-thon will be held at the Timonium Fairgrounds in the 4H Building from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Adoption fees will be WAIVED for all animals at the event. Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and small companion animals will all be available for adoption!

Families are able to bring home their new furry friends the day of the event if the animal is already altered. All adoptions are first come, first served and adoption fees have been waived for all pets at the event. Standard adoption procedures still apply.

Adoption Information:

🐾 Adopters need to bring a valid photo ID and proof of current address. Adopters must be at least 18 years of age.
🐾 Adopters may NOT bring their current pets to the event. Adoption counselors from each shelter will be giving all adopters very thorough instructions about acclimating new pets to homes with existing pets.
🐾 Cat carriers, leashes and collars will be available for additional purchase at the event.

06/01/2024

Happy Pride! A forever ally 🏳️‍🌈🩷🧡💛💚🩵💜

05/06/2024

Just a boy and his strawberry 🍓 ⁣
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05/01/2024

🐬☀️🏖️ THANK YOU ANNAPOLIS! 🪸🐢🩵

This August I will be leaving Annapolis and moving to Miami Beach (hello golden girls era 😉).

To my stellar clients, I owe you all a lifetime of gratitude. Thank you all for the endless support, trust, and opportunity to watch your fur babes over these years. 🐶🩵

With gratitude,
Nicole 🩵

04/20/2024

🚨OUT OF DOG SPACE🚨

BARCS is in a desperate situation–we have more dogs in the shelter than we have kennel space to house them, and more will continue to enter our doors. Effective today, April 18, through Sunday, April 21, we are waiving adoption fees for ALL animals in the shelter in order to make room for new animals that need to seek refuge at our facility.

BARCS is the open-admission shelter for Baltimore City, we cannot turn new animals away, even if our cages are full. The number of dogs coming into our shelter has significantly increased. Dog intakes at BARCS are up 24% from last year and 71% in the last two years. We have hundreds of healthy, happy adoptable dogs that need homes, and they are at risk for euthanasia otherwise. YOU can help us not have to make any heartbreaking decisions by helping us spread the word about this mounting crisis.

ADOPT: Adoption fees are WAIVED for all animals from April 18-21. BARCS is located at 2490 Giles Rd., Baltimore, MD and we are open from 2-6 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends. Fees are waived for animals in foster and at adoption events this weekend as well. www.barcs.org/adopt-dogs/

FOSTER: We urgently need foster families for adult dogs. You do NOT need to have a specific type of home or family to foster. Any open cage means two lives preserved: the dog you took home to foster and the next one inevitably coming in tomorrow. Even a weekend-long commitment to foster can make a major difference. If you aren’t sure about fostering, you can attend one of our Foster Open Houses that are held twice a week. www.barcs.org/foster/

DOG’S DAY OUT: If you are unable to adopt or foster at this time but still want to help dogs in need, you can participate in Dog’s Day Out. Our Dog’s Day Out program is a great way to give our pups a break from the shelter environment and get them seen by potential adopters. You can take one of our pups to the park, go for a hike or simply relax in your home. You do not need to be an existing volunteer to participate. www.barcs.org/dogs-day-out/

Please consider coming by the shelter to adopt or go through the foster process onsite and temporarily house a pup in need.

04/20/2024

Our Ricky went to a two week board and train program with Breakthrough K9 Training to help with his impulse control (mainly his selective hearing when he gets too excited 😉) and build his confidence around unfamiliar things and loud noises. He’s becoming a true scholar! Can’t wait to see him tomorrow and see his new skills. 🐶🩵

03/26/2024

Happy Monday! I am taking a much needed social media break from both Facebook and Instagram- I’ll only be available by email — [email protected] ⁣
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Stay safe out there 🩵