The Maryland SPCA, founded in 1869, is a private, limited-admission no-kill nonprofit on Falls Road in Baltimore. It is a different organization from BARCS, the city's open-admission shelter. It runs adoption, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, and community programs. Here is how adoption, the clinic, and surrender work.
The Maryland SPCA is a private, limited-admission no-kill nonprofit that cares for cats and dogs and takes animals by appointment and screening. It does not accept stray intake or hold animal-control duties.
That makes it different from BARCS, the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, which is the city's open-admission shelter. The Maryland SPCA dates to 1869, when it formed to protect Baltimore's working horses, and in 1950 it ended its city contract rather than hand stray dogs over for medical research, an early stand that shaped its independence.
The Maryland SPCA does not post standard adoption fees, so the fee appears on an animal's listing; pets in its Forget-Me-Not program for seniors and special-needs animals are $25 and come with a seven-day foster-to-adopt trial, food, and a free post-adoption vet check.
Adoption is application-based, with staff scheduling a meeting rather than a pure walk-in. The organization adopts out around 3,000 pets a year.
The low-cost spay and neuter clinic serves Baltimore City and County, with a $25 deposit to book and income-qualified free slots in some zip codes; the organization performed more than 6,000 surgeries in 2024. It also runs free PAW Plus community wellness clinics and a Kibble Connection pet food pantry.
Owner surrender is by appointment with a $30 fee per pet or litter. Volunteers must be 16 or older with a six-month commitment, and foster homes get supplies and must stay within about an hour of Baltimore. The Maryland SPCA holds a three-star rating from Charity Navigator with an 83 percent score, and its EIN is 52-6001558.
Cats and dogs, by application; about 3,000 placed a year.
Surgery for Baltimore City and County, with income-qualified free slots.
Free community wellness clinics.
A pet food pantry for owners in need.
Senior and special-needs adoptions at $25 with a trial.
Homes within about an hour of Baltimore, with supplies provided.
Sources: Maryland SPCA (mdspca.org) about, adoption, spay/neuter, and rehoming pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 52-6001558). Standard adoption fees are listed per animal rather than published. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Maryland SPCA and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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