BARCS New Volunteer Orientation

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at BARCS! The first step in becoming a BARCS volunteer is to attend a volunteer orientation where you will learn about our mission and philosophy, take a tour of the shelter, and get information about next steps for training or scheduling shifts depending on your interests!

To give you an overview of the process: you will attend the orientation on the date that you chose, and at this orientation, you will receive a packet with information about BARCS, our volunteer opportunities, and our training procedures. After you attend volunteer orientation, you can sign up for our Shelter Dogs 101/Cat Socialization 101 classes (as applicable) to learn the basics of our shelter protocols.  If you have any interest in volunteering in any additional areas, you will have the opportunity at that point to sign up for shifts that do not require additional training (such as helping with events, at our vaccine clinic, in our kitchen, mopping, cleaning kennels, or a variety of other opportunities). 

Volunteer Orientations are held at BARCS at 2490 Giles Rd. Baltimore, MD 21225. Please park in our main parking lot (not behind the black gate where Animal Control vehicles are parked.)  

When you arrive for orientation, please go to the front desk in our adoption lobby. Let our staff know you are here to attend the orientation and they will point you in the right direction!   

There are usually around 20+ people in each orientation class, so please try to be on time. If you are more than a few minutes late for orientation, we may have to ask you to reschedule in case you miss any important safety information. After you have completed orientation and any training classes (as applicable), timing is very flexible for most volunteer shifts (with the exception of event shifts.)  

Thank you for your dedication to the homeless animals of Baltimore City! Together, we will save 11,000+ animals over the next year!