Programs

Read about a few of the Maryland SPCA's animals and learn more about our programs below.

Meet Missy and learn how our adoption program saves lives.
Meet Princess and Spot and learn how our foster care program saves lives.
Meet Rachel and learn how our spay/neuter program reduces pet overpopulation.
Meet Gumbo and learn how our transport program saves lives.
Meet Sherlock and learn how our behavior program helps pets and people.

Meet Missy and learn how our adoption program saves lives.

Missy, a friendly one-year-old feline, was brought to the Maryland SPCA by a Good Samaritan who found her in her backyard but could not keep her because she already owned more than one cat and a dog. We gave Missy a medical exam and a behavior assessment. We also spayed her. She then entered our adoption program and was adopted on October 21, 2011.

The Maryland SPCA connects wonderful animals to loving owners. To ensure that our dogs and cats do not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem, every animal is spayed or neutered before going to a new home. The cost is included in the adoption fee, as are the costs of shots and other care. There is no time limit for how long a healthy animal can remain in our adoption program. In 2011, we adopted out, reunited with owners and sent to rescue more than 3,000 animals. See the adoptable pets who are currently available in our adoption program.

Meet Princess and Spot and learn how our foster care program saves lives.

Princess and Spot, two adorable Pointer mix puppies, were transported to the Maryland SPCA as part of an unwanted litter when they were only two months old. We placed them in foster care with one of our wonderful volunteer foster care parents. Once they and their siblings had gained enough weight and were healthy enough to be adopted, we made them available for adoption. They all quickly found new homes.

Our foster care program enables us to care for and save animals who are too young, sick, injured or otherwise not yet ready for our adoption program. Dedicated volunteers care for these animals in their homes with our support. In 2011, our foster care parents helped save the lives of 618 animals! This is a record for our growing foster care program. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, visit our foster care page to learn more.

Learn how our spay/neuter program reduces pet overpopulation.

Rachel, a six-year-old feline, was brought to us along with four kittens in June of 2011 by her owner who had too many pets. Although she was already six, Rachel had never been fixed and may have had multiple litters of kittens. We spayed her, and she went to her new home shortly thereafter.

Due to the high volume of cats and kittens typically entering shelters in June, which is national Adopt-a-Cat Month, the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter and Baltimore Humane Society (all members of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance) waived their adoption fees for cats and kittens in a month-long promotion called The Baltimore 500: A Race to Save Lives. Regular adoption procedures applied. BAWA members adopted out more than 500 cats and kittens in June of 2011. Cat Hospital at Towson generously offered a free exam to adopters.

The Maryland SPCA strongly promotes spay/neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulation. In 2011, we spayed/neutered nearly 9,000 animals! The Maryland SPCA continues to be the state leader in providing spay/neuter services. In addition to fixing animals in our adoption program, we offer low-cost spay/neuter to qualified groups and pet owners. Our spay/neuter clinic can be reached at 410-889-SPAY(7729) or fixem@mdspca.org.

Meet Gumbo and learn how our transport program saves lives.

Gumbo, a two-year-old Fox Terrier mix, was transported with two other dogs from the Baltimore Animal and Care Shelter (BARCS) to the Maryland SPCA in June. After arriving, Gumbo received a medical exam and a behavior assessment and then entered our adoption program. A week later, he found a new home with a loving owner.

Through our transport program, we take in animals from other shelters, giving the animals the opportunity to be adopted at the Maryland SPCA, which allows overcrowded shelters to focus on other animals. We typically travel to BARCS in our transport van and bring animals back to the MD SPCA several times a week. In 2011, we transported more than 1,000 animals from BARCS to the Maryland SPCA. At the Maryland SPCA, the transported animals are examined by our medical staff and behavior specialists and then enter our adoption program. Our adoption program does not have a time limit, but we work hard to keep the average length of stay for our pets short.

Meet Sherlock and learn how our behavior program helps pets and people.

Sherlock is a friendly, energetic one-year-old Pit Bull mix. Despite his beautiful eyes, it took a while for Sherlock to find his forever home after he came to us as a lost dog. (At the Maryland SPCA, there is no time limit for how long an animal can remain in our adoption program.) Our behavior experts, staff and volunteers worked with Sherlock to teach him good behavior. To help him get adopted, we made him our August 2011 Kaycee Fund dog. A generous donor has made it possible for us to waive the adoption fee on one special-needs dog each month to attract more attention to that animal and enable the adopter to use the money saved to meet the animal’s special needs. After lots of love and attention at the Maryland SPCA, Sherlock got adopted!

Training can help create and maintain a positive, lasting relationship between pet owners and pets. Our behavior specialists offer classes to dog owners and encourage our dog adopters to participate in behavior training. Positive Pooch is a one-session class that we offer to our dog adopters for no charge and to the public for a small donation. All-Star Canine is a six-session course open to dog owners for a reasonable fee. Maryland SPCA adopters receive a discount. These classes meet on the grounds of the Maryland SPCA. In addition, our website offers behavior advice, and our small but dedicated team of behavior specialists is available for individual consultations at 410-235-8826, ext. 151.

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