BAWA

History

In order to better serve the animals and people of the Baltimore community, the five major animal welfare organizations in Baltimore—the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Humane Society, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, Baltimore City Animal Control and Baltimore County Animal Control Division—came together to form the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) in 2008.

Today, the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Humane Society, Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter and Baltimore City Animal Control continue as BAWA members. We work together to improve the well-being of animals in our community. Our joint efforts have included activities such as adoption events, spaying and neutering animals and transporting animals in need from one shelter to another so that fewer pets are euthanized.

Mission

The Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance’s mission is to work together to save animals’ lives.

Values

We will focus on ending pet over-population.
We will work together to save the lives of companion animals with the ultimate goal of creating a community where no healthy/treatable animal shall be euthanized due to the lack of a home.
We will promote adoption, spay/neuter, education and humane care.
We shall foster mutual respect for all members and recognize that, while our members share our interest and passion for animal welfare, our methods may be different.
We will all participate in achieving the mission of this alliance, realizing that our vision is shared by all members and is not the dream of only a few.
We will use the principles of the Asilomar Accords as a guide where applicable with an emphasis on using a standardized method of reporting our animal care data using the standard Asilomar Accords terminology as defined by BAWA members.

Events

The Baltimore 500: A Race to Save Lives

2012

To save lives and find homes for hundreds of abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens in the community, the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) held its 4th annual Baltimore 500: A Race to Save Lives promotion. During the month of June, national Adopt-A-Cat month, the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Humane Society and Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)—all members of BAWA—waived their adoption fees for cats and kittens. A record 769 cats and kittens were adopted!

Regular adoption procedures applied. All cats and kittens were spayed/neutered and vaccinated prior to adoption. Baltimore 500 adopters received a goody bag including a coupon for a free wellness exam for their new cat/kitten from the Cat Hospital of Towson (CHAT).

2011

In June of 2011, the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) set a goal to save the lives of 500 cats and kittens during national Adopt-a-Cat month, when shelters are usually crowded with felines. The event was a big success! 580 cats found new homes during the month of June. These cats were adopted from the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Humane Society and Baltimore Animal and Care Shelter (BARCS), all BAWA members. Thank you to Cat Hospital at Towson (CHAT) for offering a free wellness exam to Baltimore 500 adopters.

2010

In May of 2010, the members of Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (Maryland SPCA, BARCS and Baltimore Humane Society) held the Baltimore 500 race to save cats' lives. Throughout the month, adoption fees on all cats and kittens in all three shelters were waived. The goal was to adopt out 500 cats and kittens among the three shelters, and we succeeded. Normal adoption procedures applied. The BAWA facebook page covered the month-long event. The 2010 Baltimore 500 was generously sponsored by the Cat Hospital at Towson.

2009

Animal shelters are often overcrowded with cats and kittens during the month of June. To save the lives of these animals, the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter and Baltimore Humane Society—all members of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA)—waived their adoption fees for cats and kittens during the month of June, 2009. Regular adoption procedures applied.

The goal was to adopt out 500 cats and kittens in June, 2009. We exceeded our goal. BAWA members adopted out a total of 573 cats and kittens. (In June of 2008, BAWA members adopted out 353 cats and kittens.)

Give Pits a Chance

On October 9, 2010, the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) and MidAtlanticBullyBuddies, Inc. (MABB) hosted Give Pits a Chance at Du Burns Arena. The event was open and free to the public. Several local bully breed rescue groups and adoptable pit bulls were present. The event featured information and facts regarding the true temperament of the breed, training tips, agility demonstrations, children's activities, raffles and information about volunteer opportunities. Thank you to everyone who attended. Take a look at Give Pits a Chance photos.

BAWA Adoption Day

Saturday, July 19, 2008 was BAWA Adoption Day. Members of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) met at PetSmart in Towson to promote the adoption of homeless pets. Pictures from the event are below.

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