Like many non-profits, 2009 has been a very challenging year for Baltimore Humane Society. Over the past year, we have undergone substantial change to better serve animals and to more efficiently utilize support from our community. Our efforts have resulted in an overall more effective operation that is heavily focused on ending needless animal suffering not just for the pets that come to us, but for those in our community and our region.

As challenging as 2009 has been, Baltimore Humane Society is emerging as a healthy, effective animal welfare organization. As this year winds down, we begin to reflect on or performance and would like to share our achievements with you.

2009 Achievements

• Reduced our fundraising expense from 49% to 8%. The lower the percent, the more your support goes to the animals.
• Re-opened "South Wing", nearly doubling our holding capacity and used exclusively as intake in order to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks. (Outdoor kennels coming soon!)
• Improved our customer service, increased adoptions over 50% and doubled the number of spay/neuter surgeries we perform (2400 + YTD).
• Presented and discussed the humane treatment of animals to over 700 school children in our region.
• Created a new, healthier hospital ward, leading to shorter duration of infectious diseases in our shelter residents.
• Held our first offsite wellness clinic in the economically disadvantaged neighborhood of Cherry Hill, providing free vaccinations, microchips and spay/neuter vouchers to under-served pets & people.
• Built group playpens to improve and enrich the lives of shelter dogs.
• Started a Pit Bull Spay/Neuter fund that provides free surgeries to low income individuals.
• Assisted shelters throughout the region in helping place over 200 dogs slated for euthanasia.
• Created and implemented safety and training classes for shelter staff and volunteers in order to provide a safer, more humane workplace.
• Developed activities, like Wednesday Night Hikes, for volunteers and the general public that encourage involvement in the humane treatment of animals.
• Instituted a senior rehoming program that provides bloodwork and necessary dental work prior to adoption.
• Created the BMORE HUMANE Running Team, a group of volunteers that are Racing to Save Lives!
• Created a more active, trained, enthusiastic volunteer corp to provide direct animal care and more effective community outreach.
• Most importantly, we said ‘no more’ to unnecessary euthanasia. As of November 2008, Baltimore Humane Society implemented its adoption guarantee, meaning that all pet, even those with medical manageable conditions and seniors, will be placed in appropriate homes.
  Euthanize pets for space constraints No more...
  Euthanize pets for time constraints No more...
  Euthanize pets 6 years or older No more...
  Euthanize pets with medically treatable conditions No more...

We have made a lot of changes to Baltimore Humane Society to improve its capacity to save that which we all hold dear: life. Thanks go to our supporters and to our volunteers who have remained steadfast in their commitment and who see a brighter future for Baltimore Humane Society and the animals it serves.