My husband and I visited this shelter twice years ago. I adopted my best little buddy (meezer mix) from here and will forever be grateful. The animals looked well cared for and loved. *I'm very sad to discover that BARC Shelter ceased operations by early 2023 due to the death of the owner(s) :(. RIP VS. I wish someone could have taken over. This is a terrible loss. read more

This place is in a great location and has a nice space. However they never seem to have any dogs to adopt. They get tons of donations too- what are they doing with them? Also last time I was there there was a dog who bit people and really should not be up for adoption but should be at a special rescue. read more

I went here to go volunteer, and the man whom I guess owns the place? told me that the dogs are vicious and that I wouldnt want to be anywhere near them or the place. He was incredibly cold to me and another lady trying to volunteer. This place made me very uncomfortable, it didnt seem like the guy had the animals best interest at heart at all. very weird read more

This place is a joke. I work in a specialized housing facility and one of the tenants had a 14 year old beagle who he couldn't care for. Being an animal lover, I couldn't let them take the dog to a shelter so I got to work trying to find a rescue to take him in. When I called BARC, I spoke to a man who, after finding out the dog's age, said "FOURTEEN?! No way we can take him. No one will adopt him at 14 and he'll die here." I hung up the phone in complete shock. And here I thought animal rescues were there to RESCUE ANIMALS, silly me. Thankfully I found a great rescue (Friends with Four Paws) who quickly worked with me to find a foster and took the dog in same day. I am now kept up to date with the dog and shown how happy he is in his new home. Thank God for animal shelters that actually care about animals and their well being, which is not something I can say about BARC. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE BARC! Almost every Saturday I ride my bike out to Williamsburg so I can walk their dogs. For someone like me (already have 2 cats, work late, and live in a no-poochies apt) it's a perfect way for me to get my dog fix and feel good too. The dogs are happy to get out for a walk and I'm happy to have a dog for an hour or 2. Only thing that sucks is giving the dogs back. It can also get kind of busy during dog walking hours on the weekend (Sat & Sun 9am-Noon) so be prepared to wait a little bit, but it's super worth it. And when you are done walking dogs don't forget pop upstairs to the cat room to give all the kitties some love and a good brushing. Kitties need love too! read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - It's Ronald!! Someone please adopt this sweet boy! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

**Third Thursday of every month no public dog walking, 'as per usual' on the sign on the door, yet they don't post details of that on their site or social.** We walk dogs weekly, and of course Saturdays they're in highest demand. Download the ResQWalk app to help out a bit more. **Also, At these times, we are not able to host individual volunteers. -- NY Cares Team dogwalking: Sunday and Monday mornings (10:30-1:00 pm) and Wednesday and Friday evenings (6:00-7:30 pm). read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Earlier this year, I volunteered here with New Year Cares. BARC is a no kill shelter hence it made my experience with them delightful. I knew the cats whom I socialized with weren't going to be euthanized, if they weren't adopted. The workers are passionate about the cause. It's nice to know there are places for stray cats and dogs. If I didn't live with people who are allergic to cats, I would had adopted one or two. Today is Thanksgiving and I want to take this opportunity to reach out to y'all. Reflect and give back to your community, rather it's your time or a small donation. Btw, they accept paper towels and used blankets. read more

I started volunteering at Barc Shelter with New York cares about 7 years ago. Since I live in the area, I continued to volunteer on my own. I've never stopped going. Barc is a wonderful shelter with people that truly love and care for the animals. It's the only no-kill shelter in the area. The facility is very clean, and such a nice and quiet environment for them. All the animals are so well taken care of. The staff always greets you with a smile on their faces and are always there to answer any questions you have. I adopted a dog from Barc and he has become such a big part of my family. I often bring him back to visit, and he is always greeted with hugs and kisses from the everyone that works there. He's even made some friends with some of the resident fur babies that live there! I would recommend anyone that has spare time and is an animal lover to go and walk a dog or socialize with some cats. The animals really do love and appreciate the visit and attention. I commend the owners and staff of BARC shelter, for having the heart to do what they do for these animals! Great place! read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - Barc Shelter 15 year old Yorkie, Woody. Such a charmer! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We adopted a great dog from BARC about a year ago. They told us that he was a problem dog right away, were very upfront with how to handle him and what to do, and were always there for support for supplies and vet visits. They love it whenever we bring him back for visits and checkups and have been really great with supporting us. Now more than a year later, Prince (who we renamed Grover) is the best dog I've ever had. He can sometimes get aggressive on walks but has learned to be comfortable around other dogs, strangers, and is a real sweetheart. While it did require some work, we are so happy to have given him that chance. We love him so much and are so grateful to BARC for taking him in, getting him to the point where he could be adopted, and giving us such a wonderful new family member. read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - Prince (Grover!) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A wonderful place where you can go and pretend to be a dog owner. Since I live in an apartment that fits only myself and my clothing, a puppy would not be very happy, even as much as I would love them..... But this place helps me cope! You can come on Saturdays at 9:30ish am (or during the week)! sign-in... And then take a dog for a walk!! All of the dogs I've walked have been very sweet, Williamsburg is a great area to walk around! Also, the front desk guy is really nice!! He brings the dog out to you, and you're ready to go! FYI walking hours for dogs is 9:30-12:30 (I think!) read more

Note of warning - since Jan 2015, the average rating for this place is 2 stars. Following my earlier review about their lack of communication and professionalism (see below), I received a message from Adam F at Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition. His message, like all my interactions with this shelter, was rude and unprofessional. In particular, it touched on one point that I made in my review, household salary, and he didn't understand how it was a factor in my review. So let me clarify for Adam F. -- The adoption application for Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition is four pages and includes very personal questions about your employment status, including household yearly income, name of your employer, and your current position. Like many other adoption agencies in Brooklyn and Manhattan, they want this information, so they can use it to vet people who are interested in adopting...income is absolutely a factor, which can make you a more/less attractive candidate. read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - A screenshot of the detailed application and contract that you must complete to adopt an animal from BARC (including your income). - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came to BARC today to look at cats... rang the bell 3 times before someone whipped the door open, angrily said "DO YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT" to which my husband and I told him we didn't realize we needed one? He half-closed the door to show the taped-on sign I attached here and said "we put this up LAST WEEK" which is cool except the sentiment is nowhere to be found on their website. He then slammed the door in our faces. F this place. If they had any interest in adopting their animals they wouldn't be so rude to potential adopters. read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - "New rules" - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My fiance and I adopted a beautiful orange tabby cat named Ricky from the shelter last November. I have always been a dog person, so it was a stretch to get a cat but Ricky is an absolute love. The staff at the shelter were incredibly nice and helpful. When asked if he was a nice cat, one of the ladies in the cat loft told us he was extremely gentle and calming to the other cats and that he liked to be held on your shoulder. She was completely right...he's an all around great cat who would not hurt a fly, including my parents golden retrievers who he see's every now and then. Could not have been happier with the little fur-ball who greets me at the door when I come home :) read more

While I tremendously respect what BARC is doing (a no-kill shelter that rescues animals and cares for them for the duration of their life in case they are not adopted), attempting to adopt an animal from the shelter has been an extremely frustrating and futile experience. Even though my application for adoption was approved very quickly (they've called my references the same day), it appeared that the cats adoptions were not taking place because of a quarantine. Turns out, I was not even supposed to be taken to the cat den in the first place. But oh well. Then came the wait - you can take your cat home tomorrow. No sorry, not today, but we'll give you a call. Come in next weekend, since the quarantine is over. We show up with a pet carrier: no, the quarantine is not over. Or is it? Nobody knows anything. The only answer to any questions we had was: "Would you like to wait for the owner?" - Why didn't anybody call us to let us know that we should wait, instead of coming in? - I don't know anything, do you want to wait for the owner? - When will be able to pick our cat up? - I don't know, do you want to wait for the owner and ask him? We left and ended up adopting from a different rescue group. Needless to say, nobody ever called us to tell us that the quarantine was over. For all I can guess, they still don't know if it is. read more

First of all, I love this place and their mission. I have adopted a cat here, volunteered over the years, and also taken my dog to their vet and been happy with every aspect. Plus they have great events like the annual parade. Three cheers for Barc and the hard work they do. One small nitpick - of course, there's gotta be something - is that occasionally the staff (or volunteers? hard to tell who's who) can be downright mean. 95% of the time they are friendly, professional, and helpful. But the other 5%, they can be seriously demoralizing. Everyone comes to Barc with good intentions in their hearts - to give a home or to just spend some time with the animals. As a very experienced pet owner, I know how clueless, and even unwittingly cruel, the general public can be in their treatment of animals. I know it gets old to explain basic stuff over and over all day. But being met with a condescending and snotty attitude just makes people go away disappointed and with a bad feeling about such a great place. I have also heard a few horror stories from friends about the way the staff has talked to them, over the years - the place has a reputation for snarly staff - though in my experience, most of the time the staff is great. Unfortunately it only takes one bad exchange to scare people away and to damage the great goodwill everyone has for Barc. So this is a plea - please, Barc staff, be patient and friendly with us, and try to remember that we want the best for the animals too. You never know who you might be pissing off - it might be the person ready to write a big donation check or to help out in the future. We totally respect you and the work you do. We're not the enemy, in fact, we are your biggest fans, and we don't deserve to be snapped at...it's just a few of you who act this way, and I suspect you might know who you are... read more

A few years ago I met PJ. I found him on the street near my job and we became attached to each other and I just had to take him in. After lots of Vet checkups and shots he came to live with me and my cat Dd. He was an absolute joy, the best loving and warm cat ever. One day he became suddenly and violently ill and died while we were waiting for his lab results, on freaking Christmas. I was totally beside my self. I called BARC to have him cremated and they were nothing short of wonderful. They were so kind and I'll never forget that! These are people who really and truly care about animals. read more

I love dogs! I go crazy for dogs! I talk to all the dogs I pass on the street. I always dog-sit my friends dogs. Unfortunately, I am not in the position to be a responsible dog owner right now. But I can get my doggy needs met at BARC. They are so nice to let me walk their dogs. It's such a wonderful thing they are doing and I feel great being able to help out. And I've been able to find some real peace of mind on some of my walks with the dogs. I've walked old dogs and young dogs, big and little and they have all made me so happy. If you are a pet owner they have a little shop in the front. I shop for Bert, the cat, there all the time. read more

Great no kill shelter! All the animals seem well taken care of. You can even volunteer to walk a dog or hang around the cat loft. We got to walk Onyx, a lab mix puppy, who was sooo cute and energetic. Great place to visit and help out at if you want but cannot have a cat or dog. read more

I really love the BARC Shelter. I began volunteering in their cat loft last fall, and I have a great time every time. The "application" process to volunteer is super easy - you just show up at the BQE Pet Supply store next to the shelter, fill out a form, sign in as a volunteer, and to the loft you go. You can also sign up to be a dog walker, which I plan to do once the weather warms up. The shelter is no-kill and everyone I've come across from staff to volunteers have been true animal lovers. The cats seem to get great care and there is always a high turnover due to adoptions, though some of the cats with health issues tend to stick around longer. If you are looking to volunteer for a great animal organization, definitely check out BARC. If you want to adopt a cat, dog, or rabbit, get thee to BARC to give a poor animal a good home. read more

Where can you find heroes and possibly your best friend in one place? BARC of course! The heroes are the staff who patiently, lovingly, take care of the animals in this no kill shelter. They are also very friendly, and are honest about the challenges of any pet you might want to adopt; they truly love the animals here and want them to go to the right owner. And let's not forget the helpful volunteers who come to assist the staff, whether it is in cage cleaning for the cats, socialization or dog walking. BARC is clean, with a good energy to the place because the staff and volunteers truly want the best environment for those in their care. And your best friend? Well, there is a chicken though I think she's gotten used to ruling the roost and running free with some of the smaller dogs and two cats. The cats here are all beautiful, running the gamut from shy to super affectionate. Most of the dogs here are on the larger side, so if you are active, patient, firm and can take charge and want to adopt, consider one of the larger, older dogs. I know a large pit can frighten people, but if you look at my photo of me and Zeus(pit mix), you will see for yourself what a lovable guy he is. Then there is Diamond, on older, smaller black pit who is so gentle and perfect for someone who prefers a slower pace. Leroy, a large pit/lab mix who I call Big Red, will hopefully get his forever home in July but he is still up to being walked by a strong soul. There are many others, felines and canines, looking for the right person to go home with.The BARC staff know each animal well and will inform you of any issues, if any. I met Jason, who works with the dogs, and Colin, who works with the cats and smaller dogs. Just be truly honest with your needs, your lifestyle, if you are adopting. I have volunteered here twice already, and to know that an animal has been given up because it didn't fit its owner's lifestyle is heart wrenching and devastating for the animal. And if you can't adopt, consider volunteering your time or donating supplies. BARC posts it's volunteer hours on the door. You might find someone new about yourself when you socialize a cat; that purring sound can be more precious than gold. To keep a facility like this clean, they always need cleaning supplies etc. When I last went this week, they were looking for a treadmill to exercise some of the more active dogs. You won't be disappointed if you visit BARC. Seeing the chicken roam around in search for dropped cat food pellets is hilarious in itself. And who knows, maybe you will leave with your new best friend. read more

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There's no reason to give Barc Shelter anything less than 5 stars. Almost two years ago now, my boyfriend and I moved in together and he decided to get his own cat to become my cat's friend. He adopted Emilio, who would later become my cat's best bud and perhaps even more importantly, the internet meme "business cat". (http://yobusinesscat.com/) I've also walked dogs and socialized cats here on a few occasions and it's great to have such a nice shelter like this in the neighborhood. It warms my heart to see local businesses donate to Barc and I hope that trend continues. read more

The BARC shelter is great for both animals and people who love animals. I fall into the category of people who live in Manhattan but can't own a dog due to work schedule and lifestyle, and I know that there are many others in this group. During the summer, we go to BARC frequently to walk the dogs. Not only is it good for the dogs, but I really enjoy getting spending time with them. It doesn't take long to get there (only about 25-30 minutes from Midtown), and it is also a good way to experience Williamsburg and Brooklyn in general. The dogs in general seem well cared for and the staff are very caring and conscientious. I would encourage anyone who is a dog lover to volunteer at BARC, and I would urge anyone who is looking to get a dog to consider adopting one from there. Quick tip: if you are going to go volunteer, go to the BARC website and there is a volunteer form that you can print and fill out. read more

My friend and I went to this animal shelter because we heard wonderful things about it's cat sanctuary. We first rang the bell and a man answered the door. We told him it was our first time here and we wanted to check out the cats first. He told us to sign in, and slightly mentioned something about the cats being upstairs. He then went into the other room and we were alone. We signed in and went upstairs. The cat sanctuary was so absolutely amazing and the woman working it was even better. She was so knowledgeable and was with us every step of the way while we met the cats. Now, when we went back downstairs to check out the pups, the man working downstairs was on the phone and computer so I knocked on the door and asked quietly if the dogs were through the downstairs door. He turned around, still on the phone, and told us to wait in the other room. We waited in the main room by ourselves for five minutes before he came back out and took us into the dog room. As we walked up and down, he just started washing did bowls and didn't talk to us one bit. I asked if we were able to pet one of the pups we were interested in and he said "yeah, through the cage, but you can't take them out". Although this man was rude and super unhelpful, I feel worse for the dogs living in there that weren't able to be let out that day. I didn't give it one star because of how awesome the woman in the cat room was. She saved the day. read more

The best shelter in Brooklyn, if not all the boroughs. They really care for the animals, and their volunteers are super helpful. After going to various pet fairs in Prospect Park and Union Square and seeing the shelter cats they've temporarily put up in Petco and other petstores, I was totally demoralized about getting a shelter kitty of my own. Many of the cats looked completely malnourished and were ill-tempered, probably as result of being scared about being moved around from foster home/shelter to temporary locations. This isn't to blame the volunteers that no doubt try to help the cats as best they can, only to say that it was very difficult trying to find a compatible cat in such a tense environment. Having the kitties (and dogs) permanently housed in BARC is such a plus not only for would-be adopters but more importantly, for the animals. The small bit of stability and the socialization provided in the shelter really does help the animals get comfortable, and lets you see better the personalities of the various animals there. The cat rooms are great! It's nice to see them being able to move around freely and not trapped in tiny crates all day. Point being, this place is fantastic. I adopted my cat Inez (formerly called "Eye-Eye" by BARC) in '05 and she's been such a sweet addition to the family. Thanks, BARC! read more

My wife and I got our dog here. They were really nice and helpful. They have a big selection of dogs in two areas, one for large dogs and one for small dogs (they also have cats). We were going around the city looking at shelters and ended up here. They let us walk through and take a look at the dogs. BEWARE!! The smell is overwhelming. We almost did an about face and leave. But luckily we stuck it out. They let us pick out who we wanted to take aside and gave us a leash. We got to go for a nice walk with her around the neighborhood. The interview was lite. At some shelters they really gave you the 3rd degree, almost dissuading you from adopting the dog. But BARC was great. read more

I adopted my Best Friend 4 years ago. This place is super clean & organized . I got the opportunity to spend time with prospect dogs before I chose . I highly recommend read more

Please volunteer and adopt! This shelter is full of caring people that do so much for the animals they have rescued. I volunteered two weeks ago at the Cat Loft and ended up adopting a beautiful little girl bangle cat. She is still adjusting to living with my 14 year old male cat, but it's working :) She had been living in a cage for a year so her legs were too weak for her to jump into the windowsill. Three days later and she was jumping all over the place! It's been amazing to see her get her strength back and enjoying the freedom of a big apartment. If everyone would take just one cat or dog it would help so much! read more

I had the pleasure of stopping by BARC with my husband yesterday on our hunt for a new cat. We were driving all around Brooklyn hopping from shelter to shelter looking for just the right guy. The previous no-kill shelters we had visited were crowded, full of an insane amount of animals packed into tiny spaces, and all-around hectic. BARC was just the opposite. We were greeted with nothing but smiling faces and kind, knowledgable people. Each of the volunteers we spoke to knew the backstory and name of each of the cats (and dogs!). They even recommended a few cats to us based on our criteria (male, age 1-4, loving, etc). The "Loft" they house the cats in is very spacious. Some of the best-behaved cats are left to roam the loft with a few small dogs. There was even a rooster walking around! The other cats are all in massive cages and were all happy and looked very well cared for. The cages were all very clean and had a few toys for each cat. BARC allowed us to open any cage and play/interact with each cat. The attitudes of the cats really reflected BARC's space. Most of them were relaxed, sweet cats! We had a tough time choosing, but we finally chose a lovely little guy and filled out the paper work! BARC let us take him home right then and there. Highly recommend BARC over any other animal shelter in Brooklyn! We'll be back to volunteer. read more

I adopted two cats from BARC, and volunteer as often as I can. A small but wonderful staff works so hard caring for the animals: providing veterinary care; trying to find homes for them; running the store and fundraising (no tax dollars at work here, only private contributions); deciding which animals to take in; maintaining the web sites; welcoming volunteers, corporate teams and the public; answering non-stop phone calls; being such a positive presence in the community ... I don't know how the owners and staff keep it all together, but they do! This is truly a remarkable place. Come see the new street sign, the shelter is now on BARC Avenue! read more

I had a weird experience here. I was a first time volunteer and showed up around 9:30 am on a Friday. I buzzed the front door and a man came down asking if I had volunteered before. After answering that I hadn't, he told me that I needed to fill out a form, but that he didn't have any. I was sent away dog-less :o( I guess they assume that you will print it out from home and bring it with you. However, as I was leaving, a woman who had apparently volunteered before walked right in with no problems. So maybe it's just a hassle if you are a first timer. read more

My daughter and I volunteered here for the first time on Friday. The girl working in the cattery was very sweet. The pet store connected to this place is great. The cats and other animals living upstairs all seemed very healthy and happy. Please come and adopt one of the older cats. Most of them were so sweet I wish I could have taken one myself. We will definitely volunteer again. read more

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Great shelter with great animals! If you can't adopt make sure you support BARC and volunteer! It'll be an awesome experience. read more

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition - Adopt Matthew!! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I had the opportunity to pop in here on the day after Christmas to walk some dogs for NYCares. They asked me to sign a form, with a bunch of basics, and handed me 2 poop bags. The people are very kind, and trusting - bringing out dogs one after the other! They were so great with the dogs, using their most brightest and friendliest voices when addressing them. They do tend to have bigger breeds, but it's manageable :) Held off on 5 stars because I didn't get to see the entire place, and it was very much under construction at the time. read more

I haven't adopted from BARC but I know these people really care for the animals, and love their jobs. This place is just great, they do amazing work and really make sure the animals go to deserving homes. They put on good events to help raise money to keep this shelter going. What's not to like? read more

I adopted a smart beautiful dog the other day and I don't regret him at all hence the 3 stars. However, this organization is very dangerous and before you adopt be cautious. The dog I adopted had Giardia! They did notify us of that but what they didn't do is tell us the dangers of the parasite. Giardia is an extremely contagious PARASITE that effects Humans and other animals. They did not tell us we would be in danger NOR our other dog. They made it seem like our adopted dog was fine and had nothing to worry about. THEY WERE WRONG. I believe they could've done a better job at keeping us safe by keeping my dog until he was completely safe to go home. My other dog prince has giardia and my family members have it. I believe this place is doing great work but they​ need to focus on the welfare of​ the animals and the people and not so much in rushing animals into homes read more

I volunteered in the Cat Loft for a year and it was a wonderful experience. All the volunteers are amazing. Sarah is especially amazing as she does reiki and completely turns feral cats into calm, relaxed cats that can be adopted, it is unbelievable the change in these animals. The staff is truly caring to all animals. Vinnie is a hero and has saved the lives of many animals. Rop has a huge heart as well. I volunteered when all the cats had muppet names. Dr. Teeth was a sweetheart. We would clap when a cat would get adopted. I applaud the good work they do here to care for and find animals their furever homes. Please donate as there are many costs that go into the care they give here. There is a lot of love here, thank you. read more

While there are a lot of success stories with BARC, I had such a bad experience with them that I wish I had steered clear of them. I am an animal rescuer myself, and I love animals more than most people. I used to volunteer at BARC years ago, in the cat loft, until Jason (the lovely old lady who worked there) died, and I stopped going by. Recently I saw they had rescued a little Persian girl from the ACC (who had found her on the street). My family raised Persians, and I have an elderly Persian male myself, who needed a companion. So I went in to visit, and eventually after a rigorous vetting process, adopted the girl. The problem was, the shelter did not inform me of her behavioral problems. When I got her home, she was nearly feral. She was anorexic, and vomited constantly the first two weeks. She would full on attack anyone who got near her. I worked with her for a couple of weeks, until she warmed up to me. However in addition to her severe anxiety (obviously she had been traumatized by someone in the past) she was very territorial, and never stopped stalking and viciously attacking my other cat. BARC had told me she was declawed- quite the opposite. My catsitter who watched her one weekend was attacked so badly that he said he never wanted to watch her again. She both bit and scratched. I wrote to BARC and called several times, to ask for advice. They did not bother to even reply let alone give advice. They seemed utterly uninterested in the fate of this cat. So I decided to give her some time. I kept her for 2 months, in which I fell in love with her. She became my scrappy little baby- although she still had severe issues that weren't getting better. When I realized how miserable my other cat was, I decided to see what the other options might be, thinking that I could take some time and vet people who might be interested in her, and possibly find her a home with a responsible, patient parent and no other cats. I posted an ad on Craigslist, and one on a Persian Rescue site. It did not occur to me that BARC might take her back- their answering machine stated that they were not accepting pets. I was not sure I was ready to give her up anyway. I forwarded BARC my ad though, and asked if they had any suggestions, despite having done so many times before with no response. Last Thursday I was on a conference call for my job, and the other line rang incessantly, so I put my call on hold and answered the phone to Vinny at the shelter, who started yelling at me right off the bat. I told him I was on a call for work and would need to call him back asap. He and Tony from the shelter kept calling anyway, and left me nasty messages saying they didn't know what kind of game I was playing, and accusing me of dodging their calls. WTF? I called them back after I was done with work. They screamed at me about how bad an owner I was, and said that they were going to send the police to take the cat away from me, and sue me for breach of contract(!). Apparently the contract you sign when you adopt from BARC actually gives you zero rights to make a decision about the animal you adopt, and it states that they can take it away from you whenever they please. I had (stupidly) overlooked that, and the part that says you are not allowed to look for another home for the animal. In response I took down my internet posts, and resolved to keep the kitty and keep working with her, rather than send her back to live in a cage at the shelter, which would be a very stressful place for this already very stressed cat. I was trying to do what was best for all involved. Turns out I had no choice! Vinny and Tony did not bother to have a conversation with me, or to work with me at all. They did not seem to care to hear about the issues with the cat or the things I had done to help her. They seemingly assumed I was an animal abuser, or neglectful, or that I would just dump her off onto anyone else. They forced me with threats to take the kitty, who at that point had become part of my family, back to a cage at BARC. I sent an email with details of her issues for the new owner. They did not respond. They seemed to care only about their assumptions and their own ability to wield power over me and snatch my pet away. They refused to discuss any alternatives whatsoever. I wasn't refunded my adoption fee, and I have no idea what will happen to this kitty that I put so much care and loving into. Needless to say, I am very traumatized by this experience, and so was the kitty. BARC was totally out of line. I have since heard of others who have had the same experience, and who got lawyers to protect themselves from BARC's threats. They were unprofessional and uncommunicative with me, and I would never wish my experience with them on anyone. My opinion is the 2 directors' success is due to their trendy location and their public image rather than a sense of charity for the animals. read more

I called on the shelter reguarding information and Vincent picked up the phone. He told me to do my own research, and after telling him that I did and needed his input, he said that I was being rude. This Vincent's attitude was disrespectful and uncalled for. I will never recommend this place. read more

My girlfriend and I were looking for an animal shelter to find and adopt a kitten for our home. We had heard of this animal shelter via google and decided to check it out. Upon arriving, we saw the shelter had closed but the door was open. We walked in to ask for help when an older woman with blond short curley hair came inside and rudely yelled "can't you read the sign? Get out! Just get out." We had heard good things about this shelter in the past, but this ruined their reputation for us. If you do plan on going, avoid this woman at all costs. read more

After losing 2 shelter dogs my husband and I had for 14 years within a week of each other-- both of them about a year old when we adopted them and both handicapped and the loves of our lives-- after 6 months of mourning I woke up and felt, "This is the day. I'm going to find our new dog". I believe dogs pick you, not the other way around. I found out about BARC and my husband and I took off, We go to BARC. I didn't even look at the other dogs because we immediately were drawn to a Chihuahua.. A worker there said he knew we'd be perfect parents for him . We were immediately taken. Then, the "boss" lady said we couldn't have him because in a month and a half he was due to be put in a dog mobile!! We fought for that dog. Like there's not another dog out there to take his place???????????????? We also received paperwork that stated he was "reported neutered".. Hours later, we finally took our baby home. He's been with us for 7 months and we love the crap out of the spoiled nutjob. HOWEVER... BARC told us he was "reported neutered". Well, when we got home he was humping everything in sight .I palpated him and discovered he was not fixed. He had undescended testicles and they basically called me a liar. We took him to our vet who confirmed my diagnosis. BARC was rude and unprofessional. They wanted their vet to check him out. He failed the first time. No more BARC. I noticed that he had balls and their vet didn't?????. It's a long trip from where we are to them and we just don't trust them. We paid $1,000 to have him fixed by our vet. We don't have that kind of money to throw around but it proves how little we trust BARC. read more