Finding Knox

Knox and his mom had a very special visit today with their friend and favorite author, Natalie Keegan!

A Dog’s Fight is a gripping tale based on actual events, that is ultimately the story of the loving bond between a boy and his dog, Knox.

Get your copy of the book directly from the Kids-4-K9s, Incorporated website and support her incredibly important work with youth in Baltimore!

www.kids4k9s.org/store/product/p_3169861

Start this year by celebrating the love around you. Unsure how? Just ask the dog!

💜 Happy 2022! 🎆

“Dogs teach us unconditional love and how to live in the moment. That’s why I’m able to enjoy my time with every person I meet.” - Knox’s mom

❤️❤️❤️

When Kaitlyn Thomas started her new job at BARCS as Community Pet Program Coordinator on April 23, “I felt like I had come home,” she says, “The BARCS community and this new position are a perfect fit for me.”

“I am passionate about social justice,” Kaitlyn explains. Her job at BARCS allows her to combine this love of working to make communities better with her love of cats and dogs.

Kaitlyn began her work with animals seven years ago in animal welfare, and she founded a nonprofit, Finding Knox, after her beloved dog was stolen but returned to her through a huge community effort. That effort made her realize the power of community. “I met Annie Pruitt, the founder of Charm City Companions, and I began to immerse myself in the community.”

Kaitlyn lives in the Park Circle/Park Heights neighborhood and has worked with its residents, but since starting at BARCS, her focus had been on Cherry Hill, the neighborhood BARCS calls home.

“We have a unique opportunity. This animal component has been a missing piece of the puzzle for too long. We are linking human services with animal support.

“This is so much more than pets,” she continues. “Something magical happens when you connect with someone and their cat or dog. So many more doors open.”

Kaitlyn says Cherry Hill is the perfect neighborhood to connect its residents to animal services.

“There is no question Cherry Hill is an underserved community,” she says. “There is not even one supermarket, and there is very little in the way of public transportation.”

But despite lacking services, the community is strong and works to help its residents.

“Cherry Hill is a great model for neighborhood activism,” she says. The schools have a “resource Wednesday,” and Kaitlyn attends every one at the elementary school that is just across the street from BARCS.

“My job is to be a connector,” she says. “I connect people to services.” She has discovered that by connecting one person, that person lets their neighbors know, and before you know it, she is able to connect a whole neighborhood.

“I have handed out more business cards than I can count,” she says, “but I know by reaching out to as many people as I can, those folks will let their friends and neighbors know about our services.”

A case in point of just that is when Kaitlyn organized a grooming clinic. The clinic was just supposed to last a couple of hours and she had appointments for five dogs. Needless to say, word got out and many more dogs than those five were groomed, and the clinic lasted until 5 pm.

Kaitlyn has found some of her greatest partners in helping the community have been the staff of Baltimore City Animal Control, who share a building with BARCS and work closely with staff.

“The staff at Animal Control are so supportive of this work,” she says. “They are out in Baltimore communities every day, and they work with me to help people with their pets.”

Recently, this partnership led to the completion of a project Kaitlyn hopes is the first of many more. A woman’s dogs kept escaping through her broken fence, and her neighbor complained to Animal Control. Rather than Animal Control impounding the dogs, Kaitlyn and a crew of volunteers fixed the fence. The woman’s dogs are now safe, not in danger of getting loose, and everyone is happy.

Along with helping with fencing, Kaitlyn is looking forward to recruiting volunteers to work with her on community outreach. “It is work that might not suit everyone,” she says. “Along with being an animal person, you’ve got to be a people person.” She hopes to hold a meet and greet with current and potential volunteers to let them know what is involved. For those interested, she will train and work with them.

And while she is a “data nerd” and a people person, Kaitlyn says she had learned the most about doing this job from—you guessed it— dogs.

“Dogs have taught me unconditional love and how to live in the moment,” she says. “I am able to enjoy my time with every person I meet.”

If you are interested in learning more about the program or volunteering, you can reach Kaitlyn at [email protected].

A special thank you to fellow foster and volunteer Carol Hyman for putting together this wonderful profile.

Hot dog! 😓

Stay indoors with your pets and keep cool this weekend!

Happy Birthday & Adoptiversary Knox!!! We would not be where we are today, and helped all of the people we’ve helped, without you ♥️♥️♥️

“Mom can I sleep next to you tonight?”

Every living being has a story. Be kind for no reason at all, and watch miracles arise. 💜

Make sure your pet’s microchip is registered and ID tags are on!

Happy 4th of July from Knox & Noa 💜

Are you passionate about pets, people, and social justice? Volunteers needed for pet-owner support and outreach efforts in Baltimore City.

Ready to share love and uplift our community through pet wellness? Contact us at [[email protected]] or message us for more information.

Happy girl Cashew on her way to Spay Day at BARCS Animal Shelter!

Big shout out to the Charm City Companions team for removing barriers to pet wellness and offering much needed transport for pet families in Baltimore city.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Show us your glamor shots!

Cheers to loving people and their pets in Charm City!

The inspiration for much of what we do comes from the Pets for Life national model of community-based pet owner support programs. Check out this adorable update on how PFL has been supporting people and pets during the pandemic.

Supporting people and pets during a pandemic Our Pets for Life program is transforming the lives of dogs and cats by honoring the love people have for their pets, closing the service gap that exists for...

Hope you find some golden eggs today! ♥️ Knox

Rain or shine we gotta take care of our community. Pet food day in Sowebo!

Happy Friday! We hope you and your fur babies have a wonderful weekend!

“I know there’s leftover pizza in the fridge. Didn’t anyone tell you that sharing is caring?!” - Knox

Spring is finally here and our team is so excited to be back out in the community sharing love and much needed resources. We spent Tuesday visiting clients and Wednesday we visited Viva House food pantry to give out pet food and information.

We love Charm City!

Shout out to Knox’s favorite Auntie for this extra-large surprise! We love you Auntie Katie!

You and your pup feeling a little stir-crazy these days? Check out these tips and tricks on surviving isolation with your best friend.

10 Tips & Tricks On Surviving Self-Isolation With Your Dog Here are 10 tips and tricks to surviving WFH during quarantine with your dog.

Updated list of available pet owner resources in Baltimore City including upcoming vaccine clinics, spay/neuter and veterinary care. Please share!

Charm City Pet Connect - Pet Support Veterinary Care and Vaccines

Employees and HR managers alike agree that having dogs in the workplace improves morale, reduces stress, improves work relationships for everyone in the office!

If your workplace isn't yet pet friendly, share this with your employer. Maybe they will change their mind!

Have you recently welcomed a new dog into your home? Check out this list of essentials for your new pup!

17 Essentials For New Pup Parents To Keep Your Dog Smiling You'll definitely need all of these!

Many people have been waiting months for affordable pet vaccines but the wait is over! Get to BARCS’ vaccine clinic on March 6!

Thank you to our partner Charm City Companions for getting the word out.

Many people have been waiting months for affordable pet vaccines but the wait is over! Get to BARCS’ vaccine clinic on March 6! Share!

Guess what day it is....

♥️ a sleepy shelter kitty

We hope your Valentine's Day is full of love. Give your furbabies extra smooches from us!

11 Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day With Your Dog Valentine's Day is an occasion for grand gestures and lots of treats! Celebrate every second with your dog, whether it's on the couch or at the park.