06/04/2026
FYI
PARVOVIRUS CLOSURE–JUNE 2026: At this time, BARCS is closed for all dog intake/admissions, adoptions, and foster placements until further notice.
Recently, BARCS took in a group of dogs from a Baltimore City Animal Control impound case that appeared healthy upon arrival. Nearly a week later, several dogs from that group began showing signs of Parvovirus and subsequently tested positive. Because Parvovirus has an incubation period of up to two weeks, dogs can appear healthy and may not test positive until they begin showing symptoms. Symptoms include: lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.
Because these dogs were housed within our shelter population before becoming symptomatic, our veterinary team is now working to determine the scope of potential exposure and implement appropriate disease control measures.
If you are currently in the process of adopting a dog from BARCS, a member of our team will be contacting you directly to discuss next steps. Please keep an eye on your phone and email for updates.
Thank you for your patience as we work through this situation and prioritize the health and safety of the dogs in our care. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
**BARCS is still open for cat adoptions and fostering.**
More information is available on our website: https://www.barcs.org/blog/parvovirus-closurejune-2026