Houston BARC Foundation

06/03/2026

A big shout-out to Officer Harding! 💜🐾👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Congratulations to Animal Enforcement Officer Shane Harding, recipient of this month’s FUR Award. 🎉

Officer Harding was nominated by multiple colleagues who recognized his professionalism, reliability, positive attitude, and compassionate approach to both animal welfare and community interactions. Whether he's assisting fellow team members, helping residents, or responding to animals in need, Officer Harding consistently leads with patience, respect, and a commitment to service.

Our Animal Enforcement Officers play an important role in protecting both people and pets throughout Houston, and we’re proud to recognize Officer Harding for the positive impact he makes every day.

Thank you, Officer Harding, for your dedication to Houston’s animals, residents, and BARC’s mission. 💜

06/02/2026

The Houston BARC Foundation was honored to receive proceeds from the recent PAWS for the CAUSE Design event at the beautiful Alair Homes Design Space. Houston-area designers gathered to raise funds totaling $14,000 to support homeless animals at BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions. Cocktails, lite bites and a bevy of precious pups rounded out the evening. 💜🐾

05/28/2026

From school grounds to her forever home — meet Cleo Essie Rivera! 🐾

Cleo came to BARC as a stray found roaming school grounds. Animal control brought her in, she went into foster care, and found her forever family at one of BARC’s adoption events at POST Houston.

Her new family says it best:
“Essie, now Cleo Essie Rivera, is doing absolutely amazing. She’s crate trained, potty trained, wonderful with other dogs and kids, and has settled into our home beautifully. We are completely in love with her. Shelter pets are the best!”

A huge thank you to foster mom Isabel, whose love, patience, and training made all the difference in preparing Cleo for her forever home.

And to our incredible donors and supporters — success stories like Cleo’s are only possible because of YOU. Your generosity funds the programs, events, and care that give animals like Cleo a second chance at life. Thank you for being part of this!

05/28/2026

Check this out for next Sunday... Fixin' Houston!

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Event at BARC! Help your pet stay healthy and prevent unwanted litters. 🐶🐱
Thanks to support from of BARC, we are offering low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for only $50 for City of Houston residents! This event is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2026 and is by appointment only. Very limited spots are still available—don’t wait to sign up.
📍 Location: BARC Animal Shelter
📅 Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
What’s included for $50:
✔️ Spay or neuter surgery
✔️ Rabies vaccine
✔️ Microchip
Restrictions 🚫:
• For City of Houston residents only
• No Puppies under 4 months old
• No Kittens under 2 pounds
• No Pets over 8 years old
• No Dobermans
• No Flat-faced dogs (like Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers)
• No Flat-faced cats (like Persians and British Shorthairs)
👉 Important: If you have more than one pet, you must book a separate appointment for each one.
💻 Request an appointment here: www.bit.ly/FixinHouston
📱 Or scan/screenshot the QR code on the flyer
A huge thank you to Friends of BARC for helping make this event possible! Together, we can keep Houston’s pets healthy and safe.

05/27/2026

Are you ready? June 1st and the start of our hurricane season is right around the corner... Make a plan and be prepared! 💜🐾

05/23/2026

We hope you and your furry friends have a fun, relaxing and safe Memorial Day Weekend! Be careful out there and enjoy...💜🐾🇺🇸

05/21/2026

It’s going to be a banner weekend at BARC! 🇺🇸🎇 It’s FOSTER FEST! Come find your new furry friend. 💜🐾

🇺🇸🐾 Happening THIS weekend! 🐾🇺🇸

Foster Fest is BACK on Saturday, May 23rd with FREE pet adoptions for ALL available pets, including pets living in foster homes AND pets at the shelter! 🎉

Come meet adoptable foster pets out in person while also visiting all the amazing dogs and cats waiting at BARC. Whether you’re looking for a walking buddy, couch companion, playful kitten, or your new BBQ sidekick, there’s a BARC Buddy ready to head home with you this Memorial Day weekend. ❤️🤍💙

Friends of BARC will also be in-house firing up the grill and serving FREE hotdogs for visitors all afternoon 🌭🔥

📍3300 Carr St.
⏰ 12PM - 5PM
🐾 All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip, and more.

Come celebrate the holiday weekend by changing a pet’s life. 🇺🇸

05/20/2026

Happy National Rescue Pet Day! 💜🐾

05/17/2026

It takes all of us to advocate for BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions and contact our City Council representatives to do better in this area. For a city of Houston’s size, more funding is crucial to support our municipal shelter. Can you help now with a gift to support our animals? https://e.givesmart.com/events/oDH/
It takes all of us! 💜🐾

Did you know that historically, Houston has funded animal welfare activities at a lower per capita rate than other Texas cities? We think this is one reason we have an animal overpopulation problem in Houston. With increased funding, BARC could hire more animal control officers to enforce city ordinances, offer more free spay neuter services, and do more community outreach and education.

The 2027 budget process is currently underway; BARC's budget is under the Administrative and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) division. Learn more about the budget process and contact your council member and the mayor and ask them why Houston's funding for animals is lower than other cities. Attend public budget hearings and ask the same question.

Here are links to more info:
houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2025/03/17/516181/as-barc-speeds-up-euthanasia-process-houston-city-council-considers-new-organizational-structure/
https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/fy27workshops/FY-2027-Budget-Workshops-Schedule.pdf
https://www.houstontx.gov/budgetproposal/index.html

05/16/2026

HBF recently was selected as the beneficiary of a special event hosted by Alair Homes and it was fabulous! Guests enjoyed cuddling adorable adoptables and raising funds to help at BARC.