The Maryland SPCA is one of the nation’s oldest animal welfare organizations, founded in 1869 by a group of Baltimore citizens who were concerned about the welfare of the City’s work horses. For years the SPCA provided water and emergency care and investigated complaints about horses that were used to pull wagons in daily commerce.

In the 20th century, as the use of horses in commerce declined, the SPCA began to aid the City’s homeless dogs. In the 1950s, we expanded our services to aid cats. The SPCA also discontinued our contract with Baltimore City Animal Control.

In the early 1970s, we built a new kennel facility on the property, providing additional space and better facilities for the dogs and cats. In the mid-1990s, the SPCA began interviewing prospective adopters to make the best possible match between animal and home. In 1997, we renovated our kennels and added office space for adoptions.

Today, The Maryland SPCA is one of the busiest adoption centers in the area, placing more than 3,000 pets a year into new homes.

The Maryland SPCA improves the lives of pets and people in the community by fostering healthy animal-human relationships. All SPCAs operate separately and independently and are not affiliated with The Maryland SPCA. We receive no government funds. We depend upon local donations to make a difference in the lives of animals. There is no national SPCA.