Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition

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.

We visited BARC to inquire about adopting a dog that had been posted on their FaceBook page two days prior. I emailed about the dog, and days later we received a response confirming the dog was still available.
It was the middle of the workday when I got the email, but we skipped out of work ASAP after receiving it. Less than four hours later and 2 subway transfers later — we show up to check out the dog.
It’s 330pm. The dog has already been adopted by someone else. So I asked why he didn’t let me know not to come in… fair question since he emailed me at 1130am earlier that day saying the dog was available.
The dude said sorry, but he didn’t seem at all apologetic.
It’s too bad because BARC came highly recommended, and we were totally keen to adopt from them. As a two person household without kids, a combined salary over 200K, and at least one of us (if not two) at home everyday, we would’ve been an ideal match for the young dog we wanted. I also wanted to volunteer with them, while I waited for them to get a dog that would be a good fit. Not the case anymore. Their lack of communication and professionalism means that I am taking my business and altruism elsewhere. 2 subway fares wasted and 2 hours out of my busy workday that all could’ve been avoided with the time it would’ve taken BARC to send a 5 word email – ‘the dog has been adopted.‘
After this wholly negative experience, I am about to give up on getting a rescue dog… from anywhere. A private, responsible breeder might be the way to go for us. Congratulations, BARC — you discouraged a potential rescue dog owner from going through the process all together. That should be your new mission statement.

I as an animal rescuer of over forty years called these characters in concern about bringing in a momma cat and her kittens living in a parking lot taking shelter under automobiles where in the owner of the vehicles might accidentally crush them. We offered to bring them to their shelter before something terrible happens. Guess what! They turned us down, saying that there was not enough room. Just a few days later I read in the news papers, that some local politician found a cat abandoned by the road. Now get this… after rejecting ‘our emergency”, situation B.A.R.C. cheerfully accepted «HIS RESCUE» after turning us down. I guess we would have to run for office, get elected, and then maybe, these characters would have taken in momma cat and her kittens. Other rescuers have had similar expierences with this group I was very very disappointed with their lack of empathy for us. What a shame !!

We adopted two kittens from BARC this week, and it was a great experience. The woman who helped us spent a lot of time giving us a tour of the animals, answered lots of questions, and gave us very detailed records for our vet. We also had a question the next day, and they answered us immediately.

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.

morning and evening walking hours
perfect for those who don’t have the time to fully commit
or have landlords who don’t permit dogs.
benefits the shelter dogs to get some
much needed exercise and attention.

I adopted my cat in 2000 and was a big BARC supporter for 13 years. Sorry to say this is no longer the case. I brought in a stray in Summer 2011 (wanted to keep him but my by then 14 year old kitty wasn’t having it) and paid for his care, treatment, etc at BARC. He was assigned the name Mark. I continued to pay for Mark’s bed and board, checking every few months to see if he’d found his forever home. When I called in late 2012 I was told there was no record of Mark or of his ever having been there. Repeated phone calls went unreturned, as did several emails. I finally got a response in December 2013. The person who responded, Vinny, couldn’t find the records, and didn’t welcome my questions, suggesting I was being rude and hostile. After much more prodding he finally announced that Mark had been adopted but wouldn’t say when or provide any reason why that information couldn’t have been provided earlier. At no point did I want to know who adopted him; all I ever wanted to know was what had happened to Mark. I know not every tale has a happy ending but there has to be some accountability for the welfare of the animals in BARC’s care. Vinny’s attitude that the animals at BARC are «property» is very disturbing, as is the hostile response to questions about the welfare of a cat I sponsored.
I am glad to read so many positive reviews of BARC, and mine was the same for a long time. I am hoping that Mark did find a happy home in the end but Vinny’s attitude makes me wonder. And, of course, it is disappointing to be no longer able to feel confident in supporting them as a responsible shelter.

Really friendly volunteers. Dogs aren’t cramped in a small cage. They are kept in their kennel which do have space for them to jump, stretch their legs, etc.
I haven’t adopted from them. yet, hence the only 4 star rating. If I do end up adopting in the future from them, the star rating will be adjusted.

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.

My fiancé 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 :)

Visited back when it was called BARC, but this no kill animal shelter is phenomenal. I’ve been a few times to walk dogs and help clean the shelter for corporate events and each time it was a great, gratifying experience. Walking the dogs is very rewarding and the location is great as they are near a park which allows for relaxing, stress free walks. Watch out for other aggressive dogs, but all the citizens here are very well behaved. Great place with very knowledgeable staff that can make picking out a new family member very easy.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

Quick advice: Call before you leave to head to BARC. Also, if you’re a new volunteer then do not go on Saturdays if you want to walk a dog. They’re not taking new volunteers! Make sure to call and ask for the name of the person you speak to as well so you can reference them in case you need to when seeing them in person. It’ll at least help them if they need to update that person on their new policies.

When I hear these awful stories about how many of these animals came to the shelter — like folks leaving their dog in a park, or in a dumpster, it really just makes me ill. People can be absolute monsters… and I can never understand how anyone could treat an innocent animal that way. Animals just want to love and be loved. A dog is man’s best friend and just wants to please you.
I have two Cavalier King Charles at home in Toronto, which leaves me dogless and hopelessly craving doggy love. I’ve read such great reviews on BARC and finally made my way over this past Saturday. I had a lovely experience. I walked a puppy named Dolly — she was a mix… frisky dog, full of life, happy and adorable. Like many others, my lifestyle is not dog-​friendly, so coming to BARC is a great way to get your dog fix and give a dog some much needed exercise and affection.
I plan on visiting BARC as often as I possibly can. It breaks my heart to see these dogs without a home and family — like us, dogs need consistency and a home. If you’re looking to adopt, please check out BARC — they have some amazing dogs here — especially some older ones and it would be a beautiful thing to give them a hopeful and loving life towards the end of their own lives. I wish I could take one home.
Big thumbs up for BARC. See ya soon.

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.

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!