By Peyton Stinnett
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Photo from BHS website.
The Baltimore Humane Society is honoring its founder, Elsie Seeger Barton, during Women’s History month. The society wants to recognize what Barton has done for the community and the organization through social media and acknowledging Women’s History Month and the women that made BHS possible.
The organization has become one of the largest independent, non-profit organizations that protects animals and offers programs to prevent animal suffering in Maryland.
Many may not know that the Baltimore Humane Society was founded by a woman and other women who shared a common goal of saving animals.
“We honor her every day through the work that we do and the animals that we save,” said Kate Pika, marketing and PR director for BHS.
BHS has been serving the Baltimore area for almost 100 years to fight for animal welfare, though today it faces very different challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.
“We have been challenged at every juncture, and have continued to adjust our course as necessary to succeed,” Pika said.
Grants have increased for COVID-19 related funding, but donations have neither decreased or increased. Animal adoptions have also decreased from 1,173 in 2019 to 1,054 in 2020.
Programs that BHS offers have also changed drastically. Their spay/neuter program and wellness center appointments are only curbside drop-off and pick up for pets, their adoptions are by appointment only, and their food bank assistance is appointment only and contact free where you can drop off items at a shed on the property.
“We have evolved in order to continue to fulfill our mission and help the animals we care for and the clients we serve,” Pika said. “We never closed our doors. From the beginning of COVID, we have continued to offer rehoming, adoption, and pet food bank services.”
Many of these programs, and the humane society itself, is due to Elsie Seeger Barton’s mission to serve animals in 1927.
In 1927, Barton created the society and personally funded and operated the organization with the help of other women with the shared goal of helping animals. Barton lived on her property in Reisterstown where BHS is also located until 1983 when she passed.
Barton left her family estate and 365 acres to the society. Currently, the shelter and land are operated by the Elsie Seeger Barton Trust, which gives the society 11.5% from the Trust’s annual operating budget.
“BHS works very hard trying to raise funds for the care of the animals,” said Lisa Poland, director of development. “The percentage given by the Trust is determined by the Trust based on the needs of Building and Property Maintenance and Repairs and Spay/Neuter Operations, not Animal Care Operations.”
The organization relies heavily on donations from outside sources to keep a stable income and provide for the animals and the property. They have made it very accessible for giving donations.
Such as, becoming a monthly donor, purchasing items through their Chewy and Amazon wish lists, adopting a pet, and sharing their posts on social media to spread awareness.
“When the pandemic started, there were a lot of organizations that were struggling,” said Terry O’Brien, a monthly donor. “One of my Facebook friends actually shared a post about where you can donate locally, so I just started making monthly donations.”