BALTIMORE — After being in an induced coma following a three-alarm fire in Park Heights in October, a man was finally reunited with his best buddy.
Last week, Barak, a shelter resident, was reunited with his dad after nearly four months of emergency boarding at BARCS.
After a three-alarm fire back in October and what fire officials said they believed was a possible explosion, their home was destroyed.
RELATED: Baltimore Fire crews investigates a 3-alarm fire; BGE says no gas leaks were found
Barak was transferred to BARCS and his dad to shock trauma where he was put into an induced coma for life-threatening burns.
However, on his ambulance ride and at the hospital, BARCS says he kept telling the EMTs and doctors that he wanted his dog and that was begging that Barak be saved and returned to him.
Barak's dad expected time in the hospital was at least a month. Up until recently, BARCS said guaranteeing a month-long hold or longer—even for an emergency—wasn’t always easy or even possible.
However, the COVID pandemic brought a huge expansion to their foster program, opening ample space in their shelter to help more pet owners in crisis.
Even though Barak’s return date to his dad was unknown, BARCS stated they made the pledge to care for him for as long as needed.
Barak wasn’t a candidate for foster, but at the shelter, he had a daily plan of long walks, playgroup romps, in-kennel enrichment, training sessions, and cuddle time.
Barak's dad survived, but after he was released from the hospital, but had no home after it was destroyed in the explosion, and the first place he found wouldn’t allow for dogs.
BARCS stayed in contact with Barak’s dad frequently. They assured him that, no matter what, Barak would stay at BARCS until they could be reunited.
In the final days of January, Barak’s dad secured dog-friendly housing and was able to pick him up from the shelter.
BARCS said keeping this family together was worth the resources and worth the wait.
Last week, Barak, a very special shelter resident, was reunited with his dad after nearly four months of emergency...
Posted by BARCS Animal Shelter on Monday, February 8, 2021
