Love, Loyalty and Lots of Kisses: Smokie is looking for a workout partner and peanut butter filled kongs

Smokie is my buddy. When I go to BARCS to walk dogs, I always go to Smokie's kennel first because his big smile and vigorous tail wagging remind me of why I'm there and why I spend so much time trying to save the lives of homeless dogs. You absolutely cannot spend a few minutes with Smokie and walk away without a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. 

Smokie was found wandering the streets of Baltimore by himself and was taken to BARCS.  He is a very resilient little guy with a happy-go-lucky attitude that is contagious. He gets so excited when you enter his kennel because he knows it means that he is going for a walk. Even in the midst of his excited, tail wagging, kiss giving frenzy, he will sit to have his collar fitted when he is asked. In the excitement of trying to entice the dog in the next run to play, he will sit when asked and takes treats so gently. He is very friendly and eager to play with other dogs. 

My friend, Smokie, has no home or family and has an uncertain future in a crowded shelter, yet he keeps his chin up and continues to be a source of encouragement to me in my fight for abandoned animals. When I left Smokie after his walk yesterday, I brought him his favorite treat, a peanut butter and dried carrot filled kong, and he thanked with with his big, goofy smile and lots of tail wagging. I gave him a kiss on the top of his head and told him I would try to find him a family to love him forever. If you have thought about bringing more love and loyalty into your home and family, please consider adopting Smokie. He would love to be adopted by an active family who will make sure that he gets plenty of exercise, basic training and lots of snuggling time. 

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Smokie, not only would you be saving his life, but you would be saving the life of another dog who will get a chance at adoption by taking his spot at the shelter. If you cannot foster or adopt Smokie, but would like to help him find a loving family, please share his story via email or social media. 

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is located at 301 Stockholm Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. BARCS is open to the public Monday through Friday 2pm-6pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm.

See their website at http://baltimoreanimalshelter.org/. For more information about fostering or adopting from BARCS, please contact Melissa Trotman at melissa.trotman@gmail.com.