Jennifer Brause

Executive Director

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Jennifer Brause loved working as a dolphin and seal trainer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but her heart was pulling her toward helping unwanted animals.

At that time, the city-run shelter took in 12,000 animals annually, but only 2 percent were left alive.

Brause helped create the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, which increased life-saving to 77 percent. She is now the executive director and faces heart-wrenching decisions every day.

“They are without a voice, so we need to speak for them and fight for them and save their lives,” Brause said.

The 40-year-old is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University and worked at the aquarium from 1997 to 2004. Since then, she has led the 54-employee shelter and served on a number of animal protection boards, including being the current vice president and a founding member of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Association and a founding member of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Commission.