Tour at Baltimore Humane Society Reveals Improvements, Compassion (PHOTOS)

Patch took a tour of the Baltimore Humane Society's Reisterstown property Thursday afternoon to learn more about the ins and outs of the newly renovated and improved facility.

BHS spokeswoman Elizabeth Silber said the facility has been majorly revamped in the past year. Highlights include new cages and animal areas that are more open and sanitary.

The renovations were made possible largely by Andrew Levine, the BHS' intermin executive director and owner of 10 dogs. He forfeited his salary for a year, diverting about $100,000 to improving the facility.

The 365-acre propety, located on Nicodemus Road, has access to several trails, a pet cemetery (where a Ringling Bros. Circus elephant is buried), fenced in outdoor grass and turf areas for animals to use and a variety of other amenities that keep the BHS' furry friends comfortable until adoption. That comfort is important, since it's a no-kill facility, only putting a few animals down in extreme cases of injury or aggressiveness, Silber said.

A variety of developments are on the horizon, Silber said, and BHS has a number of events coming up, including the Dog Bowl at Mustang Alley's in Fells Point on Saturday, March 12, and the Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 23. On Saturday, Oct. 15, BHS will host "Dogfest," on its property for the first time. The event usually draws thousands, according to Silber.

Keep up with BHS news on Reisterstown Patch and Owings Mills Patch.