Orioles to support Barcs Animal Shelter with pet calendar sale and autograph signing

The Orioles today announced that the sixth annual Orioles Pet Calendar will go on sale August 12, with the proceeds to benefit the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), a non-profit shelter that accepts and cares for all animals in need. The 16-month calendar features photos of Orioles players with their personal pets and various BARCS animals at notable locations around the city of Baltimore, including the National Aquarium, Fort McHenry, the Hippodrome Theatre, the U.S.S. Constellation, and the American Visionary Art Museum. The 2015 calendar will be available for $15 at Oriole Park, the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria in York, PA, and at www.orioles.com/petcalendar. In an effort to help further support BARCS' efforts to find safe homes for dogs and cats in the area, Orioles players J.J. Hardy, Tommy Hunter, David Lough, Bud Norris, and Matt Wieters will appear at BARCS (301 Stockholm Street) for an autograph signing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on August 12. Fans must purchase a calendar at the event in order to receive an autograph, and fans attending the event may park for free in Lot D on the south side of M&T Bank Stadium. Sales of the 2014 calendar raised over $51,000 for BARCS, and over the last few years, the Orioles have helped raise over $150,000 for the organization. "We are so excited to be partnering with the Orioles again this year," said JENNIFER BRAUSE, Executive Director of BARCS. "The Orioles pet calendar has helped to care for thousands of homeless animals that we take in each year, and we are grateful for their support." Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, and his wife, Maria, were instrumental in the production of the 2015 Pet Calendar. "We were thrilled to help launch the 2015 calendar that highlights our beautiful city," said Maria Wieters. "The adoptable animals featured from BARCS only accentuate the scenery with their playful personalities, and we hope it will lead people to visit BARCS and adopt an animal that needs a home." The largest companion animal shelter in Maryland, BARCS takes in over 12,000 dogs and cats and 1,000 wildlife and other small mammals annually. On any given day, BARCS cares for 110 dogs and 110 cats in the shelter, plus more than 800 animals in foster care.