Shelter workers have incredibly difficult jobs. Day after day, these compassionate people have to see incomprehensible cruelty and neglect cases that most of us couldn’t possibly handle. Regardless, they do their best to make all the innocent animals in their care as comfortable as possible. For the shelter staff at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), that means slow dancing with the furry patients coming out of anesthesia!

After having surgery, waking up to a strange place with scary sounds and smells can be frightening for a dog. Waking up in the loving arms of a friend, well, we can all agree that is far better! The staff reports that there is always music playing in the surgery room so it’s no surprise the animals often get sung to or danced with. BARCS spokesperson Bailey Deacon told Today, “Singing, cradling and cuddling animals waking up from anesthesia is a soothing way to comfort them. It helps them feel safe and it helps them stay calm.”

BARCS is a nonprofit shelter in Baltimore, Maryland that rescues and cares for all animals in need and promotes responsible pet ownership. They are dedicated to making each animal’s stay as enjoyable as they can with activities such as playgroups, a hiking program, enrichment volunteers, and more.

To learn more, volunteer, foster, adopt, or Donate to BARCS, click here.