The Behavior Department: Dealing with a Small Problem
Most shelters weren’t built with the needs of little dogs in mind, but there are steps that staff and volunteers can take that will make the environment much better for them. One shelter director created a special area just for the little guys—Smallville—that resulted in remarkable behavior improvements. More...

Field Trip: Washington Animal Rescue League
Learn about the Washington Animal Rescue League's newly renovated facility, beneficial partnerships with other animal welfare groups, bustling medical center, and more. More...

Green’s Gonna Getcha
Choosing an environmentally friendly route for your animal shelter can offer healthier, more natural, and more cost-effective means of operation, but with potential hurdles down the road, it’s wise to look both ways before going green. More...

Home Sweet Home
Two years after Katrina, Louisiana SPCA staff, full of dreams and uncertainty, open a new shelter. More...

Field Trip: Fox Valley Humane Association
A Wisconsin shelter's new facility shows the "ark" of progress. More...

These Boots are Made for Protectin'
When OSHA charged a New York shelter with violations, Executive Director Kathy Contino-Turner got a crash course in safety compliance. More...

Off Leash: Extreme Makeover
The volunteer room in a California shelter gets a makeover—and an appearance on local TV. More...

Field Trip: Winnipeg Humane Society
The Winnipeg Humane Society’s roots reach back to the launch of Winnipeg’s humane movement in the late 19th century—yes, the horse-and-buggy days. More...

Night-Drop Kennels for Animals: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Long a source of controversy in the field, night-drop kennels are loved by some shelters and despised by others. Here’s a look at the pros and cons. More...

A Not-So-Quiet Riot: Shelter Noise Levels and Canine Stress
A study examines the effects of kennel noise on canine stress levels. More...

The Right Stuff: Eight Essential Elements of a Healthy Facility
This article demystifies the critical elements of a healthy shelter by investigating ventilation systems, durable flooring, and everything in between. More...

ShelterSpeak: Coping with Outdated Facilities
Members of The HSUS’s National Companion Animals Advisory Group discuss the parts of their facilities that most need improvement. More...

Getting New Digs
Five shelter directors discuss their successes and mistakes during shelter renovation or building projects—creating five “virtual” shelter visits that can help you as you design and plan your own project. More...

Going Barking Mad?
Kennel noise is a stressor for animals and staff, but it can be reduced through good acoustic design. More...

Sweating the Small Stuff
At the Quincy Humane Society in Quincy, Illinois, the little things add up to big changes. More...

How to Set Up a Visiting Room
A friendly, welcoming visiting room can help man and critter find out if they're right for each other before rushing into a lifetime commitment; it's also a great chance to do some humane educating.  More...

Build A Safer Shelter
While many security concerns can be addressed through retrofitting, the construction of a new building provides a great opportunity to address security issues. More...

13 Steps to a More Secure Shelter
Keeping your staff, animals, supplies, and donations safe without making your shelter look like a federal prison. More...

Counting Your Community's Furry Blessings
Knowing how many animals are in your area can help your organization plan for the future.  More...

Putting Stock in Bonds
Bond referendum helps animal control agency raise funds for building renovations. More...

Oregon Shelter Makes a Big Change For Small Mammals
By converting one of its supply closets into a small-mammal adoption room, the Oregon Humane Society created a less stressful environment for smaller pets and attracted new potential adopters. More...

Shelter Design
An animal shelter is the physical nucleus of a community animal care and control program. Our comprehensive shelter design resources will help you plan and build a facility that meets the needs of both pets and people. More...

Shelter Evaluation Program
Through the HSUS's Shelter Evaluation program, we study and evaluate every aspect of your animal services agency. We then provide you with the tools to help streamline your operations and develop innovative, cost-effective programs that serve your community and protect its animals. More...

Shelter Pages 2009
Shelter Pages 2009 is full of valuable information. In addition to the product and service listings of more than 175 companies and organizations, we have included listings of major grant foundations, national animal-related organizations, state humane federations, animal-related websites, and more! More...

Shelter Floor Plan Samples
View sample floor plans that incorporate many essential elements in animal shelter design. More...

The HSUS Statement on Basic Management of Animal Housing Areas
One of the basic goals of animal management should be to reduce stress and disease transmission. This statement provides basic guidelines you can use when designing and managing animal housing areas in your facility. More...

The HSUS Statement on Proper Use of the Guillotine Door
Many dog runs are designed with a guillotine door that typically divides the run in half. Inappropriate use of this door can create safety hazards for animals and shelter staff. This statement provides guidelines on the appropriate use of guillotine doors. More...

Special Design Considerations for Animal Shelters
Building an animal shelter requires making a series of decisions unique to animal housing facilities. This list includes guidance on what to plan for and what to watch out for. More...