An animal shelter is the physical nucleus of a community animal care and control program. The resources provided here will help you begin planning for your shelter facility.
Resources and Articles
From the Magazine
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March 1, 2012
New Digs and Renovations
Check out recent shelter construction and renovation projects from the Maryland SPCA, the Marin Humane Society, and the Atlanta Humane Society.
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January 1, 2012
Show Me the Money: Building a Wall
Through the sale of pet photo tiles for the shelter wall and inscribed bricks for the exterior walkway, the Asheville Humane Society raised funds for its shelter and lifted spirits in the community.
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January 1, 2012
The Build-Out
Check out recent shelter design projects from Denver Animal Care & Control, the Peninsula Humane Society, and the Ottawa Humane Society.
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May 1, 2011
Field Trip: Saving Animals, Saving the Planet
Find out how a Louisiana shelter went green, making life better for the animals in its care, its staff and volunteers, potential adopters, and the environment.
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January 1, 2011
The "101" Department: Can You Hear Me Now?
Are howls and woofs the inevitable soundtrack at a shelter? Not necessarily. You can turn down the volume through a variety of methods, from innovative design or retrofitting to clicker training and enrichment programs.
Policies
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Shelter Floor Plan Samples
View sample floor plans that incorporate many essential elements in animal shelter design.
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May 9, 2012
The HSUS's Shelter Design Packet
Our special design packet just for shelters includes information on how to figure what size shelter you'll need, how to choose an architect, materials, and much more!
Programs
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Shelter Services
The HSUS's Shelter Services program helps shelters acquire the tools they need to ensure long-term organizational stability and success in the dynamic environment of animal welfare. No matter the size or issues facing your organization, Shelter Services is here to help.
More
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May 9, 2012
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program - Facility Design and Animal Housing
The shelter facility and the housing there-in has implications far beyond the shelter walls. The design of the facility will impact disease levels, behavioral health, staffing needs and the daily cost of care (and therefore how much time and money is left over for other important programs).
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May 8, 2012
Association of Shelter Veterinarians - Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
The ASV's Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters is a comprehensive shelter standards document that was two years in the making.
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March 2, 2007
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
The shelter medicine program at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine has a wealth of information on disease control in the shelter.
