San Diego Humane Society's Soundproof Dog Kennels Are What All Shelters Need
Andrea Powell
The loud barks of other anxious dogs combined with unfamiliar faces and increased time in a kennel creates a very stressful environment for shelter dogs. They are unable to relax which results in anxious behavior like barking or cowering in the back of their kennel. Adopters overlook these stressed dogs who are good boys and girls who just need a quiet space to show their true personality.
San Diego Humane Society's newly renovated Adoptions Center is open after a two-year renovation that transformed the space into a pet-friendly environment that allows all the homeless pets to thrive.
"Working with our partners from J & J Construction and COAR Design Group, every aspect of the space was designed to facilitate adoptions, improve the emotional and mental well-being of the pets in our care and enhance the experience for our guests. This includes interactive digital kiosks, more play yards for dogs, catios for cats to enjoy the San Diego sunshine, specially designed housing for small companion animals, and an improved design in our dog kennels that will increase their comfort and reduce their stress while in our care," shared the shelter.
The new state-of-the-art dog kennels are helping dogs get the rest they need while they wait for their forever home. The shelter posted a video on TikTok of their soundproof and angled dog "habitats" and it has gone viral. In the video, shelter dogs are seen fast asleep on their beds dreaming of their new family.
@sdhumanesociety We’re so happy to see our pups are able to relax until they find their new homes! #dogs #dogsoftiktok #shelterdog #shelterdogs #shelterlife #shelterpetsoftiktok #animals #animallover #animalrescue ♬ september slowed - mar
Viewers quickly took to the comments to share their thoughts and praise the genius design. @becksm1026 wrote, "And I bet they adopt out faster because they aren't scared and anxious this is incredible I wish more did this".
@the.backpacking.bookwyrm added, "this shelter was designed by someone who knew what they were doing! this is awesome".
They didn't forget to spoil the cats...
@sdhumanesociety So happy to provide some fresh air and sunlight for our purrfect pals! ☀️ #sheltercat #shelterlife #catlover #cattok #catsoftiktok #shelterpetsoftiktok #cats #cat #catio #pov ♬ original sound - tony ann
San Diego Humane Society expects to care for more than 10,000 pets this year at their new center. The goal is to find each one a loving home, but while they wait they will "have the best stay possible".
All shelters need to have calming spaces like this for both dogs and cats. Many shelters are underfunded and rely on donations to provide for the homeless animals in their care. Please consider donating to your local shelter and see how you can help enhance the lives of shelter pets as they wait for a loving home.
Another Way to Help Transform Animal Shelters
Greater Good Charities' Rescue Rebuild program helps redesign and rebuild animal shelters with the homeless animals in mind. The expert team and volunteers transform shelters into inviting spaces with areas for the dogs and cats to play and relax. They have traveled across the country since they started in 2007 adding play yards and agility courses, outdoor cat enclosures and free-roaming cat rooms, installing new kennels, and much more.
Learn more about the team's upcoming projects and how you can help. Rescue Rebuild also builds pet-friendly spaces for domestic violence victims and homeless veterans with pets.
