Why Most Animal Shelters Struggle with Raising Money

“Folks aren’t going to pull out their checkbook until we can sit down and say we’re going to be digging a foundation in six weeks, six months. . . . They’re not going to give money to something that they don’t have any clue as to when we’re going to start.” - Montgomery County (VA) Administrator Craig Meadows

And the animal shelter architects team at Shelterplanners would like to add:

Your community is not going to rally around a cause if it’s not aware of the problem(s) at the local animal shelter.  Furthermore, it’s extremely difficult to operate a successful capital campaign if members of the community don’t have a CLEAR picture of the new animal shelter building plans and how much the new animal shelter will cost.

Approaching potential donors with a complete action plan, including building plans, a 3-D rendering of the proposed building (see above picture), and a complete breakdown of costs associated with building the animal shelter, is much more effective than asking, “Please contribute to the animal shelter because it’s in bad shape.”

In our experience, we found that we design and build animal shelters for communities that are united.  The community is the answer to solving the animal shelter problem.  A unified community can (gently) pressure local officials to find a solution to the poor shelter conditions.

It’s much easier to gain community support if you have a crystal clear action plan.  To quickly gain supporters for your cause: Give the community a picture of the proposed building, a cost projection for the new building, and support your plan with strong statistical data.  

Animal Shelter Architects Celebrate with Two Communities – Hard Work Still Pays Off!

Finger Lakes animal shelter building design got its own cake!

Caught in the day to day struggle with animal shelter building plans, meeting budgets, zoning ordinance and building code requirements etc.; we tend to lose sight of the depth and breadth of effort needed by so many to realize a new shelter for their community. 

We at Shelterplanners participated in two gratifying events last week. 

The first was the “shelter project kick-off” held in Bath, New York at the Finger Lakes SPCA.  The gathering included members of the shelter Board of Directors, Staff and the Animal Shelter Architects and Construction Management team.  The Finger Lakes SPCA has been working toward this goal for some time, through successive turnovers of its Board and a very patient and determined Executive Director, Vicki Mosgrove who has guided the SPCA toward realizing its new shelter with steady a hand.

The Finger Lakes SPCA’s dedication and determination gives us pause to consider how truly difficult bringing a new shelter to fruition can be; and we are buoyed by their driving spirit of compassion and kindness toward the animals they serve.  We were thrilled to be chosen as the animal shelter architects for this project.  The animal shelter design plans even got a cake!

Our second event was held near Brevard, NC.  Transylvania County opened and dedicated its new shelter.  The event was attended by close to 200 supporters.  The designated speaker for the County government, Commission Chair Mike Hawkins recalled the 20 year effort on the part of the County and its citizens to bring the shelter to fruition and the consistent support of the County’s citizens throughout the process.  He cited the incredible efforts of the “Friends of the Shelter” who raised the final $350,000 needed to assure the animal shelter would be built.  He noted contributions from the City of Brevard and the Town of Rosman without which the project would not have achieved success.

Dr. Clyde Brooks, veterinarian and Board Chairman of the Friends of the Shelter followed.  Dr. Brooks recalled the endless volunteer hours that so many citizens had contributed to the fundraising effort and how gracious the County Manager, Staff and County Commissioners had been, encouraging and allowing the “Friends” both the time and opportunity to help get the project across the finish line. This was truly a community effort and, once again, for the benefit of the lost or stray companion animals.

We are so gratified to be part of both of these new shelters. 

So for all of you out there struggling with trying to bring a shelter to your community, take heart!  While it may involve way more time and effort than you imagined, these two examples clearly show; with enough perseverance, your efforts will be rewarded!

No-Kill - Should My Animal Shelter Go for It?

                                             

No Kill – Should Our Shelter Go for It?

When the “No Kill” movement was introduced two decades ago it generated a great deal of controversy. Folks in animal welfare began taking sides for and against the concept and its claims and challenge to the industry as a whole.

The world has changed dramatically in the last several years and the “No Kill Blueprint”, articulated by Nathan Winograd in his seminal book “Redemption”, has been applied in animal shelters across the country with remarkable results.  We have assisted more and more groups dedicated to working toward the goal of saving every healthy companion animal in their care, and consistent application of the programs articulated in the “No Kill Blueprint” is the common denominator for achieving successful results.

We have witnessed success with organizations that have confidently declared themselves “No Kill” as well as organizations that have applied the “blueprint” quietly, without any formal declaration.  Results are usually positive in either case and once the community begins to realize success is at hand, a groundswell of support develops in a variety of forms – donations, volunteers, and governmental support. 

If a new shelter (or improvements to an existing shelter) is part of the community’s no kill strategy, animal shelter architects should incorporate specific building plans to match the community’s no kill vision.

More and more we are witnessing local government responding to the desire for improved conditions and outcomes.  Cooperation between humane and rescue groups working positively with animal control elevates the conversation, bringing about a more cooperative effort on behalf of the community’s stray companion animals.

Whether your organization adopts the “No Kill” moniker or not is less important than bringing to bear the strategies that ultimately produce results. After all, improving your animal shelter is less about the grand announcement that you plan to be a no kill, and more about improving the community and saving animals. 

Grand Opening - Transylvania County Animal Shelter

What an exciting weekend at the grand opening of the new Transylvania County Animal Shelter. We had a great time working with local officials on the animal shelter design for this project. The animal shelter plans incoroporate natural light and allow for future expanison. It's truly amazing what a unified community can accomplish. 

Grand Opening of Transylvania County's Animal ShelterOverall view of the shelterBill Daggett, founder of Shelter Planners, with Lee Hunter, NC State Veterinarian

Finger Lakes SPCA - Bath, NY

Here are a few pictures of the kickoff party for the new animal shelter at Finger Lakes SPCA. Shelter Planners is thriled to be the animal shelter architect and design team for the project.