BHS - Vernon D Lybolt Adoption Center

IDEAS: January 2008 - We've been busy gathering information and visiting other facilities to get ideas for the Adoption Center. On this page, we'd like to share with you some of the best designs and products we have come across. We are checking into pricing and putting together a construction budget.

In the near future, we will have "Naming opportunities" for many of the Adoption Center features. For example, for a donation that covers the cost of that item, we will engrave a plate with your name or in memory of a beloved pet or friend engraved on it, according to your wishes.

CAT ROOM

We visited the Adkins Pet Center in North Carolina and there we found the most delightful Cat Adoption Room - and the happiest shelter cats - we have ever seen. The large bright room had a bank of Raintree Cat Condos with multiple levels and reconfigurable portholes. Windows with cat perches gave the residents a chance to watch the action outdoors. Small electric water fountains provided fresh water, and walls were covered with original cat-themed artwork. A flat panel TV kept the residents entertained and informed, while a separate Introduction Room allowed newcomers to get the hang of the place before being introduced into the general population. Interactive cat toys were everywhere and were being enthusiastically used.

These cat condos are so superior to any we have seen so far, which are usually stainless steel or fiberglass boxes where the cat spends his/her entire day on one level & only able to stare out the front. Their improved ventilation, multiple levels and privacy areas greatly reduce the cat's stress. Research shows that cats need a stimulating environment with a CHOICE of areas to go to depending on their needs at the moment.

Watch the Cat Condo manufacturer's video here.

"Stress in cats isn't as easy to observe as stress in dogs... with dogs, it's obvious, when they're scrambling, when they don't have enough space and they're freaked out and they're barking, and a cat just lays there quietly and develops a respiratory infection." - Animal Sheltering Magazine, Sept/Oct 2004 Read the full article

"The link between stress and disease is well documented. Stress in shelter housing is often a particularly severe problem for cats. Part of the reason for this is that stress is more difficult to recognize and identify in cats than in dogs. Signs of stress in cats are more subtle (decreased activities such as eating and grooming, feigned sleep, hiding), than those in dogs (repetitive behaviors such pacing, jumping, circling or vocalizing). High quality housing that reduces stress and improves comfort may cost more and will likely take up more space, meaning fewer units can be built in the same area. However, if the housing keeps animals healthier, encourages friendly behavior, and looks appealing to adopters, animals will likely get adopted more rapidly. The same number of animals can be housed in half the kennels if they move through the shelter twice as fast. Thus, sometimes fewer units of better housing can actually lead to more adoptions as well as better welfare. This is true even when the housing in question is not viewable by the public - keeping a cat or dog comfortable, clean and free of stress during its stray hold can avert illness and alleviate fearful behavior that could otherwise greatly prolong the animal's time in the shelter."
- UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Read entire article

DOG SUITES

In old fashioned cinder block & chain link fence kennels, the dogs spend their day racing back & forth, jumping, barking and "learning" habits that make their adoption harder. Our intention is to have an environment that simulates a human household as much as possibe. A place where dogs can be comfortable, have toys and household sounds (music, TV), get exercise and training, and have a chance to learn and practice the skills (like housebreaking, sitting calmly, walking on a leash) that will get them adopted and make the transition to their new homes easier on the adopter.

We came across these "suites" from a company called Houndquarters. We really like the concept, but at $3,000 a piece, we are checking into what it might cost to build them ourselves ! Interestingly, there has been research done that seems to show that animals who are placed behind glass seem psychologically more desirable as pets (to adopters), than animals who are viewed behind chain link.

OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS

Fresh air, sunshine and exercise make happy, healthy animals. Out door play areas are planned for both dogs and cats.

Yep, that's outdoor carpeting - no muddy paws!

LOCATION:

WE HELP HOMELESS ANIMALS FIND A HOME. WILL YOU HELP US FIND ONE?

As you know, the cost of land in and around Bedford has become expensive, and will use up a substantial amount of our available funds. A donation of land to us might provide tax benefits to the donor, would help us conserve our monies for actual construction and operating of the shelter, and provide a lasting legacy of love for animals from the donor. If you have a piece of land that you would be interested in donating, please contact Doreen at doehas@hughes.net or call 540-586-6100 and leave a message in the general message box.

	Will you help us reach our goal?
Share Our Vision ! The Bedford Humane Society plans to build a no kill animal adoption center in Bedford County, thanks to the generosity of the late Vernon D. Lybolt Jr., of Forest. We are deeply honored and humbled by the trust he has placed in us. In memory of his love for animals, the new facility will bear his name. Our goal is the elimination of pet overpopulation in Bedford County and the humane treatment of each and every dog and cat in the County.
	Profits from T Shirt sales go directly to the Adoption Center's Capital Campaign

The Vernon D. Lybolt Jr. Adoption Center