Building Better Spaces for Animal Care: Why Facilities Matter

Caring for animals is already a tough job - but what happens when the building you work in makes it even harder? Across the country, many shelters, animal control agencies, and animal welfare organizations are doing their best in facilities that are outdated, inefficient, or simply not designed with animals in mind.

Leaky or undersized plumbing, poor ventilation, loud echoing kennels, and cramped layouts don’t just make daily tasks difficult - they also affect the health of animals, the safety of staff, and the overall impression the public has of your organization.

At Design Learned, we’ve spent decades working alongside animal care professionals, and one thing is clear: the design of your facility directly impacts your ability to fulfill your mission.

Common Challenges in Animal Care Facilities

While every organization is different, most face a similar set of hurdles when it comes to their buildings:

• Aging Infrastructure – Old HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems can create unhealthy or unsafe environments.

• Inefficient Layouts – Spaces not built for animal care often make simple tasks—like intake, cleaning, or quarantine—far more complicated.

• Tight Budgets – Many agencies struggle just to maintain their buildings, leaving little room for upgrades or improvements.

• Staffing Shortages – With teams stretched thin, staff often take on both animal care and building maintenance responsibilities.

• Limited Experience with Building Projects – Most animal care professionals aren’t architects or engineers, so advocating for better facilities can feel overwhelming.

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are practical ways to move forward.

How Animal Care Experts Can Help

The first step in improving a facility doesn’t always mean breaking ground on a brand-new building. Sometimes it’s about having the right support to advocate for small, strategic changes that make a big difference.

At Design Learned, we partner with shelters and agencies to:

• Navigate Local Requirements – Public projects often come with complex rules, permits, and funding guidelines. We help translate animal care needs into terms that city planners and decision-makers understand.

• Advocate Alongside You – From town meetings to budget discussions, our team joins you to explain why animal care facilities have specialized needs, such as proper ventilation, drainage, or sound control.

• Design with Animals in Mind – We specialize in systems that matter: odor and noise control, efficient staff workflows, durable finishes, and materials that support infection control.

• Provide Facility Assessments – For many organizations, a small step like an assessment can be transformative. We evaluate your current building, highlight critical issues, and outline cost-effective options for improvement.

  
  

Small Steps, Big Impact

You don’t need to start with a multimillion-dollar project. In fact, starting small is often smarter:

• An assessment can highlight where money is being wasted due to inefficiency.

• A report can make it easier to justify future improvements to funders or city officials.

• Even modest upgrades can dramatically improve animal welfare, staff safety, and community trust.

  
  

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, your facility should reflect the compassion and professionalism of the work you do every day. Whether you’re rescuing strays, reuniting lost pets, or educating your community, your building plays a key role in how effective - and sustainable - your work can be.

You deserve a space that works as hard as you do.

At Design Learned, we’re here to help animal care professionals take that first step, whether it’s a facility evaluation, design consultation, or simply being an advocate in the room with you. Together, we can create environments where animals, staff, and communities thrive.

👉 Want to learn more about how we help shelters and animal control agencies? Call the Design Learned team at 860-889-7078 or schedule a consultation online to discuss your options.