Category: Shelter

by Jessica Hekman

Appropriate housing is essential for animal wellbeing in shelters. Without clean, comfortable, spacious housing, no amount of enrichment will be sufficient to maintain low stress levels. An animal may receive enriching interaction with staff, trainers, or volunteers for an hour or more a day, but will be in a primary enclosure for more than 20 times that. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians provides Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, which include excellent recommendations for appropriate housing for dogs and cats.