Needs assessment of the Killeen animal shelter provided by Shelter Planners of America.

1. City of Killeen Animal Service Complex
Needs Assessment
Shelter Planners of America, Copyright ©

2. • About “Shelter Planners of America”
• Animal Shelter Design Goals
• Needs Assessment Study
• Questions

3. • Most experienced animal shelter design firm in the nation
• Over 30 Years of Experience- nation wide
• More than 700 Shelters, 350 Animal Control
• Only firm with actual Shelter operation experience
• Pioneered “New Generation” design concepts

4. Shelter Design Evolution
• 1940-1960 : Primitive “Dog Pound Designs” Dark, damp, noisy, located
near dumps, sewage treatment plant or cheap as possible
• 1960-1975: Larger shelters better built, but kennels are still dark, noisy,
damp
• 1975-1985: Bill Meade begins designing “improved” shelters with
brighter, easy to clean kennels, heated floors, proper sloped floors, but still
simple design
• 1985-1993: Bill Meade begins to move shelter design to reflect more
concern about healthy kennels, proper air exchange, disinfectable materials,
noise control, better drainage systems. However, most shelters were still
economical, plain public facilities
• 1993-2014: SPA initiates the movement towards a “New Generation” of
shelter designs. We originated the first:
– “Adoption Display Rooms” - “Cat Condos”
– “Cat Community Rooms” - “Jumbo Dog Kennels”,
– “Positive Ventilation Cat Cages” - “Quick Clean Kennels”
– “Cat Fresh Air Porches” - “Courtyard Kennels”
– “Convertible Kennels” -”Individual Drainage Design”
– We remain the only shelter design firm that has first hand working knowledge of daily
shelter functions.

5. Shelter Design Goals
1. Our goal is to create your facility utilizing the best
practices in humane animal care.
2. Reduce stress in animals through better separation
and flow, sound proofing, comfortable kennels and
cages and natural light.

6. Shelter Design Goals
3. Prevent disease by having medical isolation and
quarantine areas, enhanced HVAC systems, proper
drainage, high quality cleaning equipment and
quality laundry and grooming facilities.

7. Shelter Design Goals
4. Create a warm and welcoming facility for the public
to visit with good sound proofing, natural light,
color, odor control, private get-acquainted rooms,
landscaping.

8. Shelter Design Goals
5. Allow more opportunities for socialization between
people and animals through animal Get Acquainted
rooms, outdoor walks, cat condos, and community
cat rooms.

9. Shelter Design Goals
6. Focus on education and prevention through an
environment filled with useful information, an
education and training center for humane education,
and spay/neuter program.

10. Shelter Design Goals
7. Create a pleasant and effective work space for staff
with sufficient office space and storage, conference
rooms, file storage, adoption interview rooms,
employee break room, proper flow, easy to clean,
etc.

11. Needs Assessment Study
1. Purpose and Scope of Study
2. Review of Existing Facilities
3. People and Animal Levels
4. Building Space Program
5. Site Considerations
6. Recommended Features
7. Staffing
8. Operating Cost
9. Estimated Construction Cost
10. Operation

12. Existing Conditions
Existing Building is well kept but
somewhat institutional
Prefer a more welcoming design

13. Existing Conditions
Trench Drains
• Are at the front of the runs
• No cover
• Slopes from back to front of
the kennel
There is little natural light,
poor lighting, and
inadequate HVAC system

14. Existing Conditions
Quarantine kennels are in a
separate building too far from
the main building
Adoption kennels have
undesirable arrangement where
dogs face each other causing
stress in the dogs, increasing
barking and noise levels.

15. Existing Conditions
Indoor kennels
• Industrial looking
• No ceiling, exposed pipes and
wires
• Concrete Floors
These elevated cages are
difficult to clean under.

16. Existing Conditions
These stainless steel cages are
good but provide only one
compartment per cat. The
Association of Shelter Veterinarians
recommends two compartments.
The HVAC system in the cat
area does not meet modern
standards designed to keep the
cats healthy.

17. Existing Conditions
Laundry room
• Residential equipment
• Additional storage
needed
Food is kept in
a conex behind
the building due
to lack of
storage.
Electrical Panel
requires 3’-0” service
clearance, but there is
a freezer in front of it.

18. 3. PEOPLE AND ANIMAL LEVELS
• People population 138,154 for 2015.
• Animals received in 2015 was 5,676.
3,637 dogs, 1,880 cats, and 159 other
• National norm, 3-4% of the human
population- Killeen is 4.1%
• Next 20 years, population of Killeen
Population to increase by 26.6% to
175,000

19. Projected Animal Capacity
Projected Animal Housing needs for 2025
and 2035:
2025 2035
3,949 Dogs 4,607 Dogs
2,041 Cats 2,381 Cats
173 Other 202 Others
6,163 Total 7,150 Total
“Will Holding More Animals for Longer
Periods of Time Increase the Number of
Animals Adopted?”

20. Building Space Program

21. 5. SITE CONSIDERATIONS
A. Visibility
B. Accessibility
C. Suitability
D. Parking
E. Site Size

25. 9. Estimated Cost
• City is in an area of rapid growth, build
in Phases
• New Shelter at a new site
Phase 1- Approx. 8.2 million dollars
Plus land
Phase 2- Approx. 2 million dollars
These are 2016 dollars and construction
costs are rising

26. 10. OPERATIONAL ISSUES
• Strict follow-through on spay/neuter for adopted pets
• Low cost spay and neuter programs for the general public
• Free collar and ID tag program for all pets
• Education Program
• Foster pet homes
• Pet Health rehabilitation
• Pet Behavior rehabilitation
• Pet Surrender Diversion Program counseling for pet owners with
problems keeping their pets
• Progressive, responsible owner ordinances
• Ongoing and well promoted shelter adoption programs
• Expanded evening and weekend hours
• A well designed website for animal adoption and lost animal
identification
• Use of web-based adoptions such as Petfinder.com
• Proactive return to owner program

27. SUMMARY
• The existing shelter is well kept
• The existing shelter is too small for the
community, lacks an education center, proper
animal housing, and medical clinic.
• The existing shelter has significant
deficiencies such as proper HVAC systems,
drainage, and finishes.
• Conclusion, the existing shelter should be
expanded and renovated or replaced with a
new shelter.

28. Questions ?