If we use our imaginations of course we can come up with potentially worse environments for shelter dogs.
However I'd be willing to bet that most of us wouldn't envision glassed-in private dog 'suites' as being a worse option for them.
That couldn't possibly be worse than the smelly, dilapidated place the shelter dogs are in now.
Or could it?
6 months ago I wouldn't have given much thought to this subject, mainly because I had never spent time in a 'new age design' shelter.
A few months ago that changed; once settled in after moving back to Louisville, Ky from Miami, Fl I began volunteering at my local municipal shelter, which happens to be a shelter I worked and volunteered at years ago.
Rumor had traveled all the way down to Miami years prior about how Louisville was constructing a new, state of the art adoption center. I felt hopeful for Louisville dogs upon hearing the news yet also a twinge of concern. My concern was for the dogs at the 'old location.' What about all the dogs there? Would anyone go to the old shelter or would they only visit the new, fancy, publicized one? The new facility design was never a concern for me. I didn't think much of it. I knew about the glassed in rooms for dogs; this was the way most new shelters were being designed and I had only heard praise regarding the construction.
After spending a little time each week socializing dogs at the new shelter I've concluded that I cannot offer much praise for this new design concept.
The shelter is more human-friendly for sure- it doesn't smell, it's not noisy, you can walk through and browse at the dogs, seeing them in a home-like environment.
I'm not so sure it's shelter-dog-friendly though. If you're a dog is there anything worse than not being exposed to fresh air on a regular basis? The dogs in these rooms are isolated.
This is my opinion and only my opinion: after working and volunteering for years in shelters I believe that dogs begin suffering the effects of constant confinement more quickly when housed in these glassed-in rooms than when housed in kennel runs that allow them constant access to fresh air.
In the few months I've been volunteering at the new shelter here I've seen dogs showing signs of severe emotional distress and going 'kennel crazy' after only a couple of weeks in their glassed in enclosures whereas the emotional and mental deterioration time for dogs in traditional kennels was typically around 4-8 weeks (large degree of variance depending on dog's disposition, breed, etc.).
Again, this is based only on my personal experience and is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.
Another bothersome factor about this design is: these glassed in rooms mimic traditional pet store settings.
"How much is that doggie in the window, woof-woof?" -Remember that little tune about a dog in a pet shop window?
Pet stores have always used that glass front to lure in 'customers' to 'buy' their 'product-' dogs.
Could designers and architects really not come up with anything better than over-sized, pet store replicas?
I'll share a quick story:
Stacy, we'll call her, is a dog I met and took out to socialize 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago she walked very well on her lead to the play yard, she was playfully and sweetly interactive with the dogs on the other side of the play yard, she was highly affectionate, docile and loving with me, grateful to be out, just had an overall delightful disposition.
Yesterday, 2 weeks later, I visited Stacy anew. She was lunging/throwing herself at her glass door to get out of the room, once I maneuvered into her room it took quite an effort to leash her (she was overly exited and hyperactive), once outside she ran up and down the fence repetitively and interacted negatively with another friendly dog on the other side of the play yard fence. -She calmed down after 20 minutes or so but was still highly anxious; it made me feel very, very sad for her. She is not the first dog I've seen with these extreme signs of severe emotional distress and, again, the deterioration seems to occur much more quickly for dogs being housed in these little glassed in rooms.
Bottom Line: if you're able to assure your shelter dogs are being walked/socialized at least 2 times a day (this can be challenging for shelters to guarantee due to lack of volunteer help at times) and that they're being adopted/leaving the building and their glassed-in rooms for good within a few weeks, then go ahead with this modern shelter design; it is better for the dogs and guests under these circumstances but if you cannot guarantee this for your shelter dogs then they're better off in the old, dilapidated, fenced in runs most of us are familiar with.
Lastly,I am fully aware that most likely no vet would agree with me on this because of the disease factor, I get that. But... emotional and mental disease can be just as horrific as physical disease... for humans and dogs. But again, that's just my opinion.
Note: Since writing this post I'm pleased to say- the shelter where I volunteer has obtained a lot more volunteer support. The dogs are enjoying ample time outdoors now, being loved on and socialized. The dogs seem content and happy since they're getting out often enough! Shelters across the country always need volunteer help- do your part! :)
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