Stepping into the Washington Animal Rescue League’s recently renovated facility, would-be pet adopters may think they’ve accidentally walked into the District’s newest day spa — not an animal shelter.
“People walk in here and they use the words spa and zen,” said Scotlund Haisley, executive director of the Rescue League.
A spa it’s not, but the Washington Animal Rescue League’s $4 million renovation — which was officially unveiled Friday — was designed with spa-like elements, such as heated floors and piped-in new-age music, in an effort to provide a calming environment for the shelter’s cats and dogs. The theory behind the unique remodel — believed to be the first of its kind in the country — is that a calm atmosphere will boost adoption rates, Haisley said.
“We’ve been housing animals behind bars for years,” said Haisley, who visited animal shelters, animals hospitals and human prisons when he was researching redesigns. “That works again our mission and goals (of adoption). Animals develop what’s called ‘barrier rage.’ We wanted [potential adopters] to see their true temperament.”
The facility is designed from an animal’s point of view and can house up to 400 cats and dogs in “doggie dens,” “cat condos” and “puppy pads” that facilitate easier interaction with visitors.
“We wanted to change the stereotype where animals wait in fear, dark and loneliness,” Haisley said. “Because that keeps people out of animals shelters.”
Each animal lives behind glass, rather than bars, and has a Dutch door that allows them to interact with visitors.
“The adopters spend more time visiting with the animals,” said Shelley Petrasek, adoptions manager at the shelter. “The bright calm atmosphere of the shelter offers adopters a great experience. It’s still too early to tell how significantly this will increase the adoption number, but all the signs are very encouraging.”
