The San Diego Humane Society opened a redesigned and expanded adoptions center at its San Diego Campus Tuesday.
Mayor Todd Gloria attended the ribbon cutting, along with SDHS staff, volunteers and pets available for adoption.
Construction began May 9, 2022 with work done to both indoor and outdoor environments. The redesigned facility features 58 dog rooms, 55 cat kennels, 11 communal cat rooms and one large cat “aquarium” for multiple felines, as well as 53 spaces for small pets.
“This marks a new era for San Diego’s homeless animals,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. “Our renovated adoptions center represents a significant leap in animal welfare and will provide a better experience for countless pets in need.”
“We believe these new habitats will increase visibility and result in shorter stays for our shelter residents, paving the way for brighter futures,” he added.
Calming enhancements have been added to enclosures, including solar tubes for natural light, den-like housing for dogs to feel more secure, angled kennels so no dogs will have direct views of each other, sound-proofed habitats, calming music and pink noise, as well as improved drainage designs to allow staff to clean easier and spend more time with the animals, officials said.
Additionally, a dedicated space for small pets is intended to help reduce stress for both the animals and possible adoptive parents and expanded outdoor play areas will allow for more space for enrichment and mental stimulation.
The new SDHS Adoptions Center is located at 5500 Gaines St., and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The San Diego Humane Society also has locations in Escondido, El Cajon and Oceanside.
City News Service contributed to this article.
