Unsuitable Shelter

A Plea for Improved Shelter Conditions at OCAS

Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue. Here is information on this issue.

At OCAS, animals endure sweltering temperatures, ceaseless noise, and cramped conditions daily. The shelter’s outdated infrastructure fails to provide a humane environment for its inhabitants. We advocate for urgent reforms, highlighting the pressing need for a facility that respects and prioritizes animal welfare.

Immediate Calls to Action:

  • Regular Communication: We urge OCAS to provide monthly updates on the shelter’s progress, allowing the community to be informed and involved. Post advisory board names.
  • Prioritize Animal Comfort: Shelter temperatures must consistently remain below 77°F. Implement a robust system of AC repairs, maintenance, and audits, particularly during the sweltering summer months.
  • Seek Expertise: Embrace Dr. Levy’s generous pro-bono offer for a shelter assessment. An assessment is an opportunity to tap into the expertise that can pave the way for a world-class facility.
  • Commitment to Improvement: Demonstrate a commitment to the animals by publishing quarterly goals to increase their well-being.

Addressing these points will foster transparency, curb animal fights, and drastically reduce animal stress.

Background: The OCAS shelter was built in 1987 and no longer adequately meets the needs of its present animal residents. The urgent need for a new facility arises from the inadequacies of the existing facility:

  • Temperatures surge beyond 100°F in summer, risking animal health (Learn more).
  • Excessive noise in the shelter physically stresses the dogs and leads to behavioral, physiological, and anatomical responses (Wood, 2006).
  • Space constraints lead to co-kenneling, resulting in fights and fatalities among the animals (Ray, 2023). (Learn more) 

“It was constructed with little to no concern for keeping cold air in. The walls, doors, and roof have little to no insulation, which is important for keeping a space cool.” (RTM Engineering Consultants, 2016, 12).  The RTM AC study estimates a $3M cost to repair the AC. After reviewing the study, the Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners decided to explore building a new shelter.

Vision for the New Shelter:

To address the inadequacies of the current shelter facility, we propose a vision for a new facility that will better meet the needs of its residents:

  • Fully temperature-controlled facilities, not to exceed 77°F.
  • Enough 8×8 sqft spaces for majority of animals to be alone and to avoid cokenneling
  • Optimize for noise-canceling materials.
  • Lots of cameras

Unfortunately, the new facility is still a long way off. According to Orange County Budget Book Fiscal Year 2023-24 p369, $3,872,819 for the new facility was adopted for FY22-23, with proposed budgets going into the future. Budgets are totaling $41 million by FY 26-27. The construction for the new 80-100k sqft shelter (OCAS, n.d.) is supposed to start in April 2024 and finish in May 2026 (OCAS, 2021). However, the OCAS website says the shelter is still in the design stage (OCAS, n.d.).  We are past the previously announced completion timeline of May 2023. As of September 3, 2023, OCAS has not updated its website since July 2023, and they have provided no further details on the design of the new shelter facility. We want more transparency on the status of the new shelter with monthly updates.

Interim Improvements

While the completion of the new shelter facility is still far in the future, there are several critical interim improvements that OCAS can make:

  • Implement an effective solution for temperature control.
  • Invite external experts to assess the well-being of the animals.
  • Lots of cameras

OCAS has introduced mobile air conditioners to combat the heat, costing between $50,000 and $100,000 yearly (OCAS, n.d.). Unfortunately, this temporary stopgap measure is inadequate. It fails to ensure the health and comfort of our furry friends, as temperatures still rise above the recommended 77°F (Learn more).

Although Orange County’s promise of a new shelter by 2026 is distant, there is an opportunity for the shelter to make other essential improvements. In 2010, OCAS commissioned a study by the University of Florida, which made several recommendations for improvements to the shelter. Unfortunately, OCAS has never released a response to that study or published any plans to make improvements in these areas. 

As a follow-up, Dr. Julie Levy, Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida, has offered OCAS a free shelter assessment, usually $30,000, which Diane Summers has rejected (Young Haun, 2019). While facility improvements will come eventually, there is no time to wait to address the welfare of the animal residents. OCAS must commit to well-being improvements and publish quarterly improvement goals (Learn more).

In conclusion, the well-being of animals is at the heart of our plea. We urge OCAS and the Commissioners to be transparent about the new shelter’s progress. Additionally, OCAS must develop a growth mindset and release quarterly goals on how they plan to improve the quality of life of our furry friends.

References

Hudak, S. (2020, February 27). New Orange County Animal Services Building could cost $34 million. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2020/02/27/new-orange-county-animal-services-building-could-cost-34-million/ 

OCAS. (n.d.). New Shelter. Orange County Animal Services. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from http://www.ocnetpets.com/AboutUs/NewShelter.aspx 

OCAS. (2021, August 6). Animal Service Facility: Preliminary Schedule – Realistic. Google Drive. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1csmagMLovPpv1ZeGCF5fL3KOlERC_-8g/view?usp=sharing 

Orange County. (2023). Orange County Budget Book Fiscal Year 2023-24. Orange County Government Florida. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.ocfl.net/Portals/0/resource%20library/open%20government/FY%202024%20Proposed%20Budget%20Book.pdf?v=011023 

Ray, K. (2023, June 29). Co-kenneling leads to dog fights, attacks at Orange County Animal Services. WFTV. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://www.wftv.com/news/local/co-kenneling-leads-dog-fights-attacks-orange-county-animal-services/C3UDS3Q3EBF7TF56PT2R2YCMVM/

RTM Engineering Consultants. (2016, April 8). Animal Services Building 300 Air Conditioning Study. Google Drive. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/14iOEpEuyphrRKHLkax9-cdjNOlcaVV1_/view?usp=sharing

University of Florida Veterinary Medicine. (2010, July 15). Orange County Animal Services Shelter Health Assessment Services Consultation Report. Google Drive. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WPVrvjh7IUzJKcajs2o5CxhdO39kSXTE/view?usp=sharing

Wood, R. (2006, July 31). Noise in Animal Shelters Increases Stress for Dogs. CABI Animal Science Database. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.cabi.org/animalscience/news/15910