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 Nine months after Lexie broke ground and
17 months after operating a full-scale animal
shelter out of
a temporary, makeshift warehouse, the LA/SPCA unveiled Phase
I – the 21,600 square-foot
Animal Rescue and Care Center on
May 18, 2007. After months of construction moving at
lightening speed, walking into the center was an
awe-inspiring experience for all. The airy, welcoming space
full of light and colorful art work defies every stereotype
people imagine about an animal shelter. And when you move
beyond the aesthetics of the skylights, artwork and building
design you see the details employed to enhance the animals’
environment and add to their care. The skylights were
designed to allow sunlight to reduce the animal’s stress.
One hundred percent of the air turns over (new fresh air
from outside and old air expelled) several times per hour;
and each animal has its own mini-ventilation system to
further improve air-quality and reduce the spread of
disease.
 There are several pods throughout the facility where animals
are segregated so that disease may be minimized and animals
organized based on health or easy public access such as adoptables, healthy hold for strays, dog health observation,
feral cat, and protective custody (cruelty cases). Other
design features incorporated for the benefit of the animals
includes runs and kennels which were designed to minimize
visual stimulation thereby reducing their stress, as does
the piped in classical music. A cat socialization room gives
cats the opportunity to play and interact with potential
adopters in an open environment. The center also includes
seven outside exercise yards to provide venues for dog
romping and socialization and one-on-one time with
volunteers and staff.
 The grand opening was called “an amazing rebirth” by the
community and was hailed by colleagues nationwide as a major
triumph of recovery from one of the country’s largest
natural disasters. The organization lost its shelter, 80% of
its staff and its entire infrastructure in Hurricane
Katrina. “The amount of devastation suffered by our friends
on the Gulf Coast was unprecedented,” said Ed Sayres,
president and CEO of the ASPCA (American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). “It’s a triumphant story
of recovery in the face of extreme challenges and a
testament to the organization’s undying commitment to
improve the lives of animals, against all odds.”
For the LA/SPCA, it’s the silver lining that has emerged
from this difficult life-changing experience that its
community of people and animals has experienced. Building
from the ground up, the LA/SPCA has seized the opportunity
to build a shelter that incorporates the “best practices” of
the animal welfare industry. As Ann Nungesser of the New
Orleans Times Picayune described it following the grand
opening ceremonies, “This facility is an airy, inviting
place that doesn't look or smell like a typical animal
shelter. There are lots of windows and skylights, special
ventilation systems and music. The bold pet paintings of
artist-in-residence Aidi Kansas cover a front wall, adding
color and personality to the atmosphere.”
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