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HSSV Community Dog Park
What’s so special about it? Well for starters its one of the first environmentally certified “Green” Animal Community Centers in the U.S. to offer a completely cage-free setting along with doggie day care and loads of pet services as well.
“We wanted to make Humane Society Silicon Valley not only the best place to adopt a pet, but the best place to learn about, engage with, and celebrate animals,” says HSSV President Christine Benninger. “With our enlightened architecture and design, and home-like habitats for animals awaiting adoption, our center offers a healthy, friendly and comfortable environment for both people and pets that we believe will change the way people view animals, treat animals, and live with animals. Once people visit our new center, they’ll realize it’s so much more than an animal shelter. That’s why we’re calling it an Animal Community Center.”
On 5 acres of land, this 48,000 square-foot animal sanctuary is truly one-of-a-kind. The centers list of features includes:
HSSV Pet-Friendly Cafe
- Community Dog Park
- Affordable Spay/Neuter Medical Center
- Community Dog Training Center
- Doggie Day Care
- Boarding and Grooming
- Veterinary Clinic with Public Viewing Room
- Education Center
- Community Events Room
- Children’s Programs
- Pet Store
- Pet-Friendly Cafe
The cage-free pet rooms will simulate home environments which will help reduce stress and behavioral issues related to traditional shelter environments.
The shelter will be able to handle about 10,000 animal adoptions every year!
“We’re breaking out of the old paradigm of an animal shelter being a warehouse full of cages for unwanted pets,” Benninger remarks.
Think it can’t get any better? Oh it can!
The Humane Society Silicon Valley is also an environmentally sustainable campus!
HSSV Doggie Day Care
The animal center is expected to earn a coveted Gold level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the green building features – which allow HSSV to spend less on operational costs and more on the animals – include:
- An extensive on-site solar system expected to generate 40% of the center’s energy needs from renewable sources
- A highly efficient kennel cleansing system to ensure proper disinfecting while reducing water use
- A reflective ‘cool’ roof to reduce solar heating of the building in the summer and lower A/C bills
- Heat recovery wheels in all HVAC systems to capture and reuse heating and cooling during the frequent air ventilation cycles required to prevent the spread of illness
- Stained concrete flooring to reduce the amount of chemicals and water needed for cleaning as well as lower power bills by retaining heating and cooling
- On-site bioswales to naturally clean rainwater run-off before water enters the sewage treatment system
- Artificial turf and native plants in the dog park areas to lower the demand for irrigation water
HSSV Dog Habitats
“Our sustainable, environmentally friendly Animal Community Center not only promotes animals but showcases the ease and beauty of water savings, energy efficiency and building in harmony with nature,” Benninger explains. “We believe our new center will be an inspiring model of humane care, community involvement and green building design for shelters and non-profits nationwide.”
The Humane Society Silicon Valley is opening its doors on March 28, 2009. If you can’t be there for their exciting and unprecedented opening day, please consider being there in spirit by donating.
(All photos are courtesy of the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Visit their website to see more photos and videos!)
