Why Build A New Shelter

Designed by a local firm, Copich & Associates Architects that specializes in the creation of veterinary facilities, the Animal Welfare Care & Education Center will be a new breed of animal shelter. It will combine the existing services of the Animal Welfare League and the Trumbull County Dog Kennel under one roof. The County Kennel and the Shelter will remain independent in terms of governance and oversight; combining the County Kennel's mandates with the new Shelter location and functions will be more cost-effective and efficient than the current, separate arrangement. The new partnership will be a better use of scarce community resources and a more humane alternative to the existing County facility.

Education programs developed by TCTC, a secondary vocational school that attracts students from throughout Trumbull County, will enhance the animal care curriculum that is already in place and will form the foundation for college-level courses. Students will provide staffing assistance and their hands-on learning opportunities will include assisting groomers and veterinarians, observing medical treatments and handling animals and the public. Innovative education programs will elevate the Animal Welfare Care & Education Center's program above other Ohio shelters and will create a new model that we can share with our peers.

The level of service planned is only possible because of the facility's highly functional design. Staff, Board Members and consulting veterinarians have worked with the architects for more than a year to design a safe and comfortable environment that will enhance the human/animal bond. Efficiency and operating costs were continually reviewed. The final plan combines low maintenance materials with new, sustainable technologies in a thoughtful footprint.