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In 2008, the County contracted with PIVOT Architecture and their consultant Larry Gates from <br />Animal Arts to complete a master plan for LCAS. The program suggests a capacity should be <br />approximately 83 dogs, 121 cats, and 10 small mammals. The master plan outlined four <br />different options for improving the space, ranging from a remodel and expansion of the current <br />facility, to a new expanded facility, or a remodel/expansion combined with a satellite outreach <br />center. The costs for those options were estimated at between $6.6 million and $9.8 million. <br /> <br />Current Situation: <br /> <br />In 2007 the Board of Commissioners re-named LCAS (formerly Lane County Animal <br />Regulation Authority) and moved it into the Department of Health and Human Services. Staff <br />have worked with the community to implement a number of programs and revised processed <br />to improve the service provided to the animals and to the community. This has resulted in <br />increased numbers of dogs licensed, increased private donations, more stray dogs returned <br />home rather than impounded into the agency, and a dramatically lower rate of euthanasia. <br /> <br />While significant progress has been demonstrated, there are very real limitations imposed <br />because of the facility. The current facility has only 30 dog kennels, meaning that often LCAS <br />is housing multiple dogs in single runs, and housing dogs in outdoor kennels. The medical <br />treatment and isolation spaces are inadequate, and there is very limited space for behavioral <br />evaluation or treatment. We have significantly increased the number of volunteers (averaging <br />about 600 hours per month), which highlights even more the lack of space. There aren’t <br />spaces for adoption counseling, and the lobby and front areas are very crowded. Officers <br />have very limited space for the work associated with their investigations. <br /> <br />In December of 2009, the Board of Commissioners asked the County Administrator to convene <br />a small group representing the three jurisdictions to explore and advise the Board about how a <br />new state of the art replacement shelter could be financed, structured, and operated. That <br />group is due to report back no later than March 31, 2010. <br /> <br />A Vision for the Future: A Community Animal Care and Education Center <br /> <br />The animal friendly revolution in shelter design has seen new shelters being constructed in <br />communities across the country, using approaches that decrease an impounded animal’s <br />stress levels, raise adoption rates, reduce disease transmission, and enhance public visitation <br />and support for this vital public service. <br /> <br />A new shelter would be designed with the following in mind: <br />? <br /> Healthy and comfortable home-like housing for adoptive animals <br />? <br /> High performance systems to reduce noise and odors <br />? <br /> Advanced ventilation and sanitation systems for disease control <br />? <br /> Well-designed intake unit to properly manage incoming animals <br />? <br /> Visitor-friendly adoption center <br />? <br /> Animal medical area for efficient, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries, as well as <br />veterinary services for animals in our care <br />? <br /> Community education center to promote responsible pet ownership <br />? <br /> Obedience training center to offer classes for shelter animals and the general public <br /> <br />2 <br />