Sawtooth Configuration: Innovation in Dog Habitat Design
When COAR set out to redesign the new San Diego Humane Society Adoptions Center, one of the top priorities was creating comfortable space for the 13,474 dogs SDHS houses on average every year. The COAR & SDHS project team went to the drawing boards to brainstorm ways the new shelter design could maximize the space for dog housing, giving each of them the space they needed to feel comfortable while providing the opportunity for each one to develop an emotional connection with their potential adopter.
The Sawtooth Configuration.
The design team decided to use a design that soon came to be known as a “sawtooth configuration.” The sawtooth configuration creates a series of habitats that are aligned but not all habitat fronts are on the same plane. When walking down the hallway, visitors aren’t met with a long line of dog kennels, but rather a series of alcoves that requires you to step ‘into’ each dog’s private habitat. The staggered habitat fronts solved a number of pain points that are common amongst dog habitats in animal shelters.
Peace & Quiet.
One key component of the sawtooth configuration was limiting disturbances for more reactive dogs. Angling the habitat fronts prevents dogs from looking directly toward each other while still allowing for the efficiency of double loading the corridor with housing. Limiting this line of sight helps reduce unwanted interactions, such as excessive barking and jumping, creating a more peaceful experience for both the animals and visitors. The habitats also have individual drains, mechanical diffusers, and sound insulation in the walls and ceilings to limit the amount of noise that transfers between habitats. These features allow dogs to fully relax in their space, as we saw in numerous cases as we walked the new space.
“My favorite feature is its amazing ability to calm our animals,” said President and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPG, CAWA. “Within minutes of arrival in their new habitats, the cats were playing on their cat trees and the dogs were asleep on their beds. There is no better testament to the innovative design of this new Center than that.”
Creating a Moment.
Next, the sawtooth habitat configuration creates a perfect niche for guests to step into and have one-on-one experiences with the dogs. The staggered effect encourages guests to step up to their individual habitat and engage with one dog at a time, reducing the opportunity to be distracted by other dogs to come. This limits guests’ tendency to “window shop” — peruse without getting the chance to know any one dog. Instead, visitors can have private interactions and spend more time watching their behavior.
As a guest approaches each niche, they will notice an interactive tablet that is intended to provide information about the dog that may be imperative in their adoption decision. This information includes their name, age, photos, temperament & personality, and more. Visitors can swipe through the tablet to engage with the animal on yet another level, and even request an adoption application right then and there.
One of the goals of the sawtooth design was to create a space that a guest could step in to fully immerse themselves or engage with a specific dog, creating better opportunities for an emotional connection, leading to more adoptions, and reducing length of stay for dogs in the shelter.
Efficiency.
Finally, the habitat design considered the way that staff and volunteers could interact with the dogs. The dog habitats in the new San Diego humane Society Adoptions Center have back doors that lead to a communal care area that can serve anywhere from 6 to 12 habitats.
A central sliding door divides the dog habitat into two. When in the back, staff can close off the front entrance to give the dogs private care. Or, staff can leave the slider open to give the dogs a secondary space away from the public eye. This creates a safe space for dogs, allowing them to act more naturally in their habitat. If they are feeling shy or scared, they can hide in the nook around the corner for more privacy.
In 2023, 3.2 million dogs entered animal shelters and rescues across the nation (according to Shelter Animals Count). To help prepare for any unexpected influxes of dogs needing shelter, this sliding door feature also allows staff to double the amount of dog housing when needed in a crisis.
Learn More about the San Diego Humane Society Adoptions Center.
San Diego Humane Society’s goal with the dog habitats was to decrease the length of an animal’s time in the shelter and find them loving families as quickly as possible. Optimizing how dogs feel in this space helps limit barriers to them finding an owner who is right for them. To learn more about the design behind the new San Diego Humane Society Adoptions Center, check out our Behind the Design documentary!