SACRAMENTO-
Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter is installing sound-dampening pads in its kennels to reduce animal stress and create a more comfortable work environment for shelter employees.
The newly formed non-profit currently has over 90 dog kennels that house 160 dogs daily.
Studies confirm that loud noises produce high levels of stress in animals, affecting their overall health. Noises also cause a change in animal behavior which reduces the chance of their being adopted. Noise levels are so intense that shelter personnel risk “significant hearing loss.”
Along with financial support from the City Safety Office and community donations, the Front Street Shelter Advocates also received a grant from the Pet Co Foundation to fund the project. According to a news release from Animal Services, the shelter plans to seek additional funding to outfit the facility if the project is a success. A similar project in Cincinnati resulted in a 52 percent reduction in sound levels.
Sound levels and animal behavior outcome will be measured after installation to assess improvement.
Gregory Allen filed this report.