Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi everyone! I work for a small nonprofit animal rescue with a spay/neuter clinic and thrift shop that support our mission.

After 45 years in two very old, small farmhouses, our shelter outgrew the buildings, and safety and constant repairs made it clear it was time for change. Thanks to five years of grassroots fundraising ($4M raised ), we're nearing completion of a new shelter. We're in a small, rural county where word travels fast, so we're hoping to avoid as many bumps as possible.

If you've been involved in opening a new shelter or clinic, I'd love to hear what challenges you faced - or tips that helped- especially around the building itself, crowd flow, ribbon cutting/grand opening, press & PR, small events for major donors, anything related to community partnerships/sponsors, and setting expectations with staff, volunteers, and the community. I would welcome anything you'd like to share, not just limited to what I've mentioned. I'm trying to anticipate as much as possible. 😉

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!

Jessica Barber
Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society
McMinnville, Oregon 

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityPartnerships*
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*

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Jessica Barber
Social Impact Specialist
Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society
OR
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Congratulations and so exciting! One key piece of advice I learned recently was to plan your layout to allow team & volunteers to be able to move around without having to step into guest/ public areas.  

We too have aspirations of a new campus....one day :)

Best of luck!

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Denise Bouey
Director of Animal Outcomes
Maui Humane Society
HI
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-20-2026 06:16 PM
From: Jessica Barber
Subject: Challenges Faced When Opening a New Shelter Building?

Hi everyone! I work for a small nonprofit animal rescue with a spay/neuter clinic and thrift shop that support our mission.

After 45 years in two very old, small farmhouses, our shelter outgrew the buildings, and safety and constant repairs made it clear it was time for change. Thanks to five years of grassroots fundraising ($4M raised ), we're nearing completion of a new shelter. We're in a small, rural county where word travels fast, so we're hoping to avoid as many bumps as possible.

If you've been involved in opening a new shelter or clinic, I'd love to hear what challenges you faced - or tips that helped- especially around the building itself, crowd flow, ribbon cutting/grand opening, press & PR, small events for major donors, anything related to community partnerships/sponsors, and setting expectations with staff, volunteers, and the community. I would welcome anything you'd like to share, not just limited to what I've mentioned. I'm trying to anticipate as much as possible. 😉

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!

Jessica Barber
Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society
McMinnville, Oregon 

#AccesstoCare
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#CaseManagement*
#CommunityPartnerships*
#DisasterRelief
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#EducationandTraining
#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#FosterPrograms
#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia
#OrganizationalManagement
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Jessica Barber
Social Impact Specialist
Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society
OR
------------------------------