Animal Welfare Professionals

Does anyone have any practical solutions to help reduce the overall noise level in the kennels?  I know size, construction materials, number of animals, etc can all impact the noise level but I hoping to get some input about what works and what doesn't work to dampen the noise.   Using a handheld decibel meter, our 20 dog kennel area registers between 90 and 105 db during peak activity times.
#OrganizationalManagement
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Hi there!
There was a great session I attended during the ASPCA-AAWA Research Forum in November 2021 called "Measuring & Minimizing Sound in Shelters to Improve Cat Welfare". The presenter was Bailey Eagan from the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program. I know you didn't specifically ask about cats but this presentation was SO good and included a lot of actionable items to help reduce stress for all the animals in your care (and people too). I highly recommend it! The presentation touched on sources of noise like dishes, doors, cabinets, human voices, and cage reverberations and included ways to mitigate them.  

The session is available to watch for free at ASPCAOnline (Again, I highly recommend!).  Here's how:

• go to https://www.aspcaonline.org/#/catalog
• if you don't already have an account on ASPCAOnline, sign up for a free account to get access
• if you're not brought back to that catalog page after you register, go back to https://www.aspcaonline.org/#/catalog 
• select ASPCA-AAWA Research Forum
• click "Enroll" under "Measuring & Minimizing Sound in Shelters To..." 

I've attached a PDF of the presentation but I recommend watching the session as there were so many gems and aha moments. I hope this is a helpful resource for you! 

------------------------------
Kim Domerofski (she/her)
Community Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

thanks for the link.  I watched it and picked up several good "nuggets" of info.

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-02-2022 10:24 AM
From: Kim Domerofski
Subject: noise mitigation

Hi there!
There was a great session I attended during the ASPCA-AAWA Research Forum in November 2021 called "Measuring & Minimizing Sound in Shelters to Improve Cat Welfare". The presenter was Bailey Eagan from the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program. I know you didn't specifically ask about cats but this presentation was SO good and included a lot of actionable items to help reduce stress for all the animals in your care (and people too). I highly recommend it! The presentation touched on sources of noise like dishes, doors, cabinets, human voices, and cage reverberations and included ways to mitigate them.  

The session is available to watch for free at ASPCAOnline (Again, I highly recommend!).  Here's how:

• go to https://www.aspcaonline.org/#/catalog
• if you don't already have an account on ASPCAOnline, sign up for a free account to get access
• if you're not brought back to that catalog page after you register, go back to https://www.aspcaonline.org/#/catalog 
• select ASPCA-AAWA Research Forum
• click "Enroll" under "Measuring & Minimizing Sound in Shelters To..." 

I've attached a PDF of the presentation but I recommend watching the session as there were so many gems and aha moments. I hope this is a helpful resource for you! 

------------------------------
Kim Domerofski (she/her)
Community Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Sorry, forgot to attach the presentation. Here it is!

------------------------------
Kim Domerofski (she/her)
Community Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Spot on!     Before I retired and became a shelter volunteer, I evaluated acoustics and designed treatments for classrooms to improve intelligibility and reduce distraction and stress.   I like Bailey Eagan's approach because it is evidence-based with measurable improvements both in sound levels and feline well-being.    The recommended acoustical treatments and caregiver practices are sound in principle and cost-effective.   

If you are with a shelter that is considering remodeling or new construction, I would urge you to seek the services of an acoustical consultant very early in the design process.  It is much cheaper to design good acoustics into any project at the outset (in some cases, at no additional cost), than to try to fix them afterwards.  Your board may be able to enlist help pro bono.  

------------------------------
MALCOLM MONTGOMERY
Owner
EDUTECH CONSULTING SERVICES LLC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-02-2022 10:26 AM
From: Kim Domerofski (She/Her)
Subject: noise mitigation

Sorry, forgot to attach the presentation. Here it is!

------------------------------
Kim Domerofski (she/her)
Community Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Dog playgroups reduce noise levels considerably as tired and worn out dogs are less frantic and kennel crazed.

------------------------------
Kit O'Doherty
Director, Partners in Animal Care & Compassion (PACC)
kitodoherty@gmail.com | partnersinanimalcare.com
------------------------------

absolutely!
thanks

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-02-2022 11:18 AM
From: Kit ODoherty
Subject: noise mitigation

Dog playgroups reduce noise levels considerably as tired and worn out dogs are less frantic and kennel crazed.

------------------------------
Kit O'Doherty
Director, Partners in Animal Care & Compassion (PACC)
kitodoherty@gmail.com | partnersinanimalcare.com
------------------------------

Our shelter gets up to about 110db when we measured as well.  It was the one part of the new construction that was not properly considered when our shelter was built.

1. Whenever possible make sure dogs in kennels are not facing each other.  If your shelter is designed with facing kennels, stagger your dog placement or have some sort of visual barrier blocking them from being directly opposite another dog.
   
   
2. Have treat containers on each dog kennel and encourage staff, volunteers, and guests to give dogs treats when they're being quiet.  For staff and volunteers, specifically take the treat out, show it to the dog, and wait or physically motion them to be quiet and not be paws-up on the door.
   
   
3. Typically it's just some of the dogs that are more reactive and their barking sets off everyone else.  For those high intensity dogs, having blankets up against cage walls or doors helps block some of the visual stimulation that sets off barking.
   
   
4. For dogs that are very stressed, or very reactionary barkers, we give small doses of trazodone.
   
   
5. Some studies have shown small efficacy on calming effects from scent or light music in the kennel area.  It can also help to have reduced lighting when people are not walking through to help lower the mood energy level.
   
   
6. We looked at ceiling, hanging, and wall baffling for noise control.  These can be effective if you have poor architecture solutions like we do, and they help limit reverberation, but they won't have a giant effect and are fairly expensive.
   
   
7. In terms of controlling barking noise beyond the dog area.  Look to address mass and air gaps.  The heavier a door or wall, the more sound it will block, having things like thin glass windows in doors lets sound through, hollow core doors let sound through.  For air gaps, anywhere air can get through, sound can get through, so putting in door sweeps and rubber gaskets around doors can help block air transfer.

Couple of other resources:

• Fear Free Pets Noise Control Basics
• ASPCA Pro Sound Control Basics
• Temple Grandin's Research on Sound Exposure
• IAABC Enrichment Guide for Stress Reduction

I'm also attaching a file I have on "Barkitecture" which is a more general guide on shelter design, but the very first section talks about sound control because it's such an important design factor.

------------------------------
Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
------------------------------

thank you Jeff.  Lots of good suggestions.  We are looking into the acoustical ceiling tiles.   Certainly not cheap but expect they will be beneficial in the long run.

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-02-2022 03:55 PM
From: Jeff Okazaki
Subject: noise mitigation

Our shelter gets up to about 110db when we measured as well.  It was the one part of the new construction that was not properly considered when our shelter was built.

1. Whenever possible make sure dogs in kennels are not facing each other.  If your shelter is designed with facing kennels, stagger your dog placement or have some sort of visual barrier blocking them from being directly opposite another dog.
   
   
2. Have treat containers on each dog kennel and encourage staff, volunteers, and guests to give dogs treats when they're being quiet.  For staff and volunteers, specifically take the treat out, show it to the dog, and wait or physically motion them to be quiet and not be paws-up on the door.
   
   
3. Typically it's just some of the dogs that are more reactive and their barking sets off everyone else.  For those high intensity dogs, having blankets up against cage walls or doors helps block some of the visual stimulation that sets off barking.
   
   
4. For dogs that are very stressed, or very reactionary barkers, we give small doses of trazodone.
   
   
5. Some studies have shown small efficacy on calming effects from scent or light music in the kennel area.  It can also help to have reduced lighting when people are not walking through to help lower the mood energy level.
   
   
6. We looked at ceiling, hanging, and wall baffling for noise control.  These can be effective if you have poor architecture solutions like we do, and they help limit reverberation, but they won't have a giant effect and are fairly expensive.
   
   
7. In terms of controlling barking noise beyond the dog area.  Look to address mass and air gaps.  The heavier a door or wall, the more sound it will block, having things like thin glass windows in doors lets sound through, hollow core doors let sound through.  For air gaps, anywhere air can get through, sound can get through, so putting in door sweeps and rubber gaskets around doors can help block air transfer.

Couple of other resources:

• Fear Free Pets Noise Control Basics
• ASPCA Pro Sound Control Basics
• Temple Grandin's Research on Sound Exposure
• IAABC Enrichment Guide for Stress Reduction

I'm also attaching a file I have on "Barkitecture" which is a more general guide on shelter design, but the very first section talks about sound control because it's such an important design factor.

------------------------------
Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
------------------------------

Look at ACOUSTABLOC.  It's the same insulation material that musicians use to soundproof recording studios.  There are a few similar options. Vary in costs.

------------------------------
Amy Shever
(Volunteer) Executive Director
2nd Chance 4 Pets
------------------------------

Our kennel is a metal building.  No problems with sound echoing there!! 
The noise was so bad, you could not even hear yourself think let alone have a conversation in the building. 
We had sound baffles installed.  Now you can actually have a brief conversation.
Still not whisper quiet, but it has certainly helped.
We used NetWell and the total cost was just under $6,000 in 2018.  
We could only place them on the walls because of skylights, but I think if we could have put them on the ceiling that would have reduced the sound even more.
Our building is 4,500 SF, and our Friends of group raised the funds to pay for them.

Besides all the tips for keeping dogs quiet, sound baffles will really help.

------------------------------
Tracy Mohr
Animal Services Manager
City of Chico Animal Services
5308945630
------------------------------

Glad to hear the sound baffles made a difference in your kennel.   We are seriously thinking of giving that a try.   Dogs will be dogs and they will still bark but the baffles should absorb some of the sound.  Thanks for your reply.

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-04-2022 10:17 AM
From: Tracy Mohr
Subject: noise mitigation

Our kennel is a metal building.  No problems with sound echoing there!! 
The noise was so bad, you could not even hear yourself think let alone have a conversation in the building. 
We had sound baffles installed.  Now you can actually have a brief conversation.
Still not whisper quiet, but it has certainly helped.
We used NetWell and the total cost was just under $6,000 in 2018.  
We could only place them on the walls because of skylights, but I think if we could have put them on the ceiling that would have reduced the sound even more.
Our building is 4,500 SF, and our Friends of group raised the funds to pay for them.

Besides all the tips for keeping dogs quiet, sound baffles will really help.

------------------------------
Tracy Mohr
Animal Services Manager
City of Chico Animal Services
5308945630
------------------------------

Hi, 

I'm currently looking into this for my shelter as well-if you want to chat and exchange notes I'd love to do that! I'm curious to know if placing baffles on the ceiling or walls makes more sense, does anyone have thoughts on baffle location or placement?

I'll second Bailey Eagan's presentation as a really useful resource for shelters. It's not a physical implementation but training staff and volunteers to "click for quiet" can also really help. 

https://ontariospca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Training-for-Shelter-Dogs-Click-for-Quiet.pdf

------------------------------
Jasmine Odynski
------------------------------

Jasmine,  this has been one of the most challenging projects I have worked on.   There are so many different types of materials, spacing recommendations, installation quidelines and a wide range of costs (from $3 to $35/sq ft), that it boggles the mind.   We are seriously considering a product called "Sound Silencer" which can be purchased through Acoustical Surfaces.  They have a lot of good information on their website and have been very good at answering all of our questions.   The product costs about $8.28/sq ft plus shipping.   the panels can be mounted on the walls or the ceilings or as hanging baffles, doesn't seem to make any difference.  In our case we are planning on mounting them on the ceiling.   We still have a few more questions about "spacing" the panels since we would prefer to avoid having to add more panels later if we don't get it right the first time.
Hope this information helps you.

------------------------------
Kingman County Humane Society
director
Kingman County Humane Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-05-2022 08:40 AM
From: Jasmine Odynski
Subject: noise mitigation

Hi, 

I'm currently looking into this for my shelter as well-if you want to chat and exchange notes I'd love to do that! I'm curious to know if placing baffles on the ceiling or walls makes more sense, does anyone have thoughts on baffle location or placement?

I'll second Bailey Eagan's presentation as a really useful resource for shelters. It's not a physical implementation but training staff and volunteers to "click for quiet" can also really help. 

https://ontariospca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Training-for-Shelter-Dogs-Click-for-Quiet.pdf

------------------------------
Jasmine Odynski
------------------------------