An animal shelter’s capacity for care is not limited to the number of kennels in its building. It also depends on the support a community can organize: rescue partners, help for people trying to keep their pets, and temporary foster homes. In her June 21, 2024 account, Tawny Hammond of Best Friends Animal Society argues that these connections can give shelters more options for caring for animals.
What “capacity of care” means
In “Capacity of Care: It’s Your Community,” Tawny Hammond, Best Friends Animal Society’s Director of No Kill Advancement, reflects on shelter decisions made when staff believed kennel space was the limiting factor. Her central distinction is between a facility’s physical capacity and the wider support available to care for animals. As Hammond puts it, “A lifesaving animal shelter is an ethic and value that the community will rally around and support.” Read Hammond’s original account.
This is a professional recollection and recommendation, not a controlled evaluation. Hammond does not report a study, quantified outcomes, or a measured comparison showing how much any particular intervention changes shelter capacity.
How community support can expand care options
Build relationships with rescue organizations
Hammond describes strengthening relationships with rescue groups as one way to create more options for animals. A shelter that communicates and coordinates with other organizations can explore whether a partner is able to help with an animal’s placement or care. The article does not prescribe a specific partnership model or claim that every rescue can take animals in every situation.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- DESIGNED WITH REMOVABLE BACK DOOR: We offer an extra back door that attaches to the frame with velcro. It protects against wind and snow in winter to keep your furry friend warm and cosy. It also increases the shaded area and keeps your pets cooler in the hot summer. Our dog kennel can be used all year round
- OUTDOOR DOOR KENNEL: The overall dimensions are 29.5" L x 25.5" W x 25.5" H. The generous size of this dog tent provides plenty of room for your furry friend to run around and play. The weight is 12 lbs, you can place it anywhere you want, it is easy to carry without taking it apart and reassemble
- PORTABLE AND MULTIPURPOSE: Our pet shade tent is designed to be easy to move and set up, making it an ideal accessory for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, picnics and more. It protects your furry friends from the elements anytime and anywhere. Our shade shelter is perfect for outdoor adventure with your furry friend
- MULTISCEANARIO USES: The pet tent can be used as a shelter for many furry animals such as dogs, peacocks, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and other pets or poultry. The portable disassembly can also be used outdoors and it can also be used in the garden as a shelter for some garden tools, just place it to meet your needs
- DURABLE AND STURDY: The dog kennel frame is constructed from high quality steel and features a premium powder coated finish that protects the dog house from rust. This ensures that the dog tent is strong enough to withstand any outdoor conditions and will last for years to come. The product comes with durable ground nails that provide extra stability to protect your pets from sudden weather changes and gusty winds
Help people keep their pets when possible
Hammond also describes looking for alternatives with people considering surrender and with people who have found a pet. The underlying idea is to explore whether practical help or another appropriate option can address the immediate problem before shelter intake becomes the only path. Her account does not set out a service list or a universal process; what help is possible will depend on the person, animal, and community.
Use temporary foster homes
A foster home moves an animal out of the shelter for temporary care, making the community part of the shelter’s care network. Hammond recommends robust foster programs that reflect local needs, including emergency fostering. Regular fostering and emergency fostering are different ways to organize that support, not models the article ranks or evaluates.
Rank #2
- WEATHER COVER FOR BIGGER BACKYARDS: The 600D Oxford canopy tops a 47.2 x 47.2 inch footprint with 39.4 inches of headroom, so medium and large breeds can stand up and turn around inside. Open sides let air move underneath, and the water-resistant cover shades from light rain.
- DESIGNED WITH REMOVABLE BACK DOOR: The rear panel attaches to the frame with hook and loop strips. Take it off in warm weather for airflow through the shelter, or fit it back on to cut wind and blowing rain when the weather turns. Folds flat for storage
- PORTABLE AND MULTIPURPOSE: Our pet shade tent is designed to be easy to move and set up, making it an ideal accessory for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, picnics and more. It protects your furry friends from the elements anytime and anywhere. Our shade shelter is perfect for outdoor adventure with your furry friend
- MULTISCEANARIO USES: The pet tent can be used as a shelter for many furry animals such as dogs, peacocks, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and other pets or poultry. The portable disassembly can also be used outdoors and it can also be used in the garden as a shelter for some garden tools, just place it to meet your needs
- DURABLE AND STURDY: The dog kennel frame is constructed from high quality steel and features a premium powder coated finish that protects the dog house from rust. This ensures that the dog tent is strong enough to withstand any outdoor conditions and will last for years to come. The product comes with durable ground nails that provide extra stability to protect your pets from sudden weather changes and gusty winds
Hammond’s rationale includes concern that shelter environments can be stressful and that disease can spread in closed environments. She also recalls dogs whose concerning behaviors stopped after they left the stressful shelter setting. These observations are her experience; the article gives no sample size, study design, or measured effect, so they should not be read as proof that fostering will produce the same result for every animal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a community should take from the argument
The practical point is to treat community participation as part of a shelter’s care capacity rather than as an optional extra. Hammond’s account points to three areas to consider: coordination with rescue partners, support that may help people keep pets or manage found animals, and foster homes—including emergency foster capacity. Which options are workable, and at what scale, depends on local needs and resources.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #3
- 【Outdoor Cat Feeding Table】: This outdoor feeding house for feral cats allows feral cats to observe their surroundings while eating and not have to worry about messy food trays inconveniencing their neighbors. It can accommodate several cats at the same time.
- 【High Quality Material】 :The outdoor feeding cat house is made of very safe solid wood material, sturdy and durable, featuring a sloping roof windproof and rainproof to avoid interfering with food and water, and ventilation in summer, which is perfect for wild cat feeding.
- 【Space Design】: Large space design, size: 14.6x13.4x14.2in, automatic feeder can be stored in the feeding area, and another clean resting area, providing a better eating environment for cats, easy to clean and store.
- 【Easy to Assemble】:Wooden feeder is more durable and requires easy installation. Comes with mounting accessories with simple instructions for quick assembly.
- 【Stray Pet Restaurant】: Feeding stray animals will bring unnecessary trouble to the surrounding area, stray animals will be able to have a fixed place to eat and also ensure that the food will not be buried by rain or snow. Outdoor cat food houses can be placed in neighborhoods, buildings, courtyards and other places
Best Friends describes its Network as a free community offering information-sharing and resources for shelters and rescue groups. The organization’s Network page reports more than 6,000 animal-welfare organizations; the page does not date that figure, so it should be understood as an organization-reported count rather than a dated measurement. See Best Friends’ Network page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Foldable and Detachable Design：The cat house outdoor is with the inner pad can be removed for easy cleaning and storage. And its material is also easy to fold flat, very portable and light weight, great for travel.
- Ideal for Kitty and Puppy：Our cozy cat house is the perfect home for outdoor cats, community cats, and feral cats warm and comfortable easy-to-assemble, winter-proof cat shelter.Very suitable for pets sleeping in garages, porches, barns, balconies, corridors and even at home, indoor and outdoor.
- Outdoor Waterproof Pet House：The waterproof canvas is waterproof all around, making the house water resistant.Tool-free assembly, and the waterproof structure allows to be placed anywhere, including removable mats!
- Size Optional： the Length x Width x Height of Pet House approx : Medium size is 15.35x14.96x14.17 inch( for pets under 8.8lb.)/ Large Size is 16.93x15.75x16.93 inch( for pets under 13.2lb.).Please refer to the size parameters to select suitable Pet House before ordering it,thank you!
- Warmth: A semi enclosed pet house that can be used with heating pads to protect pets from the harsh winter weather. (Nest package does not include heating pad.)
Rank #4
- RAW MIX DOG FOOD, MADE EASY — RawMix25 is the perfect blend of 25% freeze-dried raw beef, beef liver, beef heart, and beef tripe combined with high-protein meat bites, coated with probiotics for digestive support. The safe, convenient way to add freeze-dried raw dog food to your dog's daily diet
- POWERED BY ORGAN MEAT — Organs are nature's original superfood, packed with liver for immune support, heart for cardiovascular health, and tripe for digestive health. Highly bioavailable nutrition means your dog absorbs more from every bite of this raw mix dog food
- A MORE EXCITING BOWL — Not just a meal, it's an adventure! Our variety of chunky freeze-dried pieces creates a visually exciting bowl dogs go absolutely nuts for. Serve dry or add water for gravy
- CLEAN & CONSCIOUS — Free from corn, wheat, soy, glycerin, growth hormones, and GMOs. No artificial flavors or preservatives. Just real, wholesome freeze-dried raw dog food
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST — Proudly made in the USA with premium globally sourced ingredients. Every batch is tested for safety and quality. Our freeze-drying process locks in natural nutrition and taste for a minimally processed diet
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
