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Volunteers propose indoor dog play space as part of planned shelter expansion; council receptive
Summary
Friends of the Colony Animal Services presented a plan for a roughly 400‑square‑foot indoor dog play area to be included in the city's shelter expansion, seeking a 50/50 funding split (Friends would raise $50,000–$60,000); council voiced support and asked staff to coordinate plumbing and costing in the expansion.
Friends of the Colony Animal Services and city staff presented a proposal to add a roughly 400‑square‑foot indoor dog play space to a planned expansion of the Colony Animal Services facility.
Mark Cooper, city staff overseeing the shelter expansion, said the expansion budget included additional kennels and that volunteers asked whether an indoor play area could be added. "This play space that we're envisioning is right adjacent to that, just on the south side...It is about 400 square feet," Cooper said.
A volunteer with Friends of the Colony (identified in the transcript as Susie) said research shows dogs with regular playtime show lower stress behaviors and become more adoptable; she cited studies suggesting playtime reduces stress‑related behaviors by about 50% and can speed adoption by 20–30%.
Volunteers proposed a 50/50 funding split with the city; Cooper said the city's portion if added during the expansion is estimated at $100,000–$120,000 and Friends would aim to raise $50,000–$60,000 via kennel sponsorships (targeting $3,000 for three years per sponsor) and a donor 'Fetch A Brick' campaign projected to yield $15,000–$20,000.
Council members expressed support for adding the room during the main build to avoid higher later costs and asked about plumbing and drainage. "I'm assuming the building will have the plumbing with the drainage ... kind of like the other facilities do for easy cleaning and functionality," one councilmember said. Staff confirmed coordination with the city's capital project lead on plumbing and site integration.
No formal council vote was recorded on the item; it was presented as a discussion item to provide direction to staff. Councilmembers signaled support and encouraged volunteers' fundraising; staff will factor the play space into the shelter expansion design and budget process if the council directs proceeding.
If fundraising meets targets and the council approves budget inclusion, the play space would be constructed as part of the shelter expansion rather than as a separate later project.
