When you walk into Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, you may not realize you’re in an animal shelter. Instead of the desperate howling of terrified dogs, there is an airy, sunny, clean space with dogs, cats and rabbits that are relaxed and curious about the humans who’ve come to meet them. Or they’ll be chilling out in temperature-controlled runs, watching what’s on their individual TVs.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
Launched this past summer in Los Angeles, the mission of Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is to promote and strengthen the human-animal bond. In addition to animal adoptions, PetSpace offers a variety of activities designed to foster life-long community learning.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
This includes touch screens to help visitors learn about specific breeds and “touch and hold” screens that allow visitors to ask questions of the trainers and groomers who are working behind glass in an exhibition room.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
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As for the dogs and other animals waiting for their forever homes, they have a pretty nice set up. The adoption suites are designed to mimic a residential setting with beds, TVs and shared spaces between pets. The scratching post allows communal cats an opportunity to socialize, play, climb and hide in a multi-level space.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
Barks and Rec is a fenced area where adoptable dogs can receive supervised exercise and training.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
The PetFit physical rehabilitation room is dedicated to mental and physical rehabilitation, complete with an underwater treadmill for hydrotherapy.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
The center has room for 40 dogs and 40 cats, along with a fluffle, or colony, of bunnies. For these lucky furbabies, there are 30 staff employees and over 100 volunteers to help introduce them to the good life and care for them mind, body and spirit.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
“Our animal care and adoption team works directly with our partners at the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control to mutually select the animals that are strong candidates to be placed in forever homes,” says Jackie Ott Jaakola, the senior manager of the advocacy, outreach and programs advisor, at the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace.
When animals arrive at the facility, they are medically assessed, groomed and provided with dental care, x-rays, spay or neuter, immunizations, physical rehabilitation, nutrition and more. “Once the pets are clear from a medical, behavioral and hygienic standpoint, they are placed for adoption,” says Jaakola.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
“It’s been a great partnership with PetSpace,” says Don Barre, press information officer at Department of Animal Care and Control. “They have so many resources, such as behavior and medical resources, beyond what we are able to offer.”
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
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PetSpace pulls animals from the Downey, Carson and Baldwin Park animal care centers under the DACC. The partnership helps bring awareness about adoption for those people who won’t go into a county facility. They share the same goal, says Baree: to find forever homes for all of their animals.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
The center was designed to be more than a shelter. “It’s a destination for people to learn about our unique relationship with pets,” says Jaakola. There are giant interactive sculptures of a dog and cat, a human-powered hamster wheel and a two-story slide. The goal is to offer a straightforward, enjoyable approach to pet adoption.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
The focus of PetSpace is also to promote dialogue and awareness around the science behind the human and companion animal bond, says Jaakola. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute is comprised of experts in the field of human-animal studies and put together events, including lectures, workshops and authors speaking about certain topics to educate people on the human-animal bond.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
“Our goal is to continue to bring together experts and provide opportunities that encourage conversations on many topics relating to animal welfare in Los Angeles and beyond,”Jaakola says.
Image Credit: Annenberg PetSpace
By collaborating with animal welfare leaders and scholarly partners, Annenberg PetSpace aims to promote, communicate and model successful adoption practices, while championing the compassionate training of rescued animals for a second chance at life through on-site activities and digital content.
“We encourage and promote conversations among diverse organizations – all with the common goal of animal welfare as well as learning more about and strengthening that special relationship we have with our pets,” says Jaakola.
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As of the end of August, 140 animals have left county shelters for Annenberg PetSpace. Around 50 percent of those dogs, cats, and rabbits have been adopted.
