Watch Shelter Dogs ‘Fully Relax’ in Soundproof Kennels

A video of a serene scene rarely witnessed in animal shelters has gone viral on Instagram.

Racking up 9.8 million views, the heartwarming footage shared to @sdhumanesociety shows dogs peacefully sleeping in soundproof kennels.

Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society, spoke to Newsweek about the innovation that has enhanced the animals’ welfare.

“Since the opening of this new building, our dogs seem much calmer and often just sleep or relax in their kennels,” he said. “This is something we’ve never seen before in a shelter setting.”

The text layered over the clip explains: “Your shelter has soundproofed angled habitats so no dogs have direct views of each other and can now fully relax.”

This quiet haven contrasts sharply with the chaotic environment often associated with animal care facilities.

Dr. Weitzman told Newsweek: “We wanted to create a calm environment for the animals in our care, while also increasing visibility of the animals to potential adopters. In the dog habitats, we did this not only by soundproofing to reduce the sound of barking, but by placing the kennels in an angle, so no dogs have direct view of each other. Limiting their view of each other reduces reactivity and barking significantly.”

The noise reduction doesn’t end in the animal habitats. There are also sound baffles throughout the California-based building.

“Other features include carefully selected music to calm animals, pheromone diffusers for particularly anxious pets, and options give animals a break from the eyes of the public so they could truly rest.

“The bottom portions of each dog kennel are also covered, while the top portion have windows into the kennel for public view and so the dogs can see out. To further lower stress levels, the dogs do have an alternative to move away from public view, with a den-like sectioning. All these adjustments, including adding natural lighting from solar tubes and pink noise, have contributed to a much calmer experience.”

Researchers at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in England studied how sleep affects shelter dogs in 2014. They found that not getting enough sleep can lead to anxiety, aggression, and trouble handling stress. They suggested that how well a dog sleeps might show how well it’s adjusting to shelter life. The study aimed to look at how active the dogs were and how that related to their sleep, thinking that the busy shelter life and stress could mean dogs don’t sleep as much as they usually would.

Dr. Weitzman also noted the benefits of a quieter environment for both the animals and the human staff, volunteers, and visitors.

He told Newsweek: “When dogs don’t feed off each other’s stress, they are already in a much calmer state when meeting a potential adopter. Overall, the entire building has a calming, soothing feel.”

Dr. Weitzman’s remarks reflect a profound commitment to reimagining the animal shelter experience. By prioritizing the physical and psychological well-being of the animals in their care, the San Diego Humane Society is not just setting a new standard for animal welfare but also enriching the lives of future pet owners and their companions.

He added: “We feel this building sets our animals up for success because they have a better starting point.”

At time of writing, the video, captioned “We’re so happy to see our pups relaxing until they find their new homes!” has amassed over 721,740 likes. The shelter has also received a sea of support from Instagram users.

One said: “I just love this so much! None of them look frightened at all, but they all need a loving home!”

“This is absolutely amazing! To be able to see a dog totally relaxed and comfortable, free of anxiety and fear feeding from other stressed animals is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!” praised another.

A third commenter said: “THIS is truly what an animal shelter should be. A calming safe haven for animals who are getting their second chance. It breaks my heart when I see so many overcrowded, noisy, dirty, underfunded shelters where the dogs’ health and adoptability deteriorate so quickly. If only all shelters could be this peaceful! You guys are doing such a great job; thank you for your incredible work.”

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