AIA Dallas 2020 Emerging Leaders Program: Class Project Selection

Since DPA started in 2013, they have been committed to helping Dallas reach NO KILL STATUS by saving all healthy and treatable animals from euthanasia. DPA has over 300 fosters at any given time looking for a home and with only 3 staff members. They heavily rely on volunteers. The current stay time of animals in their foster homes is 3 months - which is way too long!

ELP’s involvement in the design and implementation of several prototypical adoption centers would decrease that 3-month adoption time and allow fosters to save many more lives of animals in need. Currently, DPA visits shelters on a weekly basis to take in animals that have no other hope - whether they are too old, too young, or in need of dire medical attention. Their network of fosters holds onto these animals until adoption, with DPA paying for all vet care, vaccinations, assistance with food when needed, and 30-day pet insurance coverage upon adoption.   

Dallas Pets Alive hosts adoption events, which are celebrated as social gatherings within the community - where they partner with local vets to provide low cost vaccinations and other pet training services. Our design concepts would carry out DPA’s core goals via two prototypes – one permanent adoption center and the second as a moveable pop-up prototypical adoption center that can be replicated by other animal rescue initiatives in the future. The movable prototype would be highly utilized in high-traffic locations such as local breweries, bars, shopping districts, and special events. As a cost-effective option, the modular shipping container pop up adoption centers would be used for dogs, with 10-12 kennels at each, including turf dog runs and training areas.

This partnership with Dallas Pets Alive will help promote their mission of providing the resources, education, and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals in North Texas. We believe that with our help, this innovative approach to animal rescue will create a paradigm shift in the way our community views animal rescue.