Senior Capstone
I have always been an “animal lover”. Animals, both domesticated and wild deserve a fair quality of life. Humans have done so much harm to wild species, and many people are aware of this. What many fail to see is the countless animals who cannot fend for themselves because of human domestication. Dogs and cats need humans to provide shelter, food, and companionship. In the past few years, shelters have become over capacity due to owner surrenders, stray intakes, and even illegal dumping. It breaks my heart to see living beings being thrown out as if they are a piece of furniture. These animals deserve more than what they have been given. I follow many shelters, rescues, groomers, trainers, and fosters on social media, so I see just how dire the situation has become since the pandemic. Our community needs a support system for these animals and people. There are simply too many animals and not enough space. Lexington South Carolina is in the heart of this epidemic. A shelter should do more than house animals, it should provide low-cost medical care and supplies to those in need. A major driver of pet overpopulation is the lack of education about basic care. What is currently happening is not sustainable, and too many innocent lives are being lost due to there being nowhere to go.
01
Initial Research
I experienced this issue firsthand earlier last year. My father found a large black female dog running down the middle of a busy road. We worked tirelessly to find the owner; posting on Facebook, making signs, scanning the microchip, going to vets to see if they recognize the animal, and more. Despite our best efforts, nobody came forward. We then decided to go to our local non-profit rescue to surrender her. They told us that we could either foster her and wait until they had space or take her to the municipal shelter. We fostered her for several weeks and took her to the vet for vaccinations. Due to the lack of resources at the rescue, we paid for her medical care including her spay. That was a very eye-opening experience for me. It is heartbreaking knowing that she probably had a family that just dumped her. She was the sweetest dog, so it was obvious that she was once loved. I often wonder what led to her being found by us. Was she turned away from the shelter, did her family have to relocate, could they simply no longer afford her? People are struggling and it is our duty as neighbors to help them through tough times.
02
Building Design
The solution to the epidemic involves creating an all-inclusive facility to help some of the most common causes of rehoming and abuse. People not only need a place to take unwanted animals, but they also need the resources to care for those that they currently own in order to prevent future rehoming. A free supply and food pantry for cats and dogs as well as a low-cost veterinary clinic help those who are struggling financially. One on one as well as group education classes help to teach about proper care and provide support. Training services help those who are dealing with behavior problems.
All of these solutions not only help those who might have to surrender their pet, but also those who have recently adopted from the shelter. This reduces the return rate on recently adopted animals, which in turn leaves more space to help more animals. If people are given resources for proper animal care, then surrender and abuse rates for animals will drop.
03
Gallery Reception
Japanese public bathing has existed for centuries. Private baths in homes were not common until modern times, so public bathhouses were created, filling a need for providing hygiene in communities. Japanese culture is steeped in ritual, and ritual is an integral part of public bathhouses.
While they served the necessary function of providing facilities for cleaning the body, the design and amenities in public bathhouses also provided a place for relaxation. Patrons could experience a cleansing of both body and mind while also experiencing a sense of community. The experience of bathing in a public bathhouse is at least as important as, if not more important than, the result of cleaning the body.
