We have a true passion for animals.
"Shelter Planners of America" is known nationwide as the most experienced and skilled animal shelter consulting service you can obtain. We have more than 30 years of animal shelter planning experience and have worked with over 750 animal shelter groups. Our founder trained as an architect, worked in architectural offices, was then in charge of all animal shelter design consulting nation-wide for the Humane Society of the United States for 11 years. He also operated four different animal shelters for a total of 11 years as Executive Director or President.
It is this understanding of your daily operational needs that allows us to design your shelter to really work the way you expect and not surprise you with design problems once your project is constructed.
As a first step in planning a new shelter, or a renovation and expansion of your existing shelter, we will personally develop your Needs Assessment Study that is unique to your community and your group. The second step will involve the layout of your shelter plan. The plan will reflect all of your needs and wishes and assure that your new or renovated and expanded building is the best it can be. The plan will be laid out to comply with applicable building codes and best practices in animal welfare.
We would be pleased to provide you guidance on how to get started with the design of your new animal shelter or the renovation and expansion of your existing animal shelter.
The Team
Michael Barnard
AIA, NCARB, ACO, Shelter Architect
President
Mr. Barnard has over 40 years of experience in Architecture. He is a nationally certified Architect registered in multiple states. Mr. Barnard is a certified Animal Control Officer, and has hundreds of hours of Animal Welfare education from the Humane Society of the United States, Best Friends Animal Society and the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators.
Jed Ford
DVM
Veterinary Design Consultant
Dr. Ford has over 35 years of experience in veterinary medicine. He founded Family Pet Clinic in 1990 and expanded to operate three animal hospitals. He served on the Executive Board of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association from 2007 to 2014 and served as the President in 2013. He initiated the transformation of the TVMA Shelter task force and has served as a member of the TVMA Government Relations Committee, Animal Welfare Committee, and the Animal Shelter Committee.
Jay has over 30 years of experience in the Animal Welfare Industry at both the administrative and hands-on “frontline” level. For seven years Jay worked for The Humane Society of the United States where he served as the Regional Program Manager and Texas State Director. While at the HSUS, Jay worked tirelessly to lobby in Austin for better animal welfare legislation, and he was able to help create and pass new training laws for animal control officers.