Friends of Homeless Animals Shelter

Founded in 1973 in Loudoun County, FOHA is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats. The original log cabin-style house remains a central feature, inspiring their slogan, “Home with us until they’re home with you.”

Over time, the facility has expanded to 18,934 square feet, encompassing animal housing, storage, and offices. However, the current animal housing and adoption services face limitations due to the physical and operational challenges posed by our numerous existing buildings, as well as their age and materials.

The new design aims to address these issues by creating spaces that meet State Vet requirements and adhere to the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, published by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. This will promote the well-being of animals.

The new facility will be welcoming to the public, fostering adoption, education, and interaction. It will also be highly efficient for staff to operate and maintain, with a focus on streamlined animal support processes and durable building materials.

Key design elements include appropriate separations between different animal populations (quarantine, isolation, and adoption), their food, and care infrastructure to minimize disease spread. We are also prioritizing stress-free environments through proper airflow, acoustics, lighting, and other features to enhance animal behavior, health, and adoption outcomes. Additionally, the veterinary care facilities will be improved to provide more comprehensive wellness services.

The programming includes two new buildings: a 5,400 square-foot Cat Housing Building with an attached vet suite, and a 2,700 square-foot Dog Housing Building. The Cat Housing Building will accommodate 40 cats, featuring kitten rooms, cat community rooms, and catios (cat patios), and will also house the new veterinary services and surgery center, including space for eight dogs in isolation. The Dog Housing Building is designed for 20 adoptable dogs. Both buildings will be bright, contemporary, efficient, durable, and consistent with the existing campus’s architectural style.