Can a repurposed shipping container help prevent dog euthanasia?
In Palm Beach County, Florida, local animal shelters are drowning in overcrowding—tracking as many as 356 dogs when their capacity is just 250. To prevent euthanasia and preserve the area’s “nearly no-kill” status, the nonprofit Hospitality Helping Hands is piloting a creative solution: converting shipping containers into temporary dog kennels.
Overcrowded Shelters Face Tough Choices
Shelters like Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control report being 85–90% full, with a live release rate of 87%, just shy of the 90% benchmark needed for a no-kill designation. This strain forces some to consider euthanasia when space runs out, even as the community seeks more foster and adoptive homes.
Container Kennels Offer Immediate Relief
Hospitality Helping Hands is converting 40-foot shipping containers into insulated, air-conditioned kennels. Each unit holds up to 30 small dogs (or a few larger ones), and includes individual outdoor runs and climate control.
These containers can be delivered free to shelters in urgent need, offering a temporary housing solution while the shelter stabilises its population and increases adoptions or fosters.
Community-Driven Build & Support
Nonprofit director Rodney Mayo explained that these containers can be built in about thirty days and moved from facility to facility as needed. The first container is nearly finished and expected to be deployed soon. Mayo and his team plan to produce up to ten units this summer, collectively creating capacity for 300–1,000 dogs depending on size.
They’re seeking volunteers in trades like carpentry, plumbing, welding, and electrical work. Donations of items—such as air-conditioning units, windows, and doors—are also accepted. Businesses can sponsor a container (and have their logo featured) to help expand capacity further.
“Shipping containers are the perfect fit for kennels—they’re movable and can provide immediate relief to shelters in crisis.”
— Rodney Mayo, Director, Hospitality Helping Hands
If you’re local to South Florida, shelters need help: volunteer your trade skills—or consider sponsoring a container to help save more dogs. Interested in joining the cause or want volunteering templates? Just say the word.
