For the animals.
Starting an animal shelter is a big undertaking. There are many types of shelters. Some take in feral animals, giving them a haven to roam, while others take in specific animals or breeds only. Consider opening a no-kill shelter and having provisions for older or handicapped animals. Decide whether you intend to run your shelter as a profit-making business or as a non-profit charity. If opting for a charity, you must go through the process of qualifying as a non-profit organization. Either way, understand the business side of running a shelter. Take college classes if you have no other business background before pursuing this endeavor.
Know Your Area
In deciding what type of shelter to open, look around at other shelters in your area. Consider offering a shelter that will fill an untapped niche, accepting types of animals not taken into other shelters. Consider a specialized, rescue-based shelter that adopts out only one breed of dog. Specialized rescue shelters may take in only rabbits or ferrets. You might opt for a shelter that only takes in racing greyhounds. Alternatively, you could start a shelter for more exotic animals, such as llamas and burros.
If your shelter houses a variety of animals, focusing on dogs and cats (perhaps with some rabbits, ferrets, etc.), you will likely be in competition with other local shelters. If so, study the competition and access the area. Figure out if the area can support more than one shelter. And look at how your competition runs its business so you can make improvements.
Consider a Franchise
There are many animal shelter franchises. To start out with some name recognition and help in getting the business started, as well as having a business plan supplied, consider opening a franchise (pet franchise information can be found online). Even if you prefer opening your own shelter, looking into franchise opportunities may provide you with additional ideas for opening your ideal shelter.
Also talk to other shelter owners and managers for their insights. While competitors may or may not be willing to talk to you, contact shelters not in your area to find a mentor.
Design Around the Animals
Plan your shelter around your animals' needs. Cages alone will not make for good shelters or habitats. Design your shelter with enough space to have a couple of dog runs, where the dogs can be rotated out of their cages to have time to exercise. It will help keep the dogs healthy on physical, mental and emotional levels. Cats, too, need an exercise area with climbing and scratching posts. Ideally, every animal would have ample space, but that won't be a realistic goal. But you can plan for space the animals can share and take turns using.
Also consider making the play areas visible to potential customers. Let them see the animals playing and moving freely as pets should. Not only will it show that you've treated the shelter animals well, but also it will allow the animals a chance to show off more positive personality traits.
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