Yavapai Humane Society Opens Serenity House: A Peaceful Place to Say Goodbye – The Prescott Times Media

Report on the Inauguration of Serenity House by Yavapai Humane Society

Initiative Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Yavapai Humane Society (YHS) has announced the establishment of Serenity House, a specialized sanctuary located in Prescott, AZ. This initiative is designed to provide a compassionate and tranquil environment for families during the end-of-life process for their pets. The project directly supports several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing community well-being and social infrastructure.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Serenity House directly addresses the mental and emotional well-being of community members by providing a supportive space to manage the grief associated with pet loss. By offering a dignified and peaceful process, the initiative mitigates psychological distress, promoting overall community health.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The facility represents an advancement in inclusive and compassionate community services. By recognizing the profound human-animal bond and providing social infrastructure to support it, YHS contributes to creating a more resilient, supportive, and sustainable community for all its residents.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: YHS demonstrates its role as a strong local institution responsive to the community’s emotional needs. Serenity House provides a peaceful and just service, ensuring that the final moments of a pet’s life are handled with dignity, compassion, and respect, thereby strengthening the social fabric.

Project Mandate and Executive Statement

The primary purpose of Serenity House is to offer a private, home-like setting where families can say goodbye to their companions. The facility was designed to ensure a process marked by grace, dignity, and peace.

Rich McClish, Executive Director of YHS, stated, “Serenity House is the soft place to land that every family deserves. In this gentle, home-like space, we can slow down, hold our pets close, and honor the love they’ve given us. It’s about kindness at the hardest moment — a peaceful goodbye wrapped in compassion, dignity, and gratitude for a lifetime of companionship.” This statement underscores the project’s alignment with promoting well-being (SDG 3) and compassionate community values (SDG 11).

Grand Opening and Community Partnership Event

To foster community engagement and partnership, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), YHS will host a Grand Opening open house. This event invites the public to learn about the new facility and its contribution to community welfare.

1. Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
2. Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
3. Location: Yavapai Humane Society campus, 1625 Sundog Ranch Road, Prescott, AZ

The event will feature guided tours of Serenity House, opportunities to meet the YHS team, light refreshments, and a hosted bar. It serves as a platform to strengthen the partnership between YHS and the residents of Yavapai County, reinforcing the collaborative effort required to build strong, supportive communities.

Official Points of Contact

For media inquiries, the designated contacts are as follows:

• Christine Campbell: ccampbell@yavapaihumane.org
• Loree Walden: lmwalden@yavapaihumane.org

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects to the well-being of community members. The establishment of Serenity House is an initiative focused on providing mental and emotional support to families during the difficult time of losing a pet. The text emphasizes creating a space for “peace, comfort, and compassion” and a “tranquil, home-like setting” to help people cope with grief. This directly contributes to the mental health and well-being of the pet-owning population in Yavapai County.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the creation of a new community-focused facility by the Yavapai Humane Society. Serenity House serves as a piece of social infrastructure that enhances the quality of life for residents. By providing a supportive and compassionate service, it makes the community more inclusive and resilient. The open invitation to all community members to “explore the new space” underscores its role as a resource for the entire community, contributing to a more caring and sustainable social environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

  This target aims to “reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s focus is squarely on the latter part of this target. Serenity House is explicitly designed to support the emotional and mental health of families by offering a “gentle, home-like space” to “slow down, hold our pets close, and honor the love they’ve given us.” This service directly addresses the psychological distress associated with pet loss, thereby promoting mental well-being within the community.

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible public spaces

  This target calls for providing “universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.” While not a public park, Serenity House is a community space designed to be inclusive and accessible to “every family” facing the loss of a pet. The article describes it as a “sanctuary” and a “soft place to land,” highlighting its role as a safe and supportive space for community members. The initiative by the Yavapai Humane Society provides a crucial service that strengthens the social fabric of the community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: Availability of services for mental and emotional support

  The “Grand Opening of Serenity House” itself is a key indicator. The existence of this specialized facility, described as a “first-of-its-kind sanctuary,” demonstrates a concrete action taken by a community organization to provide resources that promote mental and emotional well-being. The number of families who use the service over time would be a direct measure of its impact.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.7: Creation of community-centric facilities

  The establishment of the new facility is an indicator of progress. The article announces the creation of Serenity House as a physical space dedicated to serving the community (“one life, one family, and one heart at a time”). Furthermore, the community’s engagement, measured by attendance at the “special open house celebration,” can serve as an indicator of the perceived value and inclusivity of this new community resource.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theprescotttimes.com