`These kids have big hearts'
Arcata High School students build 6 doghouses for people in need
Students in Arcata High School's agricultural mechanics class recently constructed six doghouses that are currently headed to a local nonprofit animal rescue organization that will help place them with families in need.
“These doghouses will now go to Companion Animal Foundation, where they will be matched with the perfect dogs and owners,” said AHS agriculture teacher Andrew Pierce, who teaches the agricultural mechanics course at the high school.
The class, he said, is focused on giving students the opportunity to build skills in a number of technical areas such as rough construction, plumbing, electrical and welding. As part of this year's curriculum, Pierce wanted to develop a student project that would focus on basic framing, siding and roofing.
“Building a doghouse checks all of those boxes,” he said. “It is like building a tiny house.”
The doghouses are based on a design created by a Eureka High School agriculture teacher named Garrett Forbes, Pierce said. Students built the doghouses during class time with Pierce's assistance.
Pierce says that as the students were working on the doghouses, they began to talk with him about what they would do with the shelters once they were completed.
“A few of our students expressed interest in donating the doghouses rather than selling them,” Pierce said. “I thought this was an amazing opportunity to connect the project to the community and to be a part of something greater, so I began contacting local shelters to try and provide them to people who have or want dogs, but do not have a shelter for them during our cold, wet winters.
“I was overwhelmed by the students' enthusiasm for the project,” he added, “and I am specifically impressed by their willingness to donate them to the community. These kids have big hearts.”
Caterina Morones, 18, was one of the students who helped build the doghouses. The AHS senior says she has long loved helping animals.
“Getting to make something and donate it to animals who are in need is something that I thought was really special and I wanted to do,” Morones said.
Lillian Cunningham, a 16-yearold Arcata High junior who has four pet dogs, also was involved with the doghouse project.
“I have a love for dogs, and I grew up crawling into my dogs' doghouse and hanging out. I thought it was cool to do something for animals in need,” she said.
Community connections
Kim Class, founder and executive director of the Companion Animal Foundation, said a while ago she was contacted by Pierce, who told her that his students wanted to make doghouses and he was hoping she could help them find homes.
“I think anyone who knows someone in need, or needs one themselves, should reach out to discuss. The kids want all their effort to go where it's most needed,” Class said. “The houses will be at Companion Animal Foundation, and from there can be delivered. We only request a picture, so each group of kids who made the house can see where their project ended up and what dog or dogs the house will be home to.”
Recently, Class visited the Arcata High School agricultural mechanics class to talk with Pierce and the students about their doghouse project and to view the finished works.
“The houses are so colorful and created with a lot of love,” Class said. “… The colors, the sturdiness and the size make each of these special.”
She added, “While these houses are beautiful, it's important to remember that being solely outside is not an ideal life for any dog. Dogs are pack animals and no matter what, they want to be with people or other dogs. Oftentimes, when someone wants to adopt a dog from me the first thing people will say to me is, `I have a great backyard,' and while I appreciate what each person says to me, my response is always the same: `I'm glad you have a backyard that you seem to love, but the truth is, dogs don't care what a backyard is like, they only care about where their human, the person to look to, is at.' I do know that the ideal world for dogs and reality often clash and sometimes dogs do spend the majority of their lives outside, and as people grow more limited, a doghouse might be something they really, really need for their dog to be comfortable, but they simply can't afford one. Voila, almost like magic, this is where these incredible students have given their time and talent to help out. This is the core of beauty.”
Agricultural mechanics is a new class at Arcata High School, Pierce said.
“We are teaching this class for the first time this year, which has required me to purchase a number of tools and materials to teach these skills,” he said. “The tools will be used for years to come, but the consumable materials such as hardware, roofing, plywood and paint had to be purchased for this one-time use. We also received a donation of lumber from North Fork Lumber.
Pierce added, “We are hoping to receive monetary donations from the community to help cover the cost of materials (for the doghouses), as well as to help us with similar projects in the future. Checks can be made out to Arcata FFA (and sent to) 1720 M St., Arcata, CA 95521.”
“Getting to make something and donate it to animals who are in need is something that I thought was really special and I wanted to do.” — Caterina Morones, AHS senior
Class is also hoping the community will step up to add a few finishing touches to the students' handmade doghouses.
She said, “We do need two warm blankets per house so whoever takes them can have one for the house and one to wash. I'm hoping we might get a little
help with transport. … I think it would be nice to have some straw to put in front of the house — if the guardian is OK with this. (This) is helpful to take up some of the mud before the dog goes in the house.”
For more information about Companion Animal Foundation, and to donate blankets or to help transport doghouses to their new homes, go to https://www. cafanimals.org or call CAF at 707-296-4629