New winter kennels at the Friend shelter

Last winter, snow blew straight through the gaps in the old kennels at the Friend shelter. Volunteers spent the nights moving the oldest dogs indoors and wrapping kittens in towels to keep them warm. This year they decided it would not happen again.

With money from HelplessPaw supporters, the shelter bought roofing sheets, insulation boards, timber and straw. The materials arrived in early October and the work started the same weekend.

Twelve kennels in ten days

Volunteers fixed new roofs, sealed the walls, and raised the floors off the cold ground. Each kennel now has an insulated sleeping box filled with fresh straw. The cat room got new windows and two oil heaters.

Sixty dogs and cats now have a warm, dry place to sleep. The first night after the work was finished, the shelter manager sent us a photo of a row of sleeping dogs, every one of them curled up in the straw.

What your money did

Because volunteers gave their time for free, the money raised went almost entirely on materials. The same budget that would have paid a building firm for four kennels repaired twelve. Thank you for keeping these animals warm this winter.