ALBUQUERQUE – Shelter is as important for animals as it is for humans. Albuquerque City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn (District 7) and Dan Champine (District 8) teamed up with the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association and the City Animal Welfare Department (AWD) to ensure more dogs in the community have shelter. Many companion animal guardians are not aware that dogs who live outdoors must be provided with a doghouse under local laws. Others cannot afford to purchase a doghouse or lack the skill to build one of appropriate size. The AWD’s Community Doghouse Program aims to provide shelter for dogs in need.
Councilor Fiebelkorn and Councilor Champine each provided $1,500 in constituent funding to the program. With those funds, the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association built, customized, and delivered 30 doghouses paid for with the councilors' $3,000 contribution.
“Dogs belong inside with their human families, but if they are made to live outside it’s vital that they be provided with good quality housing to protect them from the elements,” said Councilor Fiebelkorn. “Thanks to all the volunteers with Albuquerque Woodworkers Association for building these shelters for dogs in our community. The compassion you have shown is incredible and an excellent example of how our community comes together to help those in need.”
“I would urge everyone who cares about dogs to donate to this cause,” said Councilor Champine. “The Animal Welfare Department should be proud of their work to provide doghouses for those in our community who cannot afford to buy or build houses for their dogs. There are many ways we all can help AWD in their mission to provide excellent care and services to our residents and their pets.”
The Albuquerque Woodworkers Association is one of several donors contributing doghouses to the Community Doghouse Program. The Animal Welfare Department accepts donations of gently used and new doghouses, as well as donations of money and materials. The AWA provided plans and built the doghouses based on specifications from Animal Welfare Department officials.
“These doghouses were built with wafer board instead of plywood, which allowed us to build more houses at a more reasonable cost,” said John M. Henderson III, Vice-President of the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association (AWA). “They are finished with polyurethane to protect them from the elements. We believe they have a 10-year life expectancy and will provide great shelter for most dog breeds. We had 6-15 volunteers working in teams every weekend for a month in an assembly-line-like process, thanks to the workshop provided by one of our talented members. Our nearly 200 skilled members are always eager to engage in community projects and outreach.”
Animal Welfare Department Director Carolyn Ortega believes the department’s Doghouse Donation program has been a worthwhile undertaking, with hundreds of donated doghouses delivered since its inception. The lottery program has income and eligibility requirements; only residents of Albuquerque may sign up.
“It has been wonderful to see the ‘OneAlbuquerque’ spirit in action with our community doghouse program,” said Director Ortega. “The Animal Welfare Department appreciates all the community groups who have provided doghouses; because of their generous contributions, almost 300 pets have appropriate shelter. We especially thank the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association who not only made and donated doghouses themselves but inspired many others to get involved and created blueprints for future doghouses. We are grateful to Councilors Fiebelkorn and Champine sponsoring these efforts and supporting this program that provides doghouses to pet owners who need assistance.”
