A local member of the Boy Scouts built and delivered dog houses to Dallas Animal Services after hearing of its struggle with overcrowding.
For several months, Dallas Animal Services has struggled with its animal population, particularly dogs. The animal shelter reported in October that it was 170% over capacity and was attempting to house over 500 dogs in just 300 kennels, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The shelter currently reports being at 122% capacity for dogs, holding 365 dogs in its kennels. A scout from Royse City stepped up to help.
Eben Barnes, a 13-year-old member of the Boy Scouts, constructed and delivered 20 dog houses to the shelter, according to Fox 4 KDFW. Barnes and his troop made these shelters after contacting Detective Michael Bono of the Dallas Police Department’s animal cruelty unit to see how he could assist.
“One of our biggest challenges we have in the animal cruelty unit is individuals that don’t provide a means of shelter,” said Bono, per Fox 4. “Whether it’s, they just don’t have means to do so, or they choose not to. But animals in North Texas are at risk based on not having shelter.”
“I really enjoy being around dogs, and I found out that they can be removed from their homes because they don’t have a shelter,” said Barnes to Fox 4. “So I wanted to do a project for that so that dogs wouldn’t be removed.”
Barnes and his troop constructed the shelters using materials donated by local businesses. After their first attempt to build a shelter fell apart, the troop continued, gathering research to make the dog houses.
Bono was impressed with the boys’ finished shelters, saying he believed the troop “nailed” their project.
“I think it’s the tip of the iceberg,” said Bono, per Fox 4. “I think a lot of other scouts and individuals could do this, and it could greatly impact the greater Dallas and North Texas area.
Having completed the project, Barnes is now on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.