All-Weather Shelters for Dogs & Cats
You could say that the Lakes Animal Friendship Society was built around dog houses! Our volunteers started working together on dog houses. The first houses were pretty nice but they were big, they were heavy, and they were expensive. Then we started “renovating” donated dog houses. A lot of those were big, heavy and falling apart!
Then local industrial arts teacher Dirk Hofer and the students of Lakes District Secondary School created an excellent dog and cat shelter made from a single sheet of plywood plus some other materials. The College of New Caledonia residential building maintenance program expanded on the concept by creating “ready to assemble” flat packs of dog houses that can be transported where they are needed.
Since 2010, over 300 “Hofer Houses” have been built for dogs and cats in need, by groups such as the LDSS industrial arts program and the CNC residential building maintenance programs. The flat packs have been assembled by families and children all over our community and from Laxgalts’ap to Langley. Many of these houses were painted by elementary students. The students at Babine Elementary Secondary School are famous for the recycled denim blankets they have sewed for the dog houses. The Hofer House Design has been shared with groups around the world so even more dogs and cats can have a place to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
The dog house project is featured in our book “Out of the Cold” which has been translated into seven languages and counting.
You can make your own dog house by downloading these simple step-by-step instructions.
Need a list of materials? Check out this chart.
With four sheets of plywood you can make 2 houses for LARGER dogs
Two LARGE Houses from Four Sheets of Plywood
With five sheets of plywood you can make 10 houses for smaller dogs – and cats, like community cats!